Coffee: A Romance

He glanced around the room, unsure of his surroundings.

Without knowing a single name on the guest list beyond that of the host that had invited him, Dave had decided to brave this social gathering on his own. It was time for him to come out of his shell, meet someone new, leave his comfort zone behind.

Minutes passed like hours, Dave wandering aimlessly through the sea of unfamiliar faces.

Then he saw her.

She was beautiful.

Dave froze in place, knowing full well that he had only one chance to make a positive first impression. He gathered every ounce of courage known to him and started toward the woman at a casual, normal-as-humanly-possible pace. She remained unmoving, waiting patiently for the undoubtedly incredible experience that would be his opening remark.

Dave slowed he as closed the last few yards. He was ready. He knew exactly what to say.

"Hello," Dave said nervously.

"Hello," she responded.

This was it. The proposition. The offer of a casual, friendly meeting beyond this setting in which fate had brought them together.

"So I was wondering," Dave spewed hurriedly, "would you like to go out sometime and get a cup of milk?"

- - -

What's wrong with this picture?

No, it's not the glaringly obvious fact that I have no future in writing romance fiction. 

It's the milk. You know it's the milk.

Why is the milk so wrong, though? Why is the offer to meet for a cup of milk so hilariously out of place? This discomfort isn't exclusive to milk, either. Dave could've suggested juice, yogurt, energy drinks… all equally as unexpected and uncomfortable as milk.

Not coffee, though.

For decades, a cup of coffee has been the meeting point through which new acquaintances can become more familiar. There's something timeless and romantic about connecting with another person over so small a thing as a cup of coffee.

Interestingly enough, it's almost certainly the beverage itself that has this effect. One may assume that location is the determining factor in whether or not a meeting is romantic. Is it, though? I imagine that I could place Dave and Emma (I've just decided to give her a name) anywhere in the world and as long as they're flanking a pair of mugs, full to the brim with hot coffee, boom, it's romantic. A run-down coffee shop on the far end of an ancient strip-mall? Romantic. A café in Italy overlooking the sea at sunset? Duh.

It's fitting that coffee is such a capable catalyst for romance. Best enjoyed slowly, coffee sets a calm, reassuring pace for conversation. Should topics for discussion start to dwindle, the brief moment it takes to enjoy a casual sip is plenty of time to regroup and gather thoughts. There's also nothing wrong with quietly absorbing the surroundings, sharing the time together over a warm drink and watching the world go by.

Coffee has a certain power to it, a quality that has been bringing people together for generations. There's no better source of warmth and comfort than the pair of full, well-loved mugs sitting on the kitchen table reminding Dave and Emma of their first milk coffee date so many years ago.

If you read about my tasting experience last week, you know that coffee and I are still getting to know each other. I have a long way to go before I can consider myself an expert in this realm. However, I'm starting to understand more and more why these little brown beans and the drinks they become are so widely appreciated. It's equal parts taste and culture that makes coffee so alluring. 

My ongoing coffee education continues to be endlessly fascinating, and though I'm proud to have discovered this romantic nature of coffee, I know that further realizations will be even more enlightening.

- Griffin Thomas

Social Media & Publications Specialist

Fortuna Enterprises, LLC