Let's Go Get Some Coffee

Nervous Dog Coffee Bar in Akron, OH

Did someone say coffee shop? Or was that just my addiction talking?

Coffee shops are my second home. At times, they really are my home, my only sanctuary where I can feel at peace. The atmosphere and the aesthetic of coffee shops set my soul at ease and are key to assisting myself destress. It doesn’t matter how small, cheap, or old the shop is, the simple fact that the store is dedicated to coffee is enough to let me know I can quench my thirst and indulge my cravings. I could be driving by one I’ve never seen before and I force myself to throw on the brakes and pick up a coffee. One of my friends could invite me to go on a coffee date and my response is, “Um, is that even a question?” Or sometimes, I may be absolutely lost in life, stressed out to max capacity, and my only answer is to surround myself with coffee and the soothing smells/sounds that can be found in a coffee shop.

A trip to one shop is a vacation all in itself for a coffee guy like myself. I walk in, stop, absorb the sights and smells, and enter a euphoria similar to a kid in a candy store. Everything in a coffee shop shines in my eyes including the menu, the espresso machines, the comfy booths, and the baristas themselves. As I make the eager walk to the counter, I realize the decision to pick a drink is by far the hardest choice I will ever have to make. As I said, there isn’t a single coffee I don’t enjoy. My first coffee shop purchase was a non-fat vegan white chocolate raspberry latte if that tells you anything. And I’m not vegan. Once the mighty decision has been made, I eagerly sit and watch the counter for my ambrosia to reveal itself.

The aesthetic of coffee shops is the epitome of what I embody. The smell of fresh brewed coffee is strong yet comforting in its familiar aroma. The sight of friendly people having focused and friendly conversations all around offers a sense of joy. The–often–cordial baristas who want nothing more than to craft the perfect coffee for you allows me to feel free to experience whatever I want. There are endless options, any combination of flavoring, sugar, creamer, and strength of coffee to choose from. Many shops provide pastries on display that make your mouth water and set your stomach growling like a dog begging for food. The coffee grounds rustling in bags, steam shooting out of machines, blenders ferociously spinning, coffee dripping into cups… the intensity of sound entirely dedicated to the production of coffee assures me my drink is always one heartbeat away. Finally, the tables all around, the art on the walls, and the typical warm colors give me a sense of welcoming as if I could lie down with a good book and fall asleep without a care in the world. With all of these senses combined, I treat coffee shops with the greatest amount of love and value as I give to my closest family members.

The people you can meet at a coffee shop are some of the friendliest you’ll ever come across. People often go to coffee shops to converse in a relaxing environment or to do work away from distractions. It is a natural place of tranquility. I’ll strike up a conversation with someone in line while waiting to order and any possible topic could come up: the coffee I’m debating on purchasing, how I found this shop, or even how my day’s going. Coffee shops have inspired communication and friendship in every experience I’ve had and this gives me such a great amount of gratitude for my delectable companion.

I’ve been to endless coffee shops to truly pinpoint a specific vibe. But this sums up the experience regardless of where you go. While I will describe single coffee shops in the future, I want to emphasize the importance coffee shops and the environment inside have on my passion for coffee. Symbolically, they’re the source of love, friendship, and comfort because they produce the coffee I desire every breathing moment. I would be lost without the relaxation they provide me.

Finally, as I get my cup of ambrosia and take it to sit down, I look outside the window that coffee shops inevitably have. I hold my cup, let the steam caress my face, and take the first sip. As my eyes wander the outside and I taste the bold liquid entering my being, I know everything’s going to be alright.

Konditori Coffee shop in NYC