journey to the center of good coffee

From a young age, I was not a fan of its taste. However, the scent of coffee was the morning smell I had come to associate with 'Mom'. Sure, I had friends that were drinking it as early as high school, and I took an experimental taste here and there. These early sips were followed with a crinkled nose and a confirmation of why I 'just liked the smell.'
After mere weeks in college, I was invited to join a group of girls that had begun a weekly tradition of going to Caribou Coffee near our campus. Each Wednesday, aka 'hump day'- (a term we said with a sly smile as it sounded dirty but really meant that it was just the middle of the week), we would walk or take the campus shuttle to get a beverage and chat, laugh, and share our hearts.
We soon nicknamed our new favorite coffee shop (mainly due to its location) and time of the week, creating a group we playfully nicknamed 'The Bou Girls'. At first I only ordered hot chocolate or tea, but after once adding a dash of coffee to my already overly-sweetened hot chocolate at an event, Wednesday became a chance for me to explore what coffee could be. My dear friend Melody was of particular inspiration, as she seemed to have been born to drink the stuff. Her sharing of drink ideas and ways to ease into the full bitter goodness of coffee were truly life changing. Irish Cream Latte. Lite White Berry. Like so many things in college, this was a time of education and growth. I wince at many of my choices in that time of my life, including my choice of caffeinated beverages, but they were of course an important part of my personal process. Oh, to be young and reckless again. A core group of The Bou Girls formed after a couple of years and we continued to meet consistently every Wednesday of college for all four years (laughing with a couple of the girls in photo left).
As I approached graduation from my undergraduate program, so I moved toward black coffee with a generous dash of cream and sugar. Coffee shops had become a place of comfort and refuge, which was a fortunate discovery as I entered into a time of uncertain living arrangements that begged frequent escape.

Then came Patrick.

I had heard mention from coffee-loving friends of the renowned Kopplin's of St. Paul, but for some reason hadn't gotten around to trying it. This turned out to be the place of employment for a man that rejoiced in all things coffee, had a kind way with people, and most especially loved the Lord. Upon meeting this Barista, I was promptly invited to visit him at work. Having motivations other than just coffee at this point, I ventured to a quaint and wondrous source of coffee and company (bar pictured left). Over the next months, he served me my first of the traditional Italian drinks: macchiato, cappuccino, espresso; and gave me the best mochas, lattes, and hot chocolate I'd ever had. It was a very tasty courtship (engagement photo right). Needless to say, I married that Barista and inherited not only a new last name but a plethora of knowledge and greater enjoyment of coffee.

With our lives now enriched not only with beverages, but each other, we knew it was time to follow the longing for adventure that pulled on both our hearts. We both love Minnesota and its people dearly, but were filled with the need to try another place for a while. The world was our playground, and the possible destinations were endless. Coffee was a minor factor amongst many others that led to our decision to move to the Seattle, WA area, but it sure was an attractive perk.

We set off for this Emerald City known for its coffee and the supposed birthplace of the coffee shop epidemic. I had entered a season of the con panne (pictured left) as my favorite order. As we spent our first weeks and months hopping from one specialty coffee shop to another, I could now compare their quality based on my encounter with their version of con panne, as well as the expert opinion of my husband, a master roaster and highly-skilled coffee taster. What a dream this land has been. Life came full circle when Melody came for a visit and I took her on a coffee tour through the city.


We know our time here is likely temporary, and I already miss the character and taste of the numerous quality cafes. In this liberal climate I have been fortunate to learn of the true source of coffee- literally who and where this product comes from. A highlight of our time here was an even hosted by Stumptown Coffee Roasters that featured a panel of coffee growers (pictured right) from around the world sharing their experiences and answering questions. Seeing farmers and hearing them share in person, many of them through interpreters, was a wonderful life altering experience that I hope will never fully leave me. These humble individuals are the reason it is OK to pay a little more for "just a cup of coffee." As they try to manage land in a way that produces a high caliber crop to please their international customers, they not only deserve to be paid a full, fair price, but they need to have a reasonable income to support their family. Given the increasing demand for good coffee beans, we imagine that coffee producers must live like kings. This is an unfortunate misconception, and the oft-touted 'fair trade' does not live up to its name or reputation. Thankfully, there are more and more coffee shops and roasters with character such as Stumptown and Kopplin's that are supporting direct trade with the farmers- a humanitarian effort that seems lost on most of the frivolous over-consumers of the product.

I am glad to know more about the origins of this beverage that has so augmented my life. There is nothing quite like good company combined with a good beverage, and being aware of its beginnings has enhanced the experience for me.

As the theme of coffee has permeated my life, I cannot help but ponder how far coffee and I have come together.
While trying to cut back on caffeine, I know my mom still enjoys a good cup from time to time; The Bou Girls have all moved on to new seasons and coffee shops, but we reunite about once a year, having long ago relocated our coffee shop meeting spot to various locations around St. Paul/Minneapolis; Patrick and I continue to live in the Seattle area, often entering the city for a coffee date, or at the very least stopping for a beverage to accompany us to another point of interest in this lovely northwesterly land.

No matter what comes my way or where God takes me, I'll make sure to stop regularly to enjoy a fine cup.

What a gift, what a joy, what a swell thing to sip. Coffee.