coffee

In talking to my family, they only drink coffee in the morning with breakfast to start their day, and they drink it black.  However, I have seen many people drink it after work in the afternoon with a pastry or something, or after a meal.  In restaurants, and even my mom did this for me in the beginning when she thought I’d want milk in my coffee-they warm the milk up first, and put it in the coffee, and then put the coffee in. This was a whole new way of drinking it for me. I find that in CR, it is often about drinking coffee in its purest form, to get the most coffee flavor.  In CR, because of this value of drinking pure, quality coffee, I have found that on the menus, there is usually just one coffee option-coffee.  Differently in the US, many people fill their coffees with more than just sugar; they will use cream or milk or flavoring, or all of the above.  When we go to a place in the US to order coffee, like Starbucks for example, most people buy coffee with the works, like a caramel mocha frappacino extra whip for example, where there is probably equal parts coffee as other ingredients. 

coffee made individually for us

Here, the coffee is often ground fresh and made for an individual or few cups at a time.  In addition to this new fresher, purer way of making and drinking coffee, I find that drinking coffee is more of an experience here, more of a time to relax and take a break, as opposed to the US, where coffee is often drank on-the-go as a means to keep up with hectic schedules. Many people in the US drink it throughout the day as a caffeine-boost to keep going.  Coffee in the US is about fostering an addition or habit, as opposed to here where it is more of a meaningful tradition, more of an experience, a time to slow down and reflect with one’s self or with others.  Because coffee is so much of a tradition in the home here, my family was not certain on a specific age that most people begin to drink it.  They said that it is never a drink that is forbidden, and it is always around.

This is what my tica mom pour the hot coffee into after she makes it.
This is what goes on the kitchen table for us at breakfast.

Just as food as a deeper meaning than simply the substance, so does coffee.  I feel that coffee has become a huge part of both the culture in the US and the culture here; however it has manifested itself in these differing cultures in very different ways.  In the United States, I feel that coffee is associated with those who are productive, or business-oriented, those who do so much in their day that they need caffeine to keep going.   On the other hand, I feel that coffee here signifies embracing ones roots and cultural heritage. It is associated with those who maintain ties to tradition, and those who take the important time from their day to slow down with a quality cup of coffee.

Because of the way coffee has found its meaning and use in our society in the US, there are numerous places where you can quickly stop to get coffee and be on your way. In CR, I find that because it is more about the experience, taking time to drink coffee- you will have much difficulty finding a fast, to-go coffee place around here.  Additionally, it is uncommon to find a sit-down restaurant or shop solely devoted to coffee; they are commonly bakeries or restaurants which also sell coffee on their menu.  

Additionally in the US, I find that coffee is sold everywhere in many forms, from simply a cheap cup of coffee at a gas station to the higher-priced more extravagant coffee drinks of Starbucks. It is advertised as the coffee to keep you going throughout your day or the sweet seasonal drinks of Starbucks.  For example, Dunkin Donuts saying is “America Runs on Dunkin”, implying that the purpose of coffee is to keep us going in our fast-paced lives so we don’t need to slow down…Is this what we really want?

Reflecting on past blogs, I feel that I always mention the fast-paced, individualistic mentality of the US and the constant desire to want things immediately and with ease.  I never thought about how many aspects of life are symbolic or representative of this mentality.  Everything from the food we eat, to the advertisements we see, to the way in which we drink coffee exemplifies the importance in America to be the best and have the best as soon as possible with as little effort as possible.  Is this really the mentality we should have? Is this perspective the roots of our culture? As we talked about the ability to take the best aspects from other cultures and learn to adopt them into our own, while leaving aside the beliefs and practices from our own that are not so favorable, I want to learn to let go of some of this mentality.  Ease and convenience and fast are not always best.  I want to learn to adopt a new meaning of coffee, where coffee is associated with more than just an addition to keep up with my crazy life, but it becomes a moment, a time to reflect and take a pause on the busy lifestyle.