Week 6 Coffee coffee coffee!

I was really looking forward to our unit on coffee to learn about what is associated with coffee in Costa Rica and how it is served or most commonly drank. In the United States, coffee is a big part of the culture, as many people drink it every morning. It becomes routine and tradition. Here it is very similar in how often it is consumed. Coffee is served every morning with breakfast and on many occasions it is served mid-afternoon as well. After talking to my mom and based on my own experience so far with my family, in the afternoon coffee is served with bread. My mom calls it “time for cafecita y pan.” This mid-afternoon coffee is really nice. We sit at the kitchen table and talk about the day while enjoying a nice snack. However, at the same time, I feel like this kind of tradition would never happen in the U.S. because of the busy, chaotic lives of many Americans. In the U.S. many people get coffee in the afternoon, but when they do, it is almost always on the go from a company like Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts. In the reading for tomorrow, coffee was discovered as a source of quick energy. Reflecting on the times coffee is served during the day, this makes sense. In the morning we need energy to start the day and in the mid-afternoon, we need it to rejuvenate to get us through the rest of the day. The second part of our blog topic is about when people start drinking coffee. In the U.S. it is mostly considered an “adult” drink. When I was younger, I believed coffee was something that parents drink and that I would develop a taste for it eventually and drink it when I was older. Here it varies based on family, but children are exposed to it much earlier. On the weekends, my Tica sister, who is six drinks coffee in the morning, with lots of sugar, just like her Grandpa. In the reading, “The Ticos” the author found that Costa Ricans believe coffee is good for them and children are taught in primary school that they should drink coffee every morning because it is good for them. Coffee is such a staple here, which is why Costa Ricans take such pride in its quality. (I will expand on this idea in next week’s blog post because that is the theme for next week).

                The picture assignment for this week was to take pictures of coffee as it is sold or served during the day. The first picture below was taken at the restaurant we ate at in Cartago. Coffee is commonly served this way (with the bag and hot water, making one cup at a time) throughout the country. In the morning, my Tica mom makes me coffee using this. One thing I noticed in the way that coffee is sold and advertised, is that it is geared towards drinking at home. Advertisements mostly consist of coffee products to make at home rather than advertising companies like Starbucks. Also in the grocery store, I didn’t see as many already made coffee drinks being sold. For example, the already made iced coffee for you to take on the go. I have come to realize that this is because coffee is more than just a routinely consumed item. It is a cultural staple and the tradition here is more focused on consumption in your house. As a result, there aren’t as many coffeehouses and it is most likely also why U.S. companies like Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts haven’t taken hold here. However, just because coffeehouses aren’t as prevalent doesn’t mean they don’t exist. One very popular place among us students is Kaldi, located near Parque Sabanilla. At Kaldi they make the specialized coffee drinks we all know and love (mochas, lattes, flavored iced coffee, etc.). There is someplace you would find espresso machines and the fancy drinks you see in the second picture below. One thing I have learned from this experience is that although coffee holds a significant place in the routines of both Americans and Costa Ricans, traditions are different in Costa Rica. Coffee has more symbolic significance and the quality is highly valued here. Also, while coffee is a social thing, like it is in the U.S., in Costa Rica it is served in the house. People, particularly family may come over and drink coffee whereas in the U.S. it is very common to go to Starbucks to chat and drink coffee. My plan for the future is to think about the importance of setting when getting coffee. When I go home and plan to meet with friends for coffee, maybe I should invite them over and make coffee rather than go out to Starbucks. Also, I want to keep in mind the relaxation of taking the time to sit down to mid-afternoon coffee. The relaxation time could be just as important as actually drinking the coffee!!