coffee’s grip
February 1st, 2006
Twenty-four groggy, bone-tired college students stumble around the drafty, cement and bare insulation tinder-box building where half of the group were camped out during the wee hours of morning. The strong smell of French roast coffee, freshly ground, permeates the chilled air. Mugs in hand, waiting for the brew to finish percolating, the students wait for their morning cup of stimulant.
Six-hundred miles from home, these University of Michigan-Dearborn students, roughing it in North Carolina for a week as they dedicate their spring break to working for Habitat for Humanity, have learned to deal with the freezing temperatures, the less-than ideal housing situation, the cold showers, yet they still have a supply of upper-end coffee beans and a coffee pot they lugged all the way from Michigan in order to feed their coffee addiction.
Coffee — Necessary. Addictive. Delicious. Its presence as a major part of American culture knows no ethnic or socioeconomic boundaries. The obsession with lattes, cappuccinos, and mochas are not merely for the upper-middle class and wealthy – poor college students and lower-income individuals also shell out $4 a visit for drinks such as large skim mochas, light on the whip cream, or skinny grande caramel macchiatos. And we do not question our obsession but continue to spend our hard-earned money for such drinks.
What is it about society’s current obsession with coffee? Starbucks and Caribou Coffee, the top two coffee shop chains in the nation, are expanding their locations at a break-neck speed, and the public is responding.
“Coffee is the all-time, all-American drink of choice,” said Teri Leblanc, an employee of Caribou Coffee, shouting over the noise of a barista machine as she takes orders from a long line of customers waiting for their early morning fix.
Coffee houses are marketing coffee any way they can – whole bean, $4 drinks, plain drip brew — and we continue to pay the price. We have become a society hooked on our lattes and our mochas and cannot imagine not being able to get our daily fixes.
Why?
Phil Jessmon, a 22-year-old senior at UM-Dearborn, had an answer. “Coffee is now a social norm and a biological imperative. People need caffeine nowadays to be productive in society because we do not get proper sleep. Thus, [we] have three easy choices: coffee, pop, or caffeine pills. Society dictates that pop is [both] unhealthy and for younger people. Caffeine pills are strictly for younger people. Thus, coffee is the choice for those who wish to appear mature and productive.”
Jessmon also added, “Starbucks itself is attractive because it provides both commonality (everyone can find a Starbucks nearby) and uniqueness (the atmosphere is comfortable, yet eccentric, so one feels as if one is being more open-minded and culturally informed when going there).”
For many, a coffee shop such as Starbucks or Caribou Coffee provides a quick oasis from the stresses and rigors of life and work. For five minutes, customers are able to pamper themselves with a steaming hot cup of their favorite java before having to face the demands of their job or family.
For others, a coffee shop provides another social option – it allows one a convenient, fun atmosphere for conversation and discussion. Coffee shops have become a popular hang-out for college students, not only for social interaction but also for late-night study marathons.
As a college student who works at Caribou Coffee on the weekends, I especially enjoy watching families who come in bond with each other.
Two of our regulars — a father and daughter — run every Saturday morning at a local nature preserve and afterward, they come in for cups of hot chocolate and coffee. They spend an hour just talking together while they enjoy their drinks.
Coffee brings friends and families together. One justifies the expense of a Starbucks or Caribou Coffee latte for the sake of the community, pleasure, and stimulus it provides.
And for the 24 college students from UM-Dearborn, working in 40-degree weather building homes for Habitat for Humanity, a good cup of coffee is not only a privilege but has become a necessary part of their day.
- Originally published in the Michigan Journal, April 12, 2005
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