“Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all in the lights in the heavens.” James 1:17 NLT

Every morning, I wake up to the glorious smell of freshly brewed coffee. I wipe the sleep from eyes, slowly stretch like a slumbering cat, and stumble out of bed. Thirty minutes later, I waltz down the stairs, greeting my husband but secretly looking over the railing to see if my cup of coffee has been made. Well over 90% of the time, he has picked out my favorite mug and made me a perfect cup with just the right amount of cream. I smile to myself, forever grateful for that warm beverage that makes my soul sing.

I love coffee in almost all its forms: from hand-selected beans for a pour over experience at Omega Coffee Collective (my favorite place in Chambersburg) to an ordinary cup of joe brewed at home. I love lattes with oat milk, cortados, cappuccinos, and cold brew. I love homemade syrup from the Fig Cardamom I found at Café Emis in Kennett Square to the more than occasional caramel latte at Dunkin’, with only half syrup. I love espresso flavored ice cream and find affogatos one of the most decadent desserts ever.

I identify with one of my favorite characters, Lorelai Gillmore, when she states, “I stop drinking coffee, I stop doing the standing and walking and the word-putting-into-sentence-doing.” It is part of my essence and maybe has even filtered into my pores, making me smell a little like coffee with notes of mango, white peach and florals (this is the Tanzania Citrus Nectar Blend that I plan to buy the next time I go to Omega).

My love for coffee extends to coffee merch and places: mugs, coffee makers, and coffee shops. I love how different coffee shops have different vibes; some are cozy and warm, some are sleek and modern, while others are fresh and open. I love the weight of a solid hand-crafted mug, and the candy cane stripes on my Holly Jolly mug. I love dreaming about what espresso machine I might own someday.

But what I love most about coffee is not its taste, or its caffeine properties, or the trendy coffee merch. I love the many heartfelt conversations I have had with family and friends over steaming mugs. I love the laughter, the memories, and the life shared in homes and coffee shops over a cup of coffee. And for that I am more than just grateful for coffee, I am indebted to God who created the coffee bean.