It is no secret that I love coffee. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy tea (especially Earl Grey) but coffee is my go-to morning beverage. The methodical steps to make it, choosing one of my fun mugs, waiting for the brew to be ready while I sleepily let the dog out and open the house for the day; it’s a ritual that pays off with a mug of delicious, sweet, nutty, liquid heat.

For me, coffee is tied to wonderful memories around the kitchen table eating breakfast while my grandparents and mother enjoyed their coffee. The grandparents drank it black while my mother took hers with sugar and cream. In fact, my coffee mojo is still so strong I can replicate the exact color of her preferred cup of coffee within two tries, even after all these years!

Coffee starts the day, tops off a luncheon, is the elegant period at the conclusion of dinner, or even adds to the joy of late night reading. It is fragrant with an aroma that (for me) conjures up exotic locations or the warmth of the home hearth. Coffee brings people together (coffee talk, coffee klatch, coffee and cake). Coffee is ubiquitous and unique. There are so many ways to enjoy it from straight black strong coffee that will melt your face off to the abomination of a sugary foamy “macchiattolatte” or some such concoction.

To this day, when I smell coffee I get happy. Like, ‘grinning like a jackass’ happy because of the strong memories tied to the smell. It is the smell of calm, of family, and of mornings full of promise and the assurance that all is right with the world.

Here is hoping that all is right with your world. Cheers!