Coffee Girls: Confession #11

Of course I like coffee! Just not the way YOU probably do. I often brew several types, one right after the other and then set them aside to cool down for an hour or two. Dark roasts, medium roasts, instant, not instant. I don’t care where they come from or what brand they are, I just care about the color they make. No, I’m not a weirdo. (My fourteen year old might think I am, but I’m not asking for her opinion, especially not at this time of the month… if you get what I mean. Or it might be a moon phase thing. Teenage girls, who really knows.)

Anyway, I’m a painter. I paint with coffee! No, I didn’t make it up, coffee (and tea) painting has been around for centuries. You use it like watercolor… only no pigments, just lovely shades of brown. Think of tonalism with a twist (and a smell). There’s a learning curve for sure. How much water, how much coffee, things like that. Also, if you let it sit too long, it molds. I once let one sit, covered, for about four weeks thinking it would age, you, know, like a fine wine. Sweet baby Jesus! The smell ’bout knocked me out. It also looked like something from a sci-fi movie crawling around in there. Wasn’t sure if I needed to call ghostbusters or an exorcist. Also, the dark roasts really stain, so be careful with them. I now have a “coffee painted” shirt, pants, and right shoe.

The Coffee Girls: Confession #3

I like to drink alone. It’s no secret. I am often seen at my favorite coffee shops by myself. I don’t need a social group to imbibe in public. Some people I know, especially those who are really socially inclined, think it’s a bit odd. I understand. Coffee shops are where people go to meet up. Here’s the thing. I’m not a social butterfly and I enjoy my own company, especially with a nice cup of freshly brewed coffee in hand. I don’t need a book or a computer in front of me. I like to sit and think… in coffee shops… where the aromas of different brews and pastries surround me.

I also like to watch the people. Not in a weird way. I observe their demeanor, their coffee choices, and I like to make up stories about what kind of life they might have. It’s like writing short stories in my head, just for me. The baristas where I go, they know what to expect, know my coffee preferences, and after they serve me my favorite brew, they smile and back away. It’s like having special friends that “get me”. The baristas and my coffee… they really “get me”. There’s no pressure to have a conversation. I find it quite comfortable.