There was sleep in my eyes and not every electron seemed to be firing correctly in my brain. Morning time had come to wake me once again. Actually it was my damn alarm clock set to start the day before my conscience mind was ready to power on. I needed coffee. That life blood of the gods, my dark bean addiction, a caffeine god in its own right.
The aroma of brewing coffee is the first step in calming the neurotic mind and putting thought processes into some kind of maintainable order. Before that bitter bean has touched one's tongue, the aroma has already begun the initial process of working its magic. Arresting one’s sleep bound senses. Invigorating the mind with the taste sensations to come.
When it is time to pour that dark liquid of the Gods into the mug there is something in the chemistry of touch between the hand and that warm container that takes over just as the aroma becomes subtle to the nose. The heat has transformed into yet another kind of electric energy that travels through the palms of the hand and then straight into the awakening brain.
The first bitter taste of the dark bean is like a warming shock to the system. Neural pathways are now running in sync and the full calming effect can be felt throughout the body. A sense of overall alertness and well being combine into a yin and yang dance of tasteful perfection. Let the day begin.
At home I will brew a nice big pot of whatever premium coffee I have. I get the full experience of that calming effect from the dark bean that can be felt through each phase of the caffeine addicted journey. It's much better than the coffee found in the work place and on location. That bland community coffee where the aroma phase is the one that is often left out since the brewing takes place in another room. The use of community coffee is much like that of methadone prescribed for a recovering heroin addict to tide them over and dull the craving. In other words, it gets you through the day and takes the edge off but it is a really poor substitute for a pot of the almighty dark bean.
Cold weather, hot weather, any weather... The dark bean is a much needed source of sustenance and mental preparation for any day that is ahead. The experience is a celebration of all the senses and a tasty addiction to partake in.
All praise the dark bean...
I love your descriptions of the coffee ritual! I must have mine to function, too!