It’s 4:30 in the morning, and as I write this post the sky is pitch black..just like the coffee I have sitting next to me. I find mornings like this to be so peaceful, and I will wake up earlier than I have to just to enjoy some quiet time (I work at 6.) There aren’t many things in life more magical to me than that first sip of morning coffee. I love the flavor of coffee, but I think the real reason I enjoy coffee so much is deeper than just the taste.
Coffee reminds me of calm, casual mornings like this. When the world is still asleep, aside from a few morning birds like myself. It reminds me of home, with warm bed sheets and a snugly kitty. It reminds me of crisp fall days in a pumpkin patch with a double cupped tall Pike roast in my hand. Foggy mountains covering tall evergreen trees with their grey mist. Coffee reminds me of time spent catching up with friends, either in a coffee shop or at home. I adore coffee shops.
Not my photo, but how gorgeous! Take me here with a stein of coffee.
Also, if I am going to keep it real, coffee reminds me of an excellent morning because 90% of the time it aids in the final step of my digestion. How’s that for a PG-13 descriptive play on words? I had to..I suppose since we’re on the topic of coffee this would be the perfect segue to gush about how obsessed I am with the burlap sack coffee gift bags that Starbucks has right now. Spoiler alert for my dad, I hope he’s not reading this post. Although it should be no surprise that my family is getting coffee for Christmas…who doesn’t like coffee?
I DIE! The best part? This bag is FREE when you buy any pound of the Christmas blends. Seriously, Starbucks needs to hire me for marketing..I would sell a ton of stuff because I LEGIT love it too. It’s a good thing I have a tight grip on my wallet or I would be in serious trouble. ALL the things!
I am going to need an entire garbage truck full of coffee to power me through my half marathon in six days! Ohhh dear. I am surprisingly calm about the entire thing right now despite minimal running in my world these days. I did go for a 5 miler in 35 degrees last week to get my legs moving and my lungs burning. Just when I thought I was going to die an elderly woman out walking (seriously, badass) told me I was ambitious.
I wore pants, and a top, but I assume I took on the spirit animal of these bare skinned men and was basically flying through the air when she saw me. Whatever it was that caused her to speak such nice words gave me an extra boost to finish strong. It’s going to be a long 13 miles. If someone could volunteer as tribute to bring me coffee at the end, I’d appreciate it.
Q: What does coffee (or tea!) mean to you?
Blissfulbritt 
63 thoughts on “What Coffee Means to Me…”
getfitgirlnc
Hello sister coffee lover! I find coffee to be soothing and comforting. But first thing in the morning, it’s a necessity! LOL
Britta
I know we say it all the time, but we ACTUALLY ARE THE SAME PERSON. Sometimes I sit on the couch at night time, watching a movie, relaxing and I cannot wait to go to bed because I am so excited for my alone time in the morning with my coffee. So weird but so wonderful. And you already know I get up earlier too just to sit and be alone even if it means I have to be at work super early. Once I had to be at work for 4am when I was working at sbux in Ottawa and woke up at 2 just so I could be alone and have coffee. The only thing different about us is that I don’t like the pike roast… or any other roast from Starbucks except for the blonde roast and the Christmas roast.. I know – don’t judge! Plus it’s funny to say can I get a “tall blonde please” hahahhaha.
Brittany
WOOF 2 am is a bit too early even for me…you are dedicated! AH I don’t really care for the blonde roast, and the Christmas blonde is AWFUL..to me! HA! I do get a good chuckle when someone orders a tall blonde and then laughs to themselves about it.
Alex @ Cookie Dough Katzen
You should apply for a marketing job at Starbucks then! I could totally see you rocking that job. You could even help them create a blogging community for the coffee lovers out there. I could totally see Starbucks doing something like Chobani and sending out coupons/discounts to rally the blogging community. I mean what a great niche because so many bloggers go to coffee shops to work. So many ideas here!
Coffee to me needs sugar and cream ergo, I don’t drink it much. One day my taste buds will become more mature. 🙂
Davida @The Healthy Maven
I LOVE This. I also love Coffee but it makes me kind of crazy so I try to limit it to special occasions or post-insomnia kind of nights! And yes, Starbucks needs to hire you!
An Unrefined Vegan
1) I also love Pike Place Roast.
2) Yes, agree with the digestion benefit of coffee.
3) Nothing better than time spent looking out the window at something (or nothing), brain quiet, with the only companion being that steaming hot cup of coffee (in my case, soy latte). Add a rasher of cookies, or peanut butter toast and we’re talking pure, sweet heaven.
4) By the by, I’ve been loving the beans from a roaster in Cleveland (my home town), Phoenix Roasters. Amazing.
5) Kill that half marathon, girl. Kill it.
apartmentwife
“90% of the time it aids in the final step of my digestion” this quote is going to keep me giggling all day. well said 🙂
Alex @ therunwithin
i mean coffee is what gets my day going! love this!
Change of Pace
Love this! I can’t relate though, as I don’t like coffee or tea. (Really sucks on those early mornings!) and ha- that photo of those guys is amazing!
Heather @ HeatherRunsFast.com
Coffee means the same thing to me. It’s the perfect way to start the day and being the morning person I am, will get up early just to ensure I can have a cup alone 🙂 I don’t mind if cup 2 or 3 is shared with others, but I love enjoying that first cup with myself. Love your PG way of saying crap, haha. That bag is rad! Free with a purchase of a pound… can’t beat that!
katymarie5
Haha! This post is awesome. I, too, am a huge coffee lover – but moreso because I’m the BIGGEST grump in the world until I have my first cup 🙂 I recently discovered a coffee subscription box called Tonx that I’m dying to try.
P.S. I LOVE that burlap bag too!
Gillian @ That's G
Love this post. I am a coffee-fiend (bold and black, please). I have NO idea how people get through law school without drinking coffee, it weirds me out. I also love the ritual function of coffee and going to coffee shops.
P
I have been having coffee again in the morning daily (with milk, not black) and it’s amazing how soothing it is, isn’t it? I was having tea instead for awhile since I wanted to avoid tooth stains, but I don’t care at this point, and would rather have the hygenist worry about it at my next dental cleaning 😉
Brittany
I wish coffee didn’t stain teeth, I have noticed my teeth getting duller and duller as I work with coffee longer and longer!! I try to do what I can to fix it!
Amy @ A Desert Girl
I love tea in the afternoon. With lots of poison. I mean, sugar. 🙂
di @ life of di.
I can totally relate Brittany; I love to wake up early to have some time to myself before I head out for the day. I’ve been waking up between 415-445 for the last couple of months and I LOVE it. I used to wake up between 545-615 and just head straight to the gym before work but now, I prefer to have that time before I workout to read blogs, drink coffee or just relax a bit!
di @ life of di.
PS – I absolutely LOVE this post 🙂 I’m sitting here drinking an afternoon cup of coffee and reading this makes me extra thankful that I have a cup right now!
Brittany
Perfect!! Coffee and blogging go together like unicorns and magic!
kathy @ vodka and soda
my mornings are SACRED. as in NO ONE BOTHER ME FROM 645-8am or you risk getting punched in the throat. i sit down with my delish cup of coffee and read my blogs…it’s how i start my day EVERY DAY. and like, you when coffee is over, i deploy. it’s like my bowels enjoy the coffee with me and then whoop, there it is.
Brittany
OMG this comment KILLED me. HAHA I DIED.
Jan @ Sprouts n Squats
Well I used to love coffee way too much so I ended up giving it up and now I just can’t drink it at all. I love my chai lattes and they mean something warming and delicious to help get my day started!
Loved this post and hopefully your dad isn’t reading but if he is I’m sure he’ll love his gift 😉
Ashley @MilesonOats
Coffee is like a warm mug of savory security. The deep bitter taste always wakes you up, feels good going down, smells incredible, and reminds me to slow down.
Lovely post, just made a fresh cup now! 😉
-Ash
PNWRunner
Coffee will be a MUST after the Seattle Half! We will get through it! I am praying for sunny skies! 🙂 I had a peppermint mocha yesterday for the first time. YUMM!
The Vegan 8
Oh, I am sooo with you! Honestly, it is more of the enjoyment and ritual of having a hot cup in the morning, rather than the actual taste of coffee, that I thoroughly enjoy. I LOOOOVE the very first sip too. Although, I insanely love coffee, just in the past 2 weeks I have switched to double chai spice tea in the mornings. For some reason I was starting to get a lot of dizzy spells from drinking coffee…even though it was just one cup. I guess I should lower the strength of it, but it was really affecting me. Since I switched to tea, no more dizzy spells. Weird, but sad.
Kristina at damntenpounds
Coffee is mandatory. It’s my morning ritual and my me time. On the weekends, nothing happens until I’m done drinking my first cup. Weekdays are a little more of a scramble, but people generally know not to bug me until I’m done. There are people who say they get the same benefits from tea. Nope. Wrong. I tried to give up coffee for awhile and switched to tea. It was not the same at all. It was like part of my heart was missing. (<– drama queen alert). Good luck on your half this weekend! You are going to be amazing.
Brittany
I think it’s almost disrespectful to compare tea to coffee. Not comparable at ALL!
Laura
I love coffee so much – I kept trying to quit for a while, but realized it was something that made all of me run better. In fact, it literally makes me RUN better too. It’s the only thing I can find in Europe and makes me feel like I’m at home. I love it and choose not to live without it!
Laura
Oh, and I wake up an hour early just for my coffee time! It’s my favorite calm moment in the day!
Choc Chip Uru
Coffee lover? Mmm I tried it and it was ok but I am a mocha person, or a hot chocolate preferably – though waking up in the morning is good only because of a hot drink 🙂
Cheers
CCU
Mary
Your first sentence totally reminded me of one of the first scenes in the film Airplane…”I take my coffee black, like my men”! Haha! Also, I am not a coffee lover, liker or even tolerater I’m afraid! :-$
Brittany
Would you judge me if I told you I have TOTALLY used that line in real life…HAHAHA!
brickhousechick
Ok, so I like the smell and taste of coffee but it gives me headaches! I have tried and sure enough, headache! I feel so left out of this world of great commercials with happy cozy people drinking coffee! 🙂
allieksmith
Love this post!! Coffee, to me, means good tastes… warmth (in the winter), and bonding with loved ones!
Love the last picture haha.. I bet you totally had those guys’ spirit animal goin’ on!
Tessa @ Amazing Asset
How convenient that I am drinking coffee while I read this 🙂 And it’s 7pm at night, so apparently the caffeine does not effect me as much as with other people. That’s fine though, I drink it for the delightful taste!
Brittany
Oh wow!! I can only have decaf after like 3…or I will be up all night. It’s crazy!
Amy
I’LL BRING YOU COFFEE!!! You totally deserve it after running 13 miles in the freezing cold air! And if I can find a dozen, I’ll bring some vegan donuts too. 🙂
Hmm, coffee to me… Reminds me of my dad. And being a little toddler and sitting on his lap in the mornings while he drank coffee and read the newspaper. (I was more obsessed with poking at and stabbing the black and white pictures than reading the words… But what 4-year-old can?) And now, Starbucks reminds me of you! 😉
Brittany
THERE IS A VEGAN DONUT SHOP IN SEATTLE! I should totally go after the race…
Awwww!! I love that Starbucks reminds you of me!! YAY!
Amy
YES YES you MUST go to the donut shop!! Definitely the best reward!
(And TJ’s does too! 😉 )
ahellams
I am ready to write the second verse to your love song for coffee whenever you are ready. My obsession may be second only to yours!
kadeecramer
Peaceful mornings with my fuzzy socks, puppy cuddles, and coffee are one of the best parts of my day. I love it 🙂
…. and the little digestion boost isn’t half bad either. ;p
jessiebearwhat
I relate to this post on a spirutal level. Coffee is my religion. (but seriously- mmmm coffee).
Nicole @ FruitnFitness
I really do love coffee, but I don’t think I would wake up at 4:30 just to have coffee before work. I usually take my coffee in a travel tumbler with me to work. Tea is more relaxing for me. It reminds me of being home where my stepdad always makes the best tea and is constantly offering it to everyone.
sincerelylily
i love that an eldery woman told you you were ambitious. amazing. and you’ll rock your half for sure.
that present to your dad is super adorable and has all the rustic charm i would expect from a nature girl like yourself. i love coffee too. coffee = happiness in the morning. im going to have serious problems when i am with child b/c i think you have to limit your coffee… to like a baby cup, if that. ewwwww how lame!
i love that you wrote those and work at Starbucks. It just seems to appropraite.
Brittany
Your comments ALWAYS complete me.
Ethos Adventures (@EthosAdventures)
Beautifully written Britt! Don’t worry about the half–you got this! All you have to do is take each mile as it comes and make it into the best mile that it can be…nothing more, nothing less. It’ll be as enjoyable as coffee!
Vegan Mommy Dee
Oh my gosh my 1st cup of coffee is what starts my day off right! My teen has been known to bring me my black coffee first thing in the morning on the weekends. Yep she’s the best kid EVER! LOL I’ve been enjoying the Starbucks Christmas blend lately. I LOVE this time of year! I buy a whole bunch when they are 1/2 off at the end of the holiday season too so I can enjoy later on in the year.
sushismith
I started drinking coffee when I was 12 in an effort to be more grown up, but I don’t think I’ve had a morning with several cups of strong black coffee since. Also I LOVE Starbucks too! When their holiday red cups started appearing in November I definitely felt a boost in holiday cheer!
Karla @ Finding My Fit
Do you know how badly I want to fly out there so we can have a coffee date? (or ten!)
Tyler found out he’s active duty..one step closer to hopefully going to Ft Lewis…we will ignore the thousands of other things that involve me getting there with him and just go with it for now 😉
Rach @ This Italian Family
Oooh I love that burlap bag! My sister is a manager at a local coffee shop in Dallas so we pretty much always get coffee from her for Christmas. I need to tell her to put it in a burlap bag though so it will be cuter. 😉
jessielovestorun
I may never of met you before, but if theres one thing I know 100%, it’s you & your love for coffee. Ha Ha!
Aussa Lorens
Ah, I love coffee! I often look forward to going to bed just so that I can wake up and drink it in the morning! And I oh so wish I had your discipline to wake up a little earlier and be able to have some quiet moments and savor a cuppa… I tell myself that things like this would be a good idea but then I lay in bed going “one more episode on Netflix….” and next thing I know I am repeatedly hitting snooze. Agh.
OMG good luck on the half marathon! The days are dwindling away! I do hope you won’t be running in your skivvies like those poor Asian gentlemen?
Sarah @ Feeeding the Brain and Body
The meaning and function of coffee has changed for me quite a bit throughout the years. I have been drinking it daily for at least 7 years! It used to be a pure ‘I need to stay awake thing’ but now it’s mostly a taste thing. Oh man, I can’t imagine running another half so close to your last one. Good luck!
katalysthealth
COFFEE = LIFE. Seriously, on the mornings that I cant squeeze in a cup I just feel totally off the rest of the day. The caffeine does nothing for me (I could drink an entire pot and still fall back asleep) but its just the comfort and the habit that I love. Not to mention the taste and the smelllll
Meghan @ fitnesscrEATures
AGH give some of that man’s spirit animal to me on Sunday. I am so scared about this weather we’re going to haveeeeeee agh.
Also totally love black coffee as well… There’s nothing more refreshing in the morning than that. And yes, it also helps with early morning digestion, ha! 🙂 SEE YOU ON SATURDAY OMG.
Missy
Coffee… I’m not a “coffee” lover.
I kind of wish I was y’all make it sounds so cool.
I used to be more into it… Idk.
I like mine really sweet.
For me coffee means iced — sweet lattes and mochas and ice cream.
Understandably, bnot something I want to drink every day.
Mary @ Fit and Fed
Half-marathon plans– how fun! Looking forward to hearing how it goes. My favorite ‘coffee’ moment is getting a coffee kiss from my other half after he’s had his morning latte.
GiGi Eats Celebrities
Coffee reminds me of you. Every single time I see coffee, I think of you on the pot. INSERT iPhone POOP Emoji!
Brittany
AAAWWWWW You make my heart swoon.
Gede Prama
Thank you for writing which is quite good and best wishes always, and greetings
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mmarinaa
I hate coffee. Sorry to be “that girl.” But I just do not have the refined palate that it requires.
Tea is my jam though. So we can chin-chin with our respective mugs all the same, haha.
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets
I’ll bring you coffee on your run. I suspect the calmness is really just extremely good mental preparation leading up to your half. It may be your best or at least most enjoyable one yet.
Coffee to me is my time in the morning too, before anyone is up, aside from the cats of course. It’s when I can gather myself, get my lists together and just be me, quiet, calm, structured and peaceful. Coffee is a wonderful thing.
Melissa @ Al Forno Mementos
haha omg that last picture! I die! … how you feel about coffee is how I feel about tea. I know I don’t like coffee straight up like many of my friends. I find it bitter.