Many themes cross my mind when I think of high school, but one of the more prominent ones is what I consider the heyday of coffeehouses. Of course it was not the most popular time in the existence of coffeehouses, but in my world, it was.

The shows I watched were Friends, Seinfeld, and Frasier. Each of those shows featured a coffeehouse, cafe, or coffeeshop. And yes, there’s a difference between the three. But what they all have in common is, they weren’t the kind of place you’d drive up to and get your order from a window. Instead, you’d saunter in, order, and hangout.

What was also popular in my circle in high school was learning to play the guitar, or some other instrument that was good for a band. This went hand-in-hand with the popularity of coffeehouses when it came to open-mic nights. The two, together, were a match made in heaven. It helps that my high school sweetheart is who I’d go watch sing and play.

I loved the atmosphere of a coffeehouse back then. The aromas, the lighting, the local artwork. People sat to chat…together. They’d order their giant mugs of cafe au lait, and talk, face-to-face in a non-virtual realm, about whatever came to mind. There weren’t any zooms or smart phones getting in the way of genuine, 3-D interaction. I loved the sounds of the milk steamer, cups to saucers, quiet conversations, and coffeehouse music.

The ironic aspect of this story is that I didn’t drink coffee when I frequented coffeehouses. Now I can’t seem to live without it, and I haven’t been to coffeehouses in decades. When I was in college, I literally rolled pennies to be able to afford what I needed. That had a huge impact on how I spend money these days. Buying a cup of coffee is a treat, not a daily expense. I didn’t actually start drinking coffee until I was 27, and my job as an office manager involved making coffee for the staff. The hazelnut smelled too good to not try. And try again. And try a few more times after that. A couple of stints later, I was a barista for Seattle’s Best at a Borders Bookstore. I loved it, mainly for the organic, fair trade no. 4 with caramel, and my lovely co-worker, Katie. I also loved being immersed in the scents of fresh-brewed coffee and brand new books. Since the bookstore closed, I haven’t had my coffeehouse fill. Maybe I should open my own coffeehouse? That’s probably an idea I should let steep for awhile. In the meantime, I can play pretend at home.

To create my own coffeehouse, I ordered an espresso maker to add to my two drip pots. I buy espresso ground coffee from a local company, and use different flavors of Torani syrup to add sweetness. I’ve learned how tasty honey is in a cold brew, so I buy local liquid gold from the general store. My eclectic mug collection adds some personality. To top it all off, I made myself a Spotify playlist with artists like Natalie Merchant, Des’ree, Indigo Girls, U2, and Putomayo to help set the mood. Now I just need to learn the guitar and gather an audience. For now I think I’ll just sip on my brews and type out my thoughts.