Coffee Drinkers

When I was younger it was my responsibility to make coffee for my mom in the morning.  It wasn't anything complicated.  She always bought instant coffee and all I had to do was boil a pot of water and pour it over a tablespoon of Taster's Choice in her cup.  Every now and then I would sneak a taste, wondering what in the world was in this beverage that Mom just had to have before she got out of bed.  YUCK.  That bitter, foul tasting brew was about the nastiest stuff I had ever had.  I loved the smell, even of instant coffee, but I just could not imagine drinking that stuff all day long.  After her first cup, she would have another, but would often set it down somewhere but then pick it back up, long after it had gone cold, heat it up a second time and continue to drink it.  She did this all day long.  I guess it kept her going and helped her have the energy it took to take care of us four kids.

Years later, as an adult, I again tried out my coffee-drinking skills.  But as before, I still was not able to even swallow a mouthful.  I felt so wimpy.  As a police officer, I was never among the coffee-guzzling group.  If something  required me to stay up late or get up early, my beverage of choice was Coke or Dr. Pepper, and I was teased about this because apparently "grown-ups" drink coffee.  Over the years, I have tried on and off to drink it but without success.  I still love the smell, but the taste is something I just can't quite figure out.  I felt like I was in the minority as just about everyone I know drinks coffee in some form.  The number of Starbuck's in my city alone speaks to the popularity of this beverage.

A few years ago one of my best friends brought me a cup of coffee from QuikTrip.  Now this was my non-coffee drinking friend who felt the same way as I did about coffee.  I was so surprised.  We had both talked about not liking anything with a coffee taste, including coffee flavored candy and ice cream, yet here she was urging me to try something that clearly seemed to be related to the coffee family.  I took a sip and I was hooked.  Turns out this was QT's version of French Vanilla Cappuccino which while probably not really considered "coffee" is labeled as coffee and looks like coffee (at least a creamy, foamy coffee-like substance).  There happens to be a QT right on my way to work, and on cold mornings this drink is the perfect breakfast.

On mornings like this, where I walk in to work with that QT coffee cup in my hand, I feel like such a big girl.