Coffee and parenting seem to go hand in hand. It's not only the slight caffeine buzz to get us going in the morning after a late-night feeding or night terrors that informs our emotional closeness to it (I've been known to drive miles out of my way for my favorite brand). Coffee preference, like parenting, is personal. It riles up emotions when one camp feels slighted by another.
In fact, many of us enjoy an ambivalent relationship with the drink. It lifts us up and, in some cases, makes us crazy, too. In an attempt to distance myself from its insanity, I managed an eight-month hiatus from coffee consumption. It made me feel victorious. I soon gave up my abstinence, however, prefering the cozy, social nature of a cup of java with friends.
There are varying levels of madness. When denied our favorite order, for instance, some of the more committed coffee drinkers become a tad vitriolic. Two days ago, the Washington Post's reporting was most shocking. It was shocking not because of the story's content, but because it got covered at all.
The story goes something like this:
Out-of-town man orders a triple espresso on the rocks.
Barista says it's against their policy.
Out-of-town man, who is also a blogger, rants, raves, and blogs about it.
Both the coffee shop's Web site and said coffee blogger's rage make national news Why? Because tens of thousands of people got up in arms about how the customer was treated (and with 228 comments at the time of this writing, I'm amazed at the level of people's scrutiny). Hell hath no fury like a coffee lover scorned.
I suppose I'd pitch a fit if my husband wagged a finger at me and said, No, reminding me of my pride for having kicked the habit once before. But would I make that one moment in time public? Probably not.
The blogger was rather stunned by the response he got. I think it humbled him, actually. We bloggers have unparalleled power in some arenas. Our opinions can throw shockwaves the world over.
We need to use our voice wisely. And remember, it's only coffee, people.
