Considering it was forbidden to me growing up, and the fact it took me until nearly my senior year in college to give it a go during a particularly grueling final exam week, coffee and I have grown quite close.

I make sure I have access to the good stuff even while living life on the road as a cyber nomad. I drank so much of the stuff while working in classroom education that I had to research what to do with all the extra coffee mugs I had collected over the years.

 I’ve researched how to roast coffee myself (although I’m still trying to squeeze it in), and how to save money during business trips by shopping smart at Starbucks. It’s also one of my favorite beverages to serve during cold weather parties and get togethers. As a warm drink, it feels cozy. Also, if people are wanting to indulge in spirits there are several that fit nicely into the category of hot coffee cocktails. Hot beverages can’t be consumed as quickly and voraciously as cooler cocktails, making them a more responsible host choice. And for morning meetings or brunch gatherings? All you need to do is get yourself a catering sized coffee urn and break out the spice bar and sambuca to offer a hospitable coffee bar on the fly. Bagels, whipped cream cheese and fruit round out the offering with little to no stress for the person hosting the event.

My husband and I have also started enjoying French pressed coffee, to my great delight. Between the aromatherapy of freshly ground beans and the fuller flavor, it sets the stage for my morning meditation quite nicely. Coffee’s also an affordable way to get together with friends and host business associates, whether in your own home or in the city at a stylish spot. It’s a generally accepted form of hospitality that bridges cultural and income bracket gaps, making it a reasonable comfortable gesture to make.

Even those who don’t indulge in caffeinated beverages are usually comfortable meeting at a coffee shop and ordering something else, as “getting together for coffee” is usually more about the getting together than it is about the coffee. Do you have any thoughts on the cultural outreach aspects or daily rituals of coffee as a lifestyle element? We’d love it if you’d join in the conversation below. Recipe Pairing: Pumpkin Pie Latte

 Photo Credit: Itinerant Tightwad