To Coffee: A Thank you Letter
April 14th, 2025
Writer: Emily Kauderer
Editor: Megan Lennemann
There is nothing quite as comforting as the smell of espresso filling a room. I still remember the first time I tasted the flavor that would soon define my every morning. I was five years old, visiting my grandma’s farm in the middle of nowhere, Massachusetts, when my great-grandma Lulu offered me a sip. It was 99% milk and only 1% black coffee, but according to my mom, I was instantly hooked. From that day on, coffee became a part of my daily life– a source of both comfort and inspiration for the years to come.
Flash forward to age twelve, where after school my mom would take my twin brother and me to Starbucks, where I would order a coffee Frappuccino. This time, my drink is 10% coffee instead of just 1%. The sweetness of the frappe mixed with the bold espresso taste is the perfect treat after a long day. These Starbucks trips with my family quickly became some of my favorite preteen memories.
By high school, my love for coffee only deepened. Mornings begin with a cappuccino, often carried into the car as I sped to school. I began exploring different flavors and styles– iced vanilla lattes, hot cortados, white mochas, caramel macchiatos. With every new sip, I fell in love with the drink that has always been there for me.
Now, at twenty, I still start each day with coffee. But gone are the milky concoctions and sugary Frappuccinos. My drink of choice is strong and simple: an iced Americano. No sweeteners, no milk, no flavorings, no cold foam.
Looking back, my coffee journey mirrors my growth. The sweetness of childhood has slowly faded, replaced by the stronger, sometimes bitter, reality of adulthood. I wonder if I’ll ever crave the sweetness again. But then I realize that just as the bitterness of an Americano once seemed foreign, I have grown to appreciate its depth and complexity.
So, this is my thank you letter to the beverage that has shaped my life. Coffee is the first thing I think about in the morning, and it is the ritual that pushes me out of bed to face long college days. My friends call me the “coffee girl.” I even have a coffee review account on Instagram (@emilylikescoffeee– shameless self-promo). Some of my best memories have been over shared cups: whether chatting with a stranger, grabbing a hangover brew with my best friends over Sunday brunch, or savoring the bittersweet comfort of a Monday morning pick-me-up.
Through every stage of my life, coffee has been there. And as I continue to grow, it’s reassuring to know that my caffeinated companion will always be by my side.
