Coffee Bar Thoughts
Stepping into the local coffee and cocktail bar at 4:00 pm is the type of heaven I believe in. A kaleidoscope assortment of people and experiences all in one room. Matcha latte with honey; nothing strong for me today. I order and find the creaky, mustard yellow chair looking plump and prepped for me. It molds perfectly to my hips as I take a seat, holding me comfortably while I set up to watch the flow.
A mother and daughter ordered after me. Two hot lavender lattes and then the barista points out the bakery items: chocolate brownie or Reese’s cookie. And the mother’s eyes widen at the mention of Resee’s, so they order one of those as well. When the cookie is in hand, the duo turns to find a seat and eventually settle on the table just to my right.
Before their drinks even make it to their table, the mother has already bumped into two people she knows through friends. Each time, the warmth and joy of her southern drawl lingers in the air like the honey on my straw.
The line at the counter continues to grow, and the seats at the bar hold more bodies heavy of the day’s demands on the soul. A woman sips her beautifully bitter espresso martini as she wraps up her recap of the day. Her husband next to her, twisted in his seat to face her, sips his Old Fashioned quietly.
A young family found their way in too. With two girls under the age of four running around, the parents don’t look as relaxed as they may have once been in a setting like this. But when the treats that they ordered finally find their way to their table, the young girls climb up on mom and dad’s lap, eager. The love the parents hold for the life in their laps shines through their body language. The mom lowers her head to rest atop her daughter’s and holds her a bit tighter as they all enjoy the cheesecake and cookies.
But the treats don’t take more than five minutes to enjoy and the girls are up and running around once more. The space around the tables turns into a race track. When the younger daughter goes off course and finds her way behind the bar, mom and dad take that as their cue to head out.
With the two little girls gone, there is a low hum in the air as the crowd changes. The clock nears 5:00 pm and the coffee orders make the switch from iced lattes to espresso martinis. In a few minutes, the place is again warm with bodies and new orders in the kitchen. Three guys come in, each wearing a hat and the tan of a day out in the sun. But when the bell chimes as you cross the threshold into the bar, it doesn’t matter what you do all day. When you walk into this space, you are your order and where you sit. A poke bowl and a beer, taken at the bar.
The couch in the front corner is occupied by a couple enjoying some cocktails and artichoke dip. They separate themselves from the heart of the room, maybe in an attempt to find quiet before returning to the chaos of their own home.
In the opposite corner, two families have met up and taken over the couch and nearby chairs. Cards are being played by the kids at a nearby table as parents catch up about recent life. The energy in the room is likely a low-grade hum compared to the chaos of their lives outside this room. A welcome reprieve.
Now, every bar seat is full as the shop has fully transitioned from its coffee crowd to its cocktail crowd. I still sit in my mustard yellow chair, listening to the bell on the door ring as people flow about. Each person is here for a different reason, with a different story and has a different experience. Each person who reaches for the handle that inevitably leads to the jingle of the bell, brings their own energy. Each person seemingly separate, but each story has been intricately woven to land them here, in this space, at this time. I may not know the name of another soul in the room, but we are all connected. Our stories and experiences weave a beautiful trail of energy behind us and have led us all to this coffee and cocktail bar. We are not truly as isolated from one another as we may believe.