Walk into a Starbucks or Coffee Bean outlet (they are conveniently located at prime spots in most areas) and you will see a sizable crowd of people already sitting down, cradling mugs of the hot liquid, or sipping their ice-cold drinks. A line snakes from the counter to the entrance. The scent of coffee is strong and highly tantalizing. Maybe you can already taste the rich sweetness of the drink. Maybe you are already feeling thirst ravaging through you as you think of an ice-blended coffee. Although the price is no joke, you decide to order a drink anyway and proceed to do so. Ah, the wonders of coffee! Even feeling the warmness slide down your throat, or having the refreshing cold moisten a dry throat, is sheer heaven.

I am sure the owners of any coffee outlets in our country would be pleased to hear that!

Coffee might just be the modern day nectar of the gods. Most of us recognize the smell and taste of it, never mind the name. Similarly, it is highly probable that, again, most of us consider coffee a must-have in life. A brief history of coffee is in order, I think. The origins of coffee can be traced back to as early as the 9th century, where it was noted that it was found in the highlands of Ethiopia. The influence of coffee beans (coffee is a stimulant, increasing the transmission of nerve impulses in our body) was discovered when shepherds noticed that after consuming coffee beans, their goats appeared to ‘dance’ and had higher energy levels. Coffee began to spread from the East to the West. Eventually, it became one of the most popular drinks around; it still is.

Naturally people thrive on this coffee boom. Big names like Starbucks, AMT Coffee and San Francisco Coffee are major players in the coffee outlets market, but certainly not the only ones. The good drink does ‘perk’ one up, and there is no denying that it can be luscious to gulp down. Refreshing, even! So all that jazz about the caffeine being an overload and the fuss being made over the fact that coffee, a stimulant, is addictive? Nobody really bothers, choosing instead to continue with their daily intake of the stuff.

I am a self-confessed coffee drinker who is on her way to becoming an addict. Every morning, when I have time, I happily follow my mother to have a cup of coffee, sweet, sweet coffee. Utter bliss. It is also a great jump-start to a day that promises to be a whirlwind of work and tests. As for coffee outlets, they should seriously consider issuing my sister and I membership cards or something of that sort. All my friends think it is terrible of me to be so keen on coffee; I distinctly remember when I went for Study Skills Camp last year, I drank coffee the whole weekend for breakfast, break, lunch, tea, dinner and supper. Not once did I touch tea, although that was available. On the contrary, I simply took my drink black when I grew tired of milky coffee!

Coffee is something I cannot imagine giving up. Many others would agree with me. Do you?