The Coffee War - 2024

I have been on a roll these last six weeks with all the serious commentaries I have published. I think the most laid back op-ed was about the Woodstock festival.

 

And at first I thought this piece would be an easy essay we could all agree on, but the Angels on my shoulders whispered that I might divide us all into camps of open warfare. But I will take that chance.

I started drinking coffee on a daily basis in 1963 as a twelve-year-old, first only on the weekends, then every morning with breakfast. I took my coffee black with two sugars. All these years later, surprisingly, I still pretty much do.

I tried the popular choices at the time. As a boomer, these were regular, light and sweet, and of course, black. I was not a fan of milk or cream, and artificial sweetners were not yet all the rage. Of course, I tried them for a while, but I always went back to sugar

Fast forward to the late 1990s. Starbucks went national and inspired changes to coffee havens like Dunkin’ and 7-Eleven, as well your local deli or diner how coffee would now be served. Flavors, both in creamers and syrups, were now popular, whether you did it yourself or had one of the coffee houses make it for you.

Even if you make it at home, the type of pot matters, too. Some use a drip pot or perculator, while others will use a Keurig or Cuisinart. Still, some people use an “old-world” espresso pot or even a Nespresso maker. For me, it is still a Mr. Coffee.

Not surprisingly, pumpkin spice latte served in the fall was the most popular. And in order to get an edge up, every provider offered it earlier and earlier until this day, when it is being sold in late July and early August.

But today, I read in the US Sun that pumpkin spice latte may be dethroned as the “go-to” flavor. A survey was taken of coffee aficionados and it revealed that pumpkin spice was dropped to fourth. It was overtaken and this is how the top five flavors now rank:

• Cinnamon (39%)

• Salted caramel (37%)

• Apple/candy apple (36%)

• Pumpkin spice (32%)

• Maple (28%)

The fans were offered the ability to chose their own top five, hence the percentages shown reflect more than 100%. And you will read on in the provided article that Starbucks is still number one in annual sales, but with many more competitors.

So, the controversy will continue and people will choose their favorite provider and how they will have it made. For me it is 7-Eleven when I order out because I like how I make it. Dark roast, shot of espresso, black and two sugars.

I make it the same way at home. And I never have to be disappointed.

How do you drink YOUR coffee?