An Espresso Escape

From gossip to homework, from first dates to business meetings, from breakfast stops to late-night study breaks, Starbucks seems to be everyone’s cup of coffee. With its intricate fire places and warm colored walls, it creates a relaxed scene and comfortable surroundings to people of all ages. Oversized coffee-colored couches offer a place to sit and finally open that must-read novel our friends have been raving about, and the wooden circular tables make a perfect space to catch up with an old friend. Morning, afternoon, evening – Starbucks is always there for us, like a true friend.

Among the many faces that I witnessed in the cozy atmosphere of Starbucks was that of a young girl standing impatiently by her mother. It was obvious that the little girl wanted her drink: about every ten seconds she would proceed to the counter where the drinks were served. Her mother was a small woman, somewhere in her thirties, with light brown hair and a friendly smile as she laughed at her restless daughter. I watched them as they received their drinks and sat down at a small table next to the window. They both smiled as the little girl began to tell her mother a story. Next to their table sat an old man with glasses and a newspaper in which he seemed to be deeply engrossed; I never once saw him look up from it. It occurred to me that he must do this often when he walked out and said goodbye to a worker behind the counter; he called him by his first name, as if they had been friends for years. As the old man left, a young couple came in through the glass doors holding hands. They were both noticeably tall and seemed to be happy, from the smiles they both possessed. As they ordered their drinks, I watched the boy take out his wallet and pay; his mother must have reminded him to do such a gesture, I noted. As I sat taking in the surroundings, I noticed a middle-aged man in a full suit who seemed to be in quite a hurry. He came. He bought. He left. And, judging by the large coffee he held, he seemed to be exceedingly stressed.

The music somehow flowed through the small store, twisting and winding and relaxing and overcoming and surrounding and embracing the customers, just as the smell did. When arriving through the doors, one might describe this smell as strong and pungent; whereas others may choose more admirable words such as “delicious” or “warm”. Some may comment on the overwhelming aroma; whereas others may acknowledge it as a welcoming scent. There are those who may cringe at its strength; whereas others cannot get enough of it. There is only one explanation that fits the details: it’s the scent of fresh-brewed coffee.

It may be a sad day, maybe a stressful one, or maybe not a bad day at all, but no matter what kind of day it is, there is a drink that claims to make one’s day that much better. It may be a strong coffee in the early morning or a cold frappuccino on a hot afternoon, but either way, we are given the chance to make that one drink all our own. The pastries – handmade and thick, rich and flavorful, moist and sweet – are offered to accompany the excessive menu of drinks.

With stores on practically every street corner in every town, it is hard not to know the wonders of Starbucks Coffee. It is that boost of energy when one is drained, it is that tranquilizing sanctuary on one’s most stressful day, and it is that escape for teenagers with overbearing gossip and drama. Its intimate decor welcomes the young, the old, and everyone in between, including families and couples as well. From the eye of a passerby, it seems to beckon them with its alluring pictures of mouthwatering drinks and happy faces of those inside enjoying the relaxing environment. As I sat, taking in everything around me, I found myself wondering about the people who surrounded me and what their stories were. Letting my mind wander, I began to wonder what those people thought about me, or if they even thought of me at all, and a strange idea overcame me: although we all ranged in age and race and reason, we were all so similar to one another, always wondering and dreaming and escaping, all in one cozy, welcoming, and homey Starbucks Coffee Shop.

-Meagan B.