In honor of The Sun’s fiftieth year in print, we’re revisiting topics that have appeared in past issues and reprinting some of the original responses. “Coffee” first ran in our February 2006 issue. It was our most popular Readers Write ever, in terms of submissions.
— Ed.
Compared to the gentle scent of bergamot that rose from my morning cup of Earl Grey, the aroma of a fresh pot of coffee seemed almost abrasive. I preferred the ritual of tea: Boiling a kettle. Filling my favorite cup with hot water to warm it. Pouring that water out and refilling my cup. Dropping in a tea bag and letting it steep. Breathing in the scent for a few minutes, then pulling the bag out and using the string to extract the last drops of flavor. Adding just enough sugar and a squeeze of lemon or a dollop of cream. It was a meditative way to begin my day. I didn’t think about anything else while I did it.
