Mindful moments: the mindfulness of coffee

Whether it’s first thing in the morning or halfway through an essay in the afternoon, coffee is an essential in most university students’ daily routines. In fact, according to a study in the National Library of Medicine, 92% of students said that they consume caffeine daily. However, as a student who drinks a significant amount of coffee, I believe that we have begun to take our daily coffee for granted. In the messy chaos of university, we can often see coffee as a means to an end: to stay as awake as long as possible. I would love for you to consider changing your daily coffee to a mindful activity; something that you can look forward to and enjoy, instead of just seeing it for one function.

Try sitting for a couple of minutes with your hands around the warm mug while practising some intentional breathing, this will instantly cause relaxation

The beauty of latte art is something that should be appreciated. Observing and enjoying a coffee carefully created by a barista can and should be a mindful activity. Try sitting for a couple of minutes with your hands around the warm mug while practising some intentional breathing – this will instantly cause relaxation. If you are wondering where you can find this stunning latte art, I certainly have a few places in mind. On campus, the Social Sciences Cafe, as well as Curiousitea, often take pride in creating beautiful hearts or flowers within the coffee. By sitting down and practising simple gratitude for these gorgeous works of art, you are actively practicing mindfulness and creating a positive mindset.

Latte art, however, is not coffee’s only redeeming quality. The wonderful taste of a latte or cappuccino is also something worth celebrating. Sometimes, when we view coffee as a means to function rather than a treat in itself, we tend to neglect the various flavours that coffee can bring. Whether it be a festive coffee or a vanilla latte, we should drink our coffee slower and with more intentionality. This will allow you to relax and practice having a mindful attitude towards your drink, which will improve your attitude towards the rest of the work you have to conquer that day. When looking for tasty coffee in Leamington, I would recommend Blue Wolf Coffee House or The Steamhouse. So, sit down, relax, and truly appreciate the taste of the delicious coffee that these coffee shops provide.

It is relaxing to just sit with your mug and watch the world go by, instead of always running around with a take-out cup in hand

One of the most exciting aspects of drinking a coffee is to sit in a lovely little cafe with your drink of choice. Instead of always getting your coffee ‘to go’, try and slow down every once in a while, and take a seat. That way ,you get to practice mindfulness by shutting off from the outside world and appreciating the surroundings of an aesthetic cafe. People-watching can also be an entertaining hobby. It is relaxing to just sit with your mug and watch the world go by, instead of always running around with a take-out cup in hand. In both Coventry and Leamington, a personal favourite of mine is Coffee #1. The cafe has a vintage aesthetic, with beautifully unique chairs, random portraits, and high ceilings. To just sit and drink my latte in a cafe as beautiful as Coffee #1, I am practising mindfulness by appreciating my surroundings.

I hope this article has given a few ways that a simple coffee is more than just a means to an end, in many ways it allows you to actively practice gratitude and mindfulness. So, next time you order your espresso shot ‘to go’, stop for a second and think of all the ways you can benefit from sitting in with a tasty coffee of your choice