Coffee Culture

[bluegreysky]

Does your church have it?

There are many social events where there's a Mr. Coffee machine on with weak Folger's and an assortment of little styrofoam cups, powdered creamers, artificial sweetners and stale cookies on the table.
And alot of the time, whatever organization it is has set up its meeting in a classroom at a church facility.
This not coffee culture.

Then there's my church.
There are portables and classrooms, and sometimes weak coffee from a cannister is produced on site but there are also many many social events at the campus and in people's homes around town for members of the church and what they have brewing there is entirely different.
Take the bible study (or small group) I go to for example.
In the host family's home is a high quality coffee maker, a high quality grinder and organic creamer and sugar. Oh and ceramic mugs.
They go to all the trouble of using their best stuff on Wednesday nights for group because the coffee they serve doesn't come from a can.
It was roasted by another member who started his own business. and he's in my age bracket. His coffee has gotten popular fast.

Why did he take up roasting? Doesn't that seem random?
He took it on because there's a market for it.
There are other local roasters in this county and in this small town.
There are 4 or 5 family owned shops in this small town.
There's also starbucks just like everywhere else.
When my church has an event, if it isn't at someone's house or on campus, it's at one of those coffee shops.
Makes sense, because a cup of coffee is cheaper and more convenient than buying dinner.

But what about the part where they use it to celebrate everything?
At my church, if there's a baby shower, a wedding, a "mommy social hour", a youth event, a party, a funeral.... there's the fancy coffee. It's their coctail I guess.... the social beverage you sip whilst networking.
And the events don't go smoothly without it.
When I show up for bible study and they didn't have any coffee that week, everyone is discombobulated.... like a frat party that ran out of kegs.
On the back of the bag that the local roaster sells in shops there's a spiel about toasts.
"This unique blend is there for you when you need to celebrate something... be it a little moment or a life event".
Which kind of makes it like champagne I guess.

The likes of subtances like alcohol are frowned upon at church functions.
And at functions where children are involved. And teens.
So it's like they made coffee the new "highball" in my church of 20 and 30-something socialities who love to celebrate everything.
And I wasn't kidding... whenever I look on Facebook and see an ad for something they are doing (because obviously I "liked" my church's home page) the ads say things like "caffeienated small group", "Smallgroup at _______.... don't worry, there's coffee here!" "Mommy coffee hour! babysitting on site so you can chat!"

Does your church have this? Is it pretty much standard?
I wonder because the other 2 that I visited for awhile would provide the cheap stuff at the service or at a bible study, but it was not the center of their social time. Nor was it very good.

Or does your church have something else it's gaga about?

 

[Returner]

I see coffee at pretty much every church that I've been to.
Everybody seems to like coffee, though I prefer water or tea.

 

[Odetta]

I have never seen something to that extent, although serving good coffee has been a thing at a few churches I've been a part of, including the one we currently attend. In my experience, it's kind of like having a bulletin. Good to have, you might miss it if you don't have one, but only because you're used to having it.

I think your situation is unique in that a church member has a talent and a passion that he is sharing with the church that the church is wholeheartedly embracing. At our church, we just expect decent coffee at the dispenser in the hall.

 

[rich1540]

Coffee is a highly addictive drug. I wish more people would realise that.

 

[bluegreysky]

I know... it's kind of funny.
I drink it too but I sit there on Wednesday night
and I'm listening to them talk... almost all of us have a mug in our hand right?
And they are talking about "so and so who overcame a drug addiction"
or a couple of times someone put in a prayer request because she was trying not to get carried away drinking (liquor or wine) at home since her family was alcoholics... and I'm watching them all sip their coffee
-which they expect to get every week-
and I'm like

 

[dmpeace]

Yea but whens the last time you heard of a guy that came home that had to much coffee to drink and beat his wife. Or people losing everything to a coffee addiction or overdosing.

 

[LilLamb219]

My former church used what was donated by members and that was generally Folgers in the large cans. They love their coffee but they also love the baked goodies

I haven't been to any events at my new church yet to know what they use.

 

[rich1540]

Yea but whens the last time you heard of a guy that came home that had to much coffee to drink and beat his wife. Or people losing everything to a coffee addiction or overdosing.

Same could be said about a stoner.

I didn't start drinking coffee till I was in my early thirties. I would have a couple of cups and enjoy the high. My behavior in following months became quite eratic and I retrospect I was very manic.

I had no idea that 300mg of coffee a day would lead to a physical addiction or that it cuts off blood flow to the brain. I feel there needs to be some education that coffee can lead to an addiction. There needs to some control over the purchase of it. People would outraged if a 5 year old bought cigarettes, yet there is nothing stopping that same child buying a jar of coffee.

 

[dmpeace]

Same could be said about a stoner.

I didn't start drinking coffee till I was in my early thirties. I would have a couple of cups and enjoy the high. My behavior in following months became quite eratic and I retrospect I was very manic.

I had no idea that 300mg of coffee a day would lead to a physical addiction or that it cuts off blood flow to the brain. I feel there needs to be some education that coffee can lead to an addiction. There needs to some control over the purchase of it. People would outraged if a 5 year old bought cigarettes, yet there is nothing stopping that same child buying a jar of coffee.

You could just go on and on about that and then the many other things in stores children shouldn't buy or use. I'm not going to follow you down that rabbit trail. As for weed I know quite a lot about it to know its not harmless as the stoners want you to believe so they can try and justify it.

 

[bluegreysky]

Yea but whens the last time you heard of a guy that came home that had to much coffee to drink and beat his wife. Or people losing everything to a coffee addiction or overdosing.

I seriously LOL'd so hard

Then I went back to drinking my coffee


Actually caffeiene does to my husband what not having it does to an addict... he has post traumatic stress and coffee exacerbates it. So he gest snippy with me and jumpy

 

[Inkachu]

I don't drink coffee, and I'm glad I've never been sucked into the "coffee culture"... it's just weird to me.

 

[DaedraSun]

(quote snipped)

But what about the part where they use it to celebrate everything?
At my church, if there's a baby shower, a wedding, a "mommy social hour", a youth event, a party, a funeral.... there's the fancy coffee. It's their coctail I guess.... the social beverage you sip whilst networking.
And the events don't go smoothly without it.
When I show up for bible study and they didn't have any coffee that week, everyone is discombobulated.... like a frat party that ran out of kegs.

On the back of the bag that the local roaster sells in shops there's a spiel about toasts.
"This unique blend is there for you when you need to celebrate something... be it a little moment or a life event".
Which kind of makes it like champagne I guess.

Just common marketing. Associate product with social event or celebration.

The likes of subtances like alcohol are frowned upon at church functions.
And at functions where children are involved. And teens.
So it's like they made coffee the new "highball" in my church of 20 and 30-something socialities who love to celebrate everything.
And I wasn't kidding... whenever I look on Facebook and see an ad for something they are doing (because obviously I "liked" my church's home page) the ads say things like "caffeienated small group", "Smallgroup at _______.... don't worry, there's coffee here!" "Mommy coffee hour! babysitting on site so you can chat!"

Does your church have this? Is it pretty much standard?
I wonder because the other 2 that I visited for awhile would provide the cheap stuff at the service or at a bible study, but it was not the center of their social time. Nor was it very good.

Or does your church have something else it's gaga about?

I no longer attend church but I'm aware of what you refer to - and it's not really related to church - it's just modern western culture, celebrated to a lesser or greater extent between social groups that share some common religious belief that congregate and study/worship in buildings. Excepting those who's beliefs prohibit it, like the Mormons, or discourage it, like SDA.

 

[Rhovanion]

I don't go to church obviously, but here in Sweden coffee is like a religion. Everybody drinks it all the time. Every social or professional gathering requires coffee. If people don't get their coffee breaks at work or at university (and I bet at church too for those who do attend), all hell would break loose.

I'm pretty much the odd one out since I don't drink the stuff.

 

[Blue Wren]

-

 

[faroukfarouk]

My church has its own coffee shop / cafe. We also have free coffee and donuts after the 9AM service.
Oh and yes we live in a coffee culture city. Personally I'm not a fan of coffee - prefer tea - but my 17 year old cousin probably drinks her weight in coffee lol. She gets excited about all the things you can use to make coffee - pour over, iced coffee brewer. You name it she's got it.

I've given up coffee also. Where we attend they serve tea and coffee.

 

[Blue Wren]

I've given up coffee also. Where we attend they serve tea and coffee.

I never got into drinking coffee even though I grew up in a "coffee culture."
It makes me feel anxious. Tea is much nicer for me.