About blind dates and coffee shops
A blind date with a person is like entering a new coffee shop. Here’s why.
My relationship with coffee has become stronger since being a freelancer and working from home. Imagine spending life working in PJs and connecting with people through email and WhatsApp. You rarely leave the house.
Therefore, I go on blind dates. Coffee shop blind dates.
Going to a new coffee shop is like having a date. A real blind date. You never know what to expect. Search for new places online (specialty coffees are my favorites) and randomly pick one; I try to gather the least information possible, like how to get there and until what time is it open, before going, so I can let that surprise effect do its thing.
Give the issue the importance it has: put on some perfume, wear some nice clothes and bring my bag with my sketchbook and drawing tools (I’ll need them, trust me, I’m an illustrator).
“Am I going to find the place? Is it going to be full or empty? Will the staff be nice?” I wonder while walking to my destination with the usual nerves you get before a blind date. You are going to meet someone (someplace) that you’ve never met before.
Like on a date with a person, on a date with a coffee shop, first impression counts.
Once I walk through the door, I scan my date with my eyes: is it big? Is it small? Is there one big table or just a few individual ones? Do people say hi back when I say hi? Is there music playing? Is it loud or good enough to keep a conversation? Are there smiles on people’s faces? Are they connecting with each other or just scrolling on their phones?
And just like that, you can either stay and give it a go or politely say goodbye and leave (don’t worry, unlike a person, a place won’t get hurt or disappointed)
Let’s suppose that the first impression was good enough to make you curious and excited about the date; now it’s time to get to know each other.
On a usual date with a person, I’d do a bit of small talk to have an idea of what’s on their mind. With a coffee shop, you really want to have an idea of what they have to offer, therefore you ask for the menu. If you’re a coffee connoisseur or just know a bit more about the world of coffee, you will check about the grains they roast, the traceability and species. See what’s in store to snack or bite to accompany your coffee. You might even approach the barista and check if they can recommend that infusion you’re craving for or fits your request.
I love to do that. Nothing sexier than a coffee shop that has people who know about coffee. Hearing the coffee beans being ground, perceiving the smell of the coffee in the air, seeing how your barista makes all the right moves to deliver that unique special coffee, just for you. That’s like an accidental touch, something both of you enjoy yet keep quiet.
The moment your coffee is ready, right in front of you, is pure intimacy: you see it, shake that cup, feel the consistency, smell it. You might even take a picture of it. And then taste it.
A good cup of coffee is like a good kiss: it leaves you wanting more.
And you can’t wait for the next date, to do it all over again.
