Young Adults and Coffee

I've never been one of the cool kids. Most of the time it was by choice. I never understood the latest fashion trend or could tolerate hearing the newest pop band. But there's a trend today that has me even more baffled - the consumption of coffee among teenagers and young adults. In a recent article published by The Boston Globe, quoting both a group that promotes good food and a marketing firm, they note coffee consumption has risen among teenagers and young adults. Moreover, the online journalism site Zephyr states that "today, the largest percentage of coffee drinkers are young adults age 18 to 39. In fact, college age adults, age 18-24, drink more specialty coffee drinks than any other group in America." But why do young, energetic kids, their bodies pure as the driven snow, need this pick me up? A pick me up from what? Thumbing their iPod? What are these people doing that is so exhausting? We have kids who are consciously eating organic, farm raised almonds, and after a half hour of reading in Borders, they need a pick me up. I must be, yet again, not in the cool crowd. I always thought that coffee was reserved for parents in their late thirties with two kids and a hard driving job. When you get 4 hours of sleep because your 2 year old daughter has a 103 fever and is whining to her hearts content, plus you have a meeting at 8:30 a.m., a pick me up is well deserved. Thus, if you are in fact a young adult who has a kid or two, and the weight of the world on your shoulders, you are pardoned from this group I'm speaking of. I'll grab you any coffee drink you like for that matter.

Aside from the fact that most young adults are seemingly running low on energy, coffee has become quite a personal endeavor. People rarely state, "I need some coffee" or "I could go for a cup of joe." Instead you hear rants such as "I need my coffee" or "I haven't had my coffee yet," as if they are a totally different person with or without it. And since when is it cool to be dependent on something? Let alone a chemical? But is easier to find a coffee house than a church or community center. And make sure it's not just a Styrofoam cup, but instead a slim white spout with a nicely wrapped piece of tan, beveled cardboard around it.

And so, for whatever reason, you are tired, you are dragging behind a little. So be it. Why do we always have to be in top gear running at full speed? That in itself sounds tiring. Let us find comfort in being drained, in being slow. Have we completely forgone exercise? A decent diet? I guess so; and in that respect I am old fashioned and can not relate with the hip kids. The only thing I can relate to are those after a good ol' buzz. If you don't need your coffee, but instead are after a good time in getting all jazzed up, then I'll buy you a drink as well.

I understand that most of you will continue to live life with a head full of caffeine, not to mention sugar, calories, and enough acid to burn a hole in your stomach. And never mind the possibility that your teeth will be stained and look like wood. Enjoy!