Do You Want to Grab a Coffee?
As a fellow coffee addict, I’ve found this question to be one I can almost never say no to. It’s one I’ve asked my roommates every Sunday morning, and one I’ve received from old teammates wanting to catch up, or from professors who want to be in a different environment than just their office to have a meeting. To me, this question means so much more than getting my caffeine kick in for the day. It’s a time to sit down, to catch up, to get work done, to talk out an argument. Coffee honestly brings more people together than most recognize. Because who doesn’t want a coffee?
I’ve had some of the toughest conversations in my life over coffee. Some have been positive about planning a trip with my friends, or grabbing a cup after practice with my teammates to debrief. But I’ve also made major decisions like my decision to study abroad and where to go with my study abroad advisor. Or the time I had coffee with my mom in my sophomore year because I was struggling with my sport and was not sure I wanted to continue. While these conversations can get tough, the coffee always did help a bit and bring me comfort.
Having the opportunity to be in an area where there is a coffee shop every few miles or so is definitely a privilege I did not have when growing up in the Poconos. I’ve now taken full advantage of having coffee shops within walking distance for the past four years during my time at Arcadia. While I love a good Dunkin or Starbucks cup of coffee, I’ve found the local brews to be especially worthwhile. If I’m looking for something extra close by and have time for a walk on a sunny day in Glenside, Elcy’s has become my go-to. Right next to the Glenside train station, squeezed into the tiniest shop, is some of the best coffee and breakfast I’ve ever had. Their creativity with their seasonal flavors is also very impressive, the cinnamon roll latte being my personal favorite.
But if you’re looking for something a bit more spacious to maybe sit down and get some work done or catch up with a friend, my roommates discovered Local’s Coffee our first year and have stopped by every chance we get since then. The coffee? Delicious. The food? Addicting. And if you’re looking for a nice place to sit by the fire in the winter, they’ve got that too.
My addiction to coffee has certainly not gotten any better since moving to Glenside. But the connection I’ve been able to make over a simple iced vanilla latte has shaped my friendships and helped build a community. I’ve been able to talk to people and break the ice to form professional connections, while also spending quality time with my roommates. Overall, coffee has helped me in more ways than I ever could have expected, bringing people together and creating moments that have made my time here even more meaningful.
