Drinking and Driving

When I drive, I like to drink. Wait—no! Not that kind of drinking. I mean, I like to have coffee. Or, on occasion, iced tea. And when I’m really feeling wild (read: always), I’ll have both.

If you ask my wife how much I spend on coffee and tea, she’ll probably say it’s enough to fund a small nation. But that’s beside the point.

This past weekend, I was out running errands and desperately in need of my morning coffee. I had left my mug at home. Instead of defaulting to my usual, I thought, Why not see what else is out there? I made it my mission to find something that promised both quality and a drive-through.

Spoiler alert: Specialty coffee doesn’t have to mean “hip barista and manual pour-over.”

At first sip, I knew this coffee was different. When coffee is super hot, it can be hard to detect the nuanced flavors that set it apart. But what I could immediately tell was what this coffee wasn’t. It wasn’t bitter or ashy or reminiscent of the aftermath of a backyard bonfire—something many gas station coffees unfortunately master. Instead, it had a subtle citrus brightness, the kind that adds a little zing without making your face pucker.

As the coffee cooled, it really started to shine. I picked up notes of chocolate and a hint of nuttiness, maybe pecan? If I had to guess, I’d bet this coffee had its origins in Guatemala. Whether or not it’s single-origin, though, wasn’t advertised—just the comforting label of “specialty grade.”

What’s the takeaway? Specialty coffee doesn’t have to mean intimidating or exclusive. Sometimes, it’s just about making your morning a little brighter, one sip at a time.

So, the next time you’re on the road and jonesing for something caffeinated, keep an eye out. Specialty-grade coffee is popping up in unexpected places. And trust me—it’s worth pulling over for.