Cold Air, Hot Coffee

As the winter months are upon us, I have noticed a lot more people carrying hot coffee around campus. I myself, a coffee addict, even have to switch from iced coffee to hot coffee when the air turns cold enough that I run the risk of having my hands freeze to the plastic iced coffee cup (as a rule, I try not to hold an iced coffee while wearing gloves--it's just kind of a contradiction). I can't imagine winter in New England without a good cup of coffee (or tea). A piping hot cup of coffee always tastes so much better after having drudged through a sloshy, bitter path on campus or after having shoveled a slick driveway; you can feel the hot beverage start to thaw out your insides.

I'm sure I'm not the only winter coffee enthusiast out there. In fact, Starbucks in particular seems to embrace and market the rawness of winter; they welcome the holiday season with winter-themed cups, festive decorations, and a menu infused with winter favorites (I recommend the peppermint hot chocolate). In many ways, Starbucks becomes its own culture. It seems that the holiday season is (unofficially) kicked off when Starbucks decides to switch over to its festive cups and decorations.

Although I thoroughly enjoy a chilled iced coffee on my way to the beach in the peak of summertime, there is something so comforting about a warm cup of coffee in the winter. Nothing beats curling up in a chair, sitting by a fire, and sipping a steaming cup of java. And while I fully appreciate Starbucks' brightly-themed paper-ware, nothing beats a good ceramic mug.