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Student Opinion Column: America’s Coffee Obsession

By: Madisyn Pelan, a junior at Leigh High School on February 26, 2020

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In our divisive culture today, there is one thing we can all still agree on: America LOVES coffee. In fact, many Americans are obsessed with coffee.  They are no longer just brewing it at home either. Many are grabbing coffee at a coffee shop numerous times a week.  

Is all this coffee really a necessity, or is it something we should all consider cutting out of our daily lives?  

Most people wake up and make a pot of coffee at home, or they have a cup at work. Other people opt for more upscale, brand-name coffee like Starbucks, Dutch Bros, or Scooters. Some people spend $50 or more just on coffee for one week. Now, I do like my coffee, but not that much. Even high school students can be found “going for coffee” on the weekends with friends, whereas a decade ago, this wouldn’t have been as likely.  

Starbucks says their average store serves about 500 customers a day.  That is a lot of people! People go to more coffee places that are on the go because it is easier for them too. I don’t live near one of these trendy coffee retailers, so coffee is not on my top priorities, but I do indulge once in a while. Slowly more brand name coffees have made their way up the chain. I usually grab a cup of coffee because of the energy it is said to provide. And I do feel like it perks me up.  So if you’re having a slow day, coffee may be your answer.  

Energy isn’t the only thing that coffee provides, but it all depends on what kind of coffee you get. Some of the more traditional coffees have more benefits than the calorie-laden ones today. Starbucks is probably the most prominent coffee brand, so I will use that as an example. The more sugar the Starbucks’ coffee has, the less it is beneficial it is for you. Avid coffee drinkers are said to live longer and be more alert, but coffee is also said to be bad for you and your liver.

I believe that coffee is something that is just a part of our modern culture.  It may be good for you or bad for you, but if you aren’t drinking it, you are in the minority.  And that $50 a week? Most people who spend that much on it believe that it’s worth shelling out the cash.  For the foreseeable future, it seems like America’s coffee obsession is here to stay!