Coffee has many subtle nuances. To the most keen observer and aficionado of coffee, he will find a pleasant experience or he will be left wanting. To the keen, coffee is either as it should be or it has missed the mark- there is no (or perhaps very little) room for the shade of gray.

The young lady serving the beverage is aware of her responsibility in delivering a well-crafted, simplistic coffee presentation to the soon-to-be-sipper; and, yet, she begins to toe the line of becoming a coffee connoisseur as a means to an end; as a means to building relationship. The end is not her status of knowledge and expertise, the end is love. Now, we’re getting somewhere.

It is my stance that coffee for the sake of coffee has missed the point of the beverage. Coffee is about building relationships and a culture around conversation and social good.

If the young lady serving the beverage sets her focus on the good of the customer and the relationship being formed, then surely her craft will take a higher road and she will deliver a better coffee, more intentionally; she is doing so out of love.

If the barista sets her focus on the beverage, the coffee, rather than the person, then she risks delivering a well-crafted beverage without love and service. The coffee may not suffer, but the relationship can and often times, will.

Focus on the beverage only and you run the risk of missing the one whom you are serving. Focus on the sipper, the one you serve, and both the relationship and the beverage will aspire to and be capable of higher purpose.