About

Coffee and its stimulating ingredient—caffeine—have been moving conversations along for centuries. With the first coffeehouse making its appearance in Constantinople in the 15th century and later in London during the 17th century, they quickly become places of great importance, as those who congregated within helped shape and reshape daily life through discussion and debate.

Today, coffee and conversation friendly places continue to be where the chemical compounds of the bean (it’s actually a seed) are extracted, cupped, and discerned, where friends socialize and strangers become less so, regulars form an attachment to their favorite place, and customers plugin via WiFi to share information and exchange ideas online, complementing face-to-face conversations—not replacing them—with those that are digitally mediated.

During conversation, new ideas are put forward and prevailing ones reconsidered. Questions are asked and opinions shared; differences and commonalities reveal themselves. Though no conversation is perfect, imperfect communication is better than no communication at all—regardless of what it may reveal.

Whether organized or informal, in public or private places, or even online, the act of conversation—caffeinated or not—is more than just an exchange of words, ideas, and opinions. The act of conversation is an act of free will, an act of resistance, an act of human freedom. Through conversation, we shape and reshape, create and recreate.

Capturing, collecting, and creating opportunities for conversation is what I do. Many of which, but not all, are caffeinated.