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Krakatoa, east of Java
I have never been a habitual coffee drinker.
I don’t actually dislike coffee; I’ve just never been in the habit of drinking it, and don’t normally keep it around the house. Many months will go by without me drinking a cup of coffee.
I have toyed every now and then with trying to learn to appreciate coffee a little better. A year ago, I went to a house concert by Randy Stonehill that was hosted by John Joseph Thompson of Trevecca Nazarene University, and as a result I was introduced to his truly outstanding book Jesus, Bread, and Chocolate: Crafting a Handmade Faith in a Mass-Market World. This book, which carries my heartiest recommendation, compares artisan versions of products like bread, coffee, and chocolate to their mass-market counterparts and makes an analogy to the authenticity of a true, deep Christian faith.
It also includes a lot of fascinating information about coffee, chocolate, bread, beer, and the other products discussed. It made me want to drink more coffee. I stopped by the nearby coffee shop once or twice, but nothing stuck.
Just recently, I read a fascinating history book, A History of the World in 6 Glasses by Tom Standage. It discusses…
