When I was 3 my grandfather, who I lovingly call papa, gave me my first sip of coffee. It was on that day my love affair with the stimulant began. I honestly can't recall a moment in my life where there wasn't coffee present.

It started with frozen Folgers at church every Sunday. Now I shudder to think of what my morning would be with frozen grounds brewing in the morning, but then it was a simple reminder of happiness. The smell of the brew would waft through the halls while we learned our verses and sat quietly in the pews. If only I knew what life would bring beyond the walls of that sanctuary and just how meaningful coffee would be in my life moving forward.

Years, and hundreds of pots of coffee, later I found myself working at one of two coffee shops in my small Texas town. The chain store offered plenty of knowledge on the basics of the bean and dropped me deeper down the rabbit hole of caffeine infused chaos. It was at this point of my journey that I discovered the true meaning of coffeephilebecause I had become one. Opening new bags of coffee became intoxicating. The smell of the oils and the characteristics that gave hints to what the flavor profile would be became something I enjoyed almost more than the tasting itself.

Coffee quickly became an obsession. Teaching others about coffee became my passion. I eventually left the coffee business to find something slightly more stable for my life and my family but one thing hasn't changed. I will never stop loving coffee. I will never stop being a coffeephile.

“Even bad coffee is better than no coffee at all.” - David Lynch