Coffee is a weakness. Something that I find a way to incorporate into my diet almost every day. However, with my work schedule of late, that hasn’t been able to happen unless I only want five hours of sleep every night. So I’ve been forgoing both the homemade variety and my favorite, Woods Coffee.

Woods Coffee (Woods for short) was established in my hometown in 2002. I (like most of the people I’ve aged with) have grown up walking to Woods in the summer to get a frappuccino or when we’re older driving through to grab a drip coffee on our way to work. It’s made itself a tradition in our community that anytime somebody asks if you want to go out to coffee, they actually mean “wanna go to Woods?”

The conversation then leads to a debate between which location and the pros and cons of all of them.

Woods is an inviting place with industrial decor and usually a fireplace to make the atmosphere cozy. Many spend their days studying, working and catching up within their walls. It has become a place to have Bible studies and encourage each other when life gets hard or to celebrate holiday events with the exchange of ideas and gifts. Most of the time you will also find a newspaper or stack of games there to keep you company if you are simply arriving with the intention to drink your beverage and escape from the world for just a few moments.

The baristas are probably the best part. I don’t know if HR has a way of knowing, but each and every barista that they hire at Woods is cool. They’re knowledgeable, friendly and often clever with witty comments or a good joke. There was a point when I could walk into my favorite Woods location and I would know every barista behind the counter. And they would say something like this: “Hey Makayla! How was school? Do you want your regular? Milk or cream today? Are you getting your mom her coffee order too?” When somebody knows something so close to who you are, like your coffee order, you really start to feel like people hear you.

Three years ago when I was filling out college applications for days on end I would come to woods for eight hours and camp out just to be close to an energy source. The girls who worked there would come check on me every couple of hours and offer water or words of encouragement. I mean you would feel like Woods was home too, right?

But all that to say - Woods Coffee is home because it reminds me every time I walk in of the good memories I have had growing up with a coffee lovin’ mom who loves me well. Of the godly women in my life who have poured into me with Scripture, advice and just listening. Of the sweet summer adventures that always include a cold brew with cream and stevia. Woods is home because it represents the place I have come to appreciate - the community who hasn’t always been what I wished it would be but has always tried its best. It’s just a coincidence that I also want to decorate my actual home like a Woods Coffee.