About Coffee & Cafe Chronicles

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This blog was birthed due to my desire to quench my thirst for exploring new coffee experiences! 

I have a particular penchant to support local coffee shops and cafes. I have a few local faves, but I love to explore other places that I hear about. I have investigated some in my own area, and quite a few in areas where I have traveled. 

For me, going to a coffee shop or cafe is about taking time for a little retreat. I engage all senses, and I intentionally enjoy my time. 

You might find me engrossed in a book, deep in conversation with a friend, or chatting with a barista or another customer. In fact, a few of these encounters with new people have led to new friends. 

And so with this blog I want to encourage you to take a respite from the busy pace of life while savoring the delights of good food and drink in a pleasant atmosphere. 

Hi, I'm Angela. I am born and bred in the upper Midwest. In addition to loving coffee & tea and finding unique places where such beverages are served, I delight in discovering the beauties of nature. 

I am by turns quirky & loquacious; quiet & serious. I am a deep thinker and a lighthearted laugher. And with this blog I want to inspire the desire to really live - to find joy in simple things, be grateful, make small things into an adventure, be aware and engage all senses, set and go after goals, adjust perspectives... To be encouraged and spread encouragement.

There's that famous phrase, "Take time to stop and smell the roses." That ought to also apply to taking time to stop and smell the coffee, right? Especially in the midst of busy adulting.

Side note about smelling coffee > While I love drinking coffee now, I used to love the smell in the coffee aisle of stores but had zero desire to drink it - unless it was basically a cup of creamer with some coffee added, haha.

Anyways, speaking of adulting, I came across a mug once that read, "Coffee, because adulting is hard." And of course I laughed at that. However, when I later remembered it some things occurred to me.

1. Delicious coffee is always worth drinking - once you've acquired the taste for coffee of course. 

2. When adulting is hard, it's a great excuse to splurge on delicious coffee.

3. Delicious coffee should be enjoyed during quiet introspective times as well as times of delightful and/or deep conversation.

4. Delicious coffee should be enjoyed. Period.

5. Tea is also a very valid drink to enjoy for something other than coffee. Including chai lattes.

But the deep thought that I arrived at and pondered for quite some time was, what is the best way to cope with the fact that adulting is hard? Other than sipping good coffee or tea of course, haha. And I came to the conclusion that finding joy in simple things is a great solution.

Let go and relax.

Let go and laugh.

Live in the moment &

Make the most of moments.

And that is the underlying idea of this blog.