FRIDAY READS: All Things Coffee, an Excerpt from Farnaz Calafi’s Book

NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: All Things Coffee speaks to those who see coffee, not only as an enticing beverage, but also as a muse! This book is an eclectic collection of writings that capture the historical, cultural, health, and social justice aspects of coffee, as well as fun facts and recipes.

Twelve Signs You May Be a Coffeeholic

All Things Coffee: A Book for Every Coffee Lover by Farnaz Calafi

Do you ever wonder if you’re addicted to coffee? If this question has ever crossed your mind, then there’s a good chance that you may be a coffeeholic, or at risk of becoming one. No need to panic though! Although addiction could be a serious problem, it’s not always a bad thing. In fact, some addictions are “good,” or at the very least, okay. For example, addiction to working out, cooking, or reading novels could reduce stress and have long-term benefits.

Since numerous research and studies have revealed that drinking coffee may prevent or lower the risk of a wide variety of diseases such as: Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, certain cancers and infections, as well as depression, coffee addiction can also fall in the “good” category.

Now that fear is out of the equation, read the following signs and symptoms to find out if you are a coffeeholic in the first place. (Just bear in mind that these are not based on medical or scientific evidence!)

  1. Coffee is the first thing on your mind when you wake up in the morning. You may think this is quite common or “normal.” You may be right. However, if coffee is one of the main reasons you get out of bed, then it may be a sign. If it’s the ONLY reason, then it’s definitely a sign.
  2. You’re like a coffee encyclopedia. You know a lot about coffee, whether it’s nutritional, medical or historical facts. When among friends, you share coffee-related quotes and fun facts. You can even recite poetry in this genre.
  3. You like to serve coffee to your guests. In fact, you insist on serving them coffee even when they say they prefer tea.
  4. You just don’t get tea drinkers. You don’t have any fond memories from tea parties, worst yet, you associate the term with a political group you’re not a fan of.
  5. You plan your vacations around coffee. You do a “Top Ten Coffee Hot Spots in the World” search, and go from there. Your next trip–fingers crossed–will be to Sumatra.
  6. You also plan your social activities around coffee. When meeting with friends, you bypass the bar and restaurant scenes and meet them at a local coffee shop.
  7. Everyone brings you coffee as souvenir. Whether your friends and loved ones travel near or far, east or west, to exotic or ordinary places, they always bring you the same thing: A bag of coffee.
  8. You’ve considered a career in coffee. You may be a CPA, administrator, engineer, graphic designer, etc. Still, when it comes to choosing an industry to work for, coffee tops the list. Plus, your career role model is Howard Shultz.
  9. Instead of a memoir, you’re writing a book about coffee. This is despite the fact that you’ve had a very interesting life (i.e. you survived a nuclear war, your childhood friend was an ostrich, and you spent three years circumnavigating the world on a pool float that was shaped like a giant doughnut).
  10. Your furniture and closet consist mostly of brown hues. In particular mocha, coffee and carob colors.
  11. You can smell coffee from every corner of your house, not only the kitchen. That is because there are coffee-scented candles everywhere. Plus, your bathroom’s air freshener is called ‘Coffee Heaven’ and your body wash is Sephora’s “Coffee and Cream.”
  12. You proudly admit that you are a coffeeholic. You feel zero shame or guilt and need not to refer to any silly signs and symptoms chart.

You can buy All Things Coffee: A Book for Every Coffee Lover at https://www.amazon.com/All-Things-Coffee-Every-Lover-ebook/dp/B08K39XJYN.


Ever since trying her first cup of coffee, FARNAZ CALAFI fell in love with this “magical beverage.” With java as her favorite study companion, she studied environmental analysis and design at the University of California, Irvine and went on to get her master’s degree in Journalism from Syracuse University. After graduation, she moved to New York, New York, where she wrote for Examiner.com as the Manhattan Coffee Examiner. She’s currently transplanted back in Orange County, California, and although a New Yorker at heart, she’s grateful for the abundance of sunny days and beautiful beaches in her hometown of Newport Beach.


FRIDAY READS is a weekly feature showcasing writers based in Orange County, Calif. If you’re interested in submitting an excerpt, check out our SUBMISSIONS page.

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