Coffee "dates"

When someone asks you to coffee, what is your first thought? Does it depend on the gender, age, or position of the specific person? If it's someone of the opposite gender, is it a date? When it's someone of authority or older do you think you're in trouble or that you did something well? This question will receive multiple different answers because everyone thinks differently but also it depends what stage of life you're in. If you're a student in college, especially at Taylor University, if you get asked to coffee by the opposite gender, people usually think it's a date. When you are getting coffee with someone of the same gender or a faculty member, it is such a normal, "I want to get to know you" type of thing.

As a student at Taylor University, I go to the student center everyday during the week and possibly at least once during the weekend. When I walk into the student center, I usually pass the coffee shop, "The Jumping Bean", or at least pass multiple tables of all different ages, genders, and authorities drinking coffee from "The Bean" while having conversation. "The Jumping bean" creates an insane amount of community and builds relationships. Going on a coffee "date" is such a normalized thing here at Taylor. However, out in the real world after you graduate or at other colleges, especially public schools, coffee dates aren't really thought of that often I believe. When someone is asked out to coffee outside of and after Taylor, most people view that as a real date. I have talked to multiple friends here at Taylor and most of my friends have said they have gone on coffee "dates" with a good amount of people the opposite gender as them but both sides know it is completely platonic. They also have been on many coffee "dates" with the same gender or professors to just catch up with someone, get to know someone better, talk about something specific, etc. Don't get me wrong, I do know people who have been on actual first dates with people over coffee, especially from "The Bean", but it's definitely not always a real date.

Grabbing a cup of coffee at "The Jumping bean" is such a normal thing here at Taylor. Going to coffee with someone can mean whole bunch of different things. When you walk into the student center between 8am and 5pm, you will almost always see more than at least two to three pairs or groups of people drinking coffee and having a conversation together. Those who pass by pairs of people drinking coffee will assume or at least wonder what it is about when it is between a male and female. If you go to taylor University and are getting coffee with someone the opposite gender of you and a friend or acquaintance of yours passes by and sees, expect them to ask you later on if it was a date or if there is any interest. That connects to the very interesting and what a majority of people like to say, unhealthy, dating culture of taylor University. That topic is for another time and different blog. I don't even want to start getting into that tonight or anytime soon. It is such a crazy and confusing concept.

Coffee is such a popular and beloved drink by so many. It is personally my favorite drink other than water and I love to drink it literally whenever. However, I would have to say, my favorite time to drink it is when I'm on a coffee "date", platonic or not. I guess that means I'm definitely a student at taylor University and falling into the whole coffee "date" phenomenon, but I'm not going to lie to you, I'm not mad that I am. I enjoy coffee, conversation, and community which definitely describes a Taylor student and I can't argue with that because well, I am one and am proud to be.

#coffee #coffeedates #TheJumpingBean