Me and my morning coffee

(Entry for the "Impressions on Vietnamese Coffee and Tea" contest, part of the 3rd "Celebrating Vietnamese Coffee and Tea" program - 2025 organized by Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper).

I was born in the alluvial delta. From a young age, I was familiar with my grandmother's diluted coffee. In the early 1990s, not only my family but many relatives chose diluted coffee, simply because it was cheap and easy to drink.

As usual, every morning my grandmother would bring freshly brewed coffee in one hand and ice water in the other. Before heading to the fields, my parents would each sip a cup, and I would share with my grandmother because I was afraid my mother would scold me: "You're still young, you'll get addicted to it." But that bittersweet taste quietly seeped into my childhood, becoming an unforgettable memory.

During my university years, I often bought coffee from the elderly couple selling it on An Duong Vuong Street, District 5. Every morning, just one cup was enough to keep me alert for the whole day of classes. Even after starting work, my morning coffee addiction remained unchanged. Throughout my time in Ho Chi Minh City, coffee shops were always my preferred place to meet friends and colleagues.

Although I'm not a coffee connoisseur, I find that the taste and way of enjoying coffee vary from region to region. Morning coffee in my hometown seems to last longer because it's often accompanied by conversations about farming, the neighborhood, and other things. Nowadays, in my rural, marshy area, you can find coffee shops or stalls everywhere you go.

It's no exaggeration to say that whether you live in the countryside, the city, or the mountainous regions, you share the same "rhythm" of morning coffee.

Due to health issues, I haven't gone to cafes for my morning coffee much in recent years. But I still maintain that habit at home.

Recently, I've been participating in wheelchair marathons with other wheelchair users. Besides our shared passion, we also share a love for morning coffee to energize ourselves before the race.

For me, morning coffee is not just a habit, but a collection of peaceful memories amidst everyday life. Morning coffee is like a companion, having been with me through both my healthy and disabled lives.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/toi-va-ca-phe-sang-196250511214148715.htm