Me and morning coffee

(Entry to the contest "Impressions of Vietnamese coffee and tea" under the program "Honoring Vietnamese coffee - tea" 3rd time - 2025 organized by Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper).

I was born in the alluvial delta. Ever since I was a child, I have been familiar with my grandfather's old coffee. In the early 1990s, not only my family but also many relatives chose old coffee, simply because it was cheap and easy to drink.

As usual, every morning, my grandmother brought me freshly bought coffee and iced water in one hand. Before going to the field, my parents each sipped a cup, and I drank from my grandmother's cup because I was afraid my mother would scold me: "You're still young, drinking too much will make you addicted." However, that bitter and fragrant taste quietly permeated my childhood, becoming an unforgettable memory.

In college, I often bought coffee from an old couple selling on An Duong Vuong Street, District 5. Every morning, I only needed one cup to stay awake for the whole study session. When I went to work, my "addiction" to morning coffee remained unchanged. During my years in Ho Chi Minh City, coffee shops were always the place I prioritized to meet friends and colleagues.

As someone who is not much of a coffee connoisseur, to me, the taste of coffee and the way of enjoying it in each region has its own characteristics. Morning coffee in my hometown seems to last longer because it is often accompanied by stories about the fields and the village. Now, in my hometown, just take a walk around and you will see either a coffee shop or a coffee stall.

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

Due to health issues, in recent years I rarely go out to enjoy morning coffee. But I still maintain that habit at home.

Recently, I have been participating in wheelchair marathons with my fellow runners. In addition to our shared passion, we also enjoy morning coffee to fuel up before the race.

Morning coffee, to me, is not just a habit, but a simple memory in everyday life. Morning coffee is like a companion, has been with me from the time I was healthy to the time I was sick.

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