Keith Pandolfi's The Case For Bad Coffee

In “The Case for Bad Coffee” Keith Pandolfi begins by reminiscing on his past love for great cups of coffee and how much of a livelihood it used to be for him. As he stands in his kitchen making instant coffee, he is reminded of his past by all of the top-tier coffee equipment gathering dust around him. Pandolfi formerly managed a local coffee shop in his twenties, and when Starbucks came around in the 90’s, he signed on as the assistant manager. He knew everything there was to know about coffee. At that point in his life, he wanted nothing but good coffee to be his life, but lately he has found himself in an “unexpected love affair with bad coffee” (Pandolfi). With this love affair, he finds himself indulging in any poor cup of coffee he can

The two of them couldn't have been any more different, but Pandolfi's mother would frequently send them to a local chain restaurant to pick up dinner. Ted would always insist on sitting and getting a cup of coffee while they waited, but it was always more than just one and turned into long conversations about things he couldn’t even comprehend. Although those conversations over coffee became more enjoyable, he began to learn things from everything Ted would tell him. Ted passed away a few years ago, and after his burial, Pandolfi honored him by drinking not just one, but three cups of coffee at the local Perkins. In this essay, Keith Pandolfi argues that bad coffee is actually better than good coffee because of the connection and memories it comes along with. High-end coffee in fancy places doesn’t typically give anything more than something to rave about, only talking about the different aspects of the coffee rather than who you are having it with. Bad coffee is the stuff you have when you’re inviting friends over on the weekend; the cup you sip on while catching up with an old

Every time I am making myself a cup of “bad coffee”, adding so much sugar and creamer, I think of how my mom likes to make her coffee. Bad coffee can be a good thing; embracing the imperfections of bad coffee leads to more authentic connections with others. He argues that not all cups of coffee have to be perfectly brewed to be enjoyable, and great coffee only gives you something to talk about. I agree with Pandolfi that “bad coffee” brings greater satisfaction, not because of the coffee itself, but because of those around you or how it makes you feel. Being around loved ones or friends, sharing coffee gives me a sense of warmth. For example, a cup of coffee at home with my mom before school, sitting on the back porch, is way more sentimental to me than grabbing a coffee on my way from the local Starbucks. Keith Pandolfi builds a “case for bad coffee,” explaining all of the sentimental reasons to him that bad coffee is better and more enjoyable than a great cup. Getting to know his stepfather, growing up with teenage friends, and stealing the last sip from his father in the early mornings are all things that connect bad coffee to meaningful memories for