During Hurricane Sandy, one of the things people were really missing was hot coffee. Why do you think New York, specifically, is addicted?
“New Yorkers love their coffee, yes. But my perception is simply that coffee creates a community amidst the noise and grit and raw energy of the city. We like to be around other people — we are city dwellers after all. In the same way that we go to bars at night, we go to cafes in the morning and throughout the day. We like to feel connected to each other even when our experiences are disparate. And our community had its coffee during Sandy! Our La Colombe family from Philly brought down a generator so that we could serve drip. I found myself again serving up coffee, but this time truly being able to lend an ear and commiserate. Yes, folks wanted hot coffee, but moreover, they wanted to be around friends, familiarity, and a community that understood.”