This Tuesday, Your Coffee is a Time Machine
Good morning, Followers!
As you hold that warm mug, let’s take a moment. That morning ritual is more than just a welcome jolt of caffeine; it’s a connection to a wild and wonderful history. The story swirling in your cup isn’t just about beans and water:
It’s about rebellion, connection, and the search for a space to be brilliantly, messily human.
Let’s take a sip. Mmmmmmmm…
Panel 1: The Artifact
In 17th-century London, coffeehouses weren’t quiet cafes. They were chaotic, smoke-filled hubs of energy nicknamed “Penny Universities.”
For the price of a single penny cup of coffee, you could gain access to the sharpest minds of the age. You’d find scientists debating new discoveries in one corner, poets reciting their latest work in another, and merchants drawing up risky ventures on a napkin.
These were the original open-source platforms for ideas. King Charles II even tried to ban them, calling them “seminaries of sedition” where people might conspire and talk freely. He was right to be nervous. In these places, fueled by this new, stimulating drink from the Ottoman Empire, the modern world was being dreamed up, one conversation at a time.
Love coffee? Hit that button for a Peruvian Blend…
Panel 2: The Reflection
Doesn’t that sound like exactly what we’re missing?
We have infinite “platforms” now, digital town squares where we’re meant to connect. But so much of it feels like performing for an invisible audience instead of participating in a real conversation.
The Penny University wasn’t about posting your perfect thought; it was about hashing out an imperfect one with the person next to you.
It was a “third place” not home, not work where your value came from your curiosity, not your job title or social standing.
We’re starving for third places today. We crave spaces where we can show up, be energized by others, and leave feeling more connected to the world, not less. The goal wasn’t to go viral; it was to have a single, mind-bending conversation.
Panel 3: The Toolkit
Creating a true “third place” is a tall order, but we can start by rebelling against shallow connection in our own lives. The spirit of the Penny University is about asking better questions.
That’s why my recommendation this week is The School of Life’s “100 Questions: A Toolkit for Conversations.” It’s a deck of cards, but it’s really a toolkit for intimacy. Instead of “How was your weekend?” it prompts you with questions like, “What have you gotten better at not caring about?” and “What is a subtle sign of kindness you appreciate?”
It’s a small, beautiful object designed to spark the kind of conversations that energize and connect us. Keep it on your coffee table or bring it to dinner with a friend. It’s a quiet rebellion against small talk.
This little history lesson reminds me that the search for genuine connection isn’t new.
We just need to remember to carve out the space for it.
Community Catalyst: Where is your “Penny University”? It could be a place, a person, a regular phone call. I’d love to hear about the spaces
big or small
where you have your most energizing conversations.
I’ll go first, mine is what I call the Dragon Terrace where I share thoughts with my wife and cat, not overly social, but it’s my thing for now.