Is coffee a necessity, a habit, or a ritual? Yes.

I have written about coffee several times on this blog.  I wrote about how I need outlets to have my espresso machine near the sink, and how I make coffee for my wife every morning, and how design matters in terms of taste, and when your coffee maker sits on your counter it has to keep up aesthetically, and I may have written how in some schools, making fresh coffee masks musty classroom odours. But I don't think I've ever written about the role of coffee in community building.

A long time ago, I went to visit my friend James's classroom and he showed me his coffee station.  James is a notorious coffee fanatic, and he even has this hilarious school photo of him, proudly holding a big coffee mug. James could pop out a quick espresso before school or at recess to satisfy his coffee habit, but he also said that the rest of the staff knew they were always welcome to come by for a shot, too.  

I thought that was really nice of him.  At the time, I was not drinking any coffee because of a sensitivity to caffeine, but I thought it would be a good way to break ice or break bread or chew the fat with my colleagues.  James must have picked up on this because a little while later, he gifted me with a little espresso machine like his.  

This is the actual coffee maker James gave me, 

in my classroom three schools back.

When I first started experimenting with a zen-like staff space in my school, it was all based on anything that had nothing to do with children, students, or education: low lighting, real art, subdued colours, calm music, furniture that was not made of plastic, and, of course, the espresso machine.  It was like an adult oasis, and I sometimes found my colleagues hanging out in there when I wasn't around.  The sound of jazz or the aroma of coffee or herbal tea could be found floating through the peaceful, childless space.  It was not a classroom or a staff room. This space was a sanctuary that built camaraderie and community.  

When I moved to schools that did not have any leftover spaces for such an adult zen den, I did feel a lack of connection with the rest of the staff.  I don't know if it was coincidence or not, but that was when I started delivering coffee shots to the staff on a semi-regular basis.  

Fast forward to this school year. Now, it is a Friday ritual that I drop off coffee shots to my co-workers. I bought a bunch of shot glasses, so I can deliver currently to about 12 people. For some reason, this coffee delivery has the biggest impact it has ever had on one of my staffs.  Other staffs have been grateful for the coffee, but this current staff really appreciates it. Here is how I know:

• Some thank me with tears in their eyes.
• Comments: 
• "I really needed this, this week."
• "I thought lovingly about this as I was driving in to work." 
• From one of the itinerant staff: "I thought of changing my day for this school to always be on Friday" 
• "I'm not going to lie, this is my favourite thing about this school."
• They will pause ANY meeting so I can distribute the shots.
• They gave me a t-shirt with "Today is Friday" proudly displayed on the chest.
• They wrote the coffee delivery into our school Action Plan as one of the ways to have joy at our school.  

Here are some funny things about the coffee delivery:

• I don't drink it, myself. I have to be careful with my caffeine intake. Caffeine really used to hype me up so much that I could not sleep for a couple of days.  Even now, it makes me perky at first, then slams me and makes me cranky later. I am Ted Lasso in the morning and Roy Kent in the afternoon.  
• I am kind of a shy, introverted guy.  At parties, I either latch on to one or two people or I don't say anything at all.  When I do presentations, I tend to load up Powerpoint slides and read off them.  At staff meetings, I tend not to speak unless I need something clarified.  The coffee delivery forces/allows/enables me to have a quick personal connection with everyone on staff.  
• I'm actually not sure how good the coffee tastes.  I used to get cheaper pre-ground coffee, now I grind yummy beans from a local roaster in the morning, but I still use my little Braun James gave me.  It smells awesome when I first make it, but I can't think it is as good by the time I chat with each person briefly and drop off the 12th one.
• I had to customize a plastic dollar store rack because the shot glasses would fall through the dishwasher racks.  
• I started giving individually wrapped biscuits or treats to people who didn't drink coffee, so everyone could be included on the Friday run. 
• It is not just the coffee shot, but getting the coffee personally delivered that people like.  I floated the idea of moving the espresso maker into the staff room so anyone could use it whenever they wanted it, but they told me how much of a treat it was for me to deliver it to them.  It was like a 30 second check in and made us feel connected by the ritual. Think of it as a mobile watering hole.  

What does all this mean?

That our school identity is based on coffee?  That our school letterhead and logo will be a coffee cup ring stain?  That one of our department heads should have barista responsibilities?  That our motto should be: "We won't sleep until we educate every child."

No, it is this: Forget team-building workshops, retreats and motivational speakers. Maybe $2 worth of coffee is the most effective (non-strategy) strategy in building community, strengthening connections, and quick and regular check-ins.