One way that I love to challenge myself and keep things interesting is through personal photography projects. Over the years, my personal projects have included shooting vintage Vespa scooters, vintage Fiat 500’s, Coney Island landmarks, self-portraits, and the Empire State Building. And I don’t consider any of these projects to be “over.” They just temporarily subside as another obsession I mean personal project takes over. Right now that project is coffee. Espresso to be specific. My friend, my crutch, my co-parent, and basically the reason that I’ve never fallen asleep reading “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” for the billionth time.

I was late to fall in love with espresso. It wasn’t until I was visiting Rome in my mid-30’s that I tried it for the first time. Since then, I will have 3-4 espressos a day. I can’t really start my day without one. I take my espresso machine with me on trips — it’s not worth the risk that I won’t be able to get a decent coffee in the morning.

Once I had kids, I learned the true meaning of sleep deprivation, and who was there for me? That’s right, espresso. It definitely helped me through the longest days. But not just drinking it at home. My trips with my babies to our local coffee shop were my lifeline to adult contact at a time when I was in an abyss of dirty diapers and spit-up. Those baristas politely listened while I blathered on about potty training or what my kid ate that day. (They’re the real heroes of this blog post).

Now that my kids are ages 2 and 5, they ask to see their “coffee friends,” which is what they call the baristas. It’s a fun outing for us when Daniel Tiger and playdough become monotonous. And they always ask for a taste of my espresso, which I think is crazy given that I didn’t even try it until I was in my 30’s.

When I first started taking photos of my espresso, I thought it would get old fast. But part of the fun is coming up with new ways to photograph this somewhat basic (not to me) subject. So to espresso and the baristas who serve it, I salute you. May you continue to keep me awake to supervise my kids.

And every now and then, my daughter will actually let me take her photo while we’re at the coffee shop.