When I was seven my Dad brought home a tin of ground coffee from America. I tried to make it myself and it just became water and ground coffee. I didn't understand why it didn't work and my Dad and uncle just laughed and explained how filter coffee worked and how I was used to seeing instant coffee made. Coffee tasted horrible. It was bitter and too powerful and I didn't like any of it, no matter how much milk was put in. When I did drink coffee though, I'd get to sit with my dad and whoever he was talking with in the other room and listen to what they were saying and drink this black bitter water. I've since taken a coffee course, I can make several different types of coffee and prepare almost anything I want in my kitchen, but the thing that drew me in was a chance to actually talk to my Dad in the brief moments he wasn't busy or away. When I got back home in the Summer from university he'd dug an old coffee machine out the cupboard and we sat and drank filter coffee until late. The conversations aren't as interesting as the ones I used to listen to. He's quit the job that kept him away and now the time I have with him is on my terms instead of his. This is probably a strange thing to post on Hubski after a lot of Philosophy posts, but I'm glad I put down my reason for drinking coffee somewhere, it'll probably be a social drink to me for as long as I live.
This is how I started drinking coffee as well. In high school my friends and I would camp out at the local Denny's (a diner-type place) where they had unlimited refills on their coffee. We'd just hang out in a booth and talk for hours and hours. It's the closest thing I have to a social ceremony centered around a talisman since I don't smoke.
This reminded me of a little story. First, know that I never drink coffee unless it is 12am and I'm still working on a paper (it'll be a coffee night tonight). That said, when I was in Sydney I couldn't find a place near my apartment that sold coffee 24/7, so I decided that I was finally going to learn how to use a french press. Months go buy, finals are around the corner, and I'm siting in my room working on a paper. On my way to the kitchen I see my flatmate and randomly say "ya know, i don't understand what the filter part is for. There never seems to be any coffee grounds left over." She looks at me and starts crying with laughter. Turns out, I was using instant coffee in the french press for months without realizing it. My roommate didn't say anything because she thought I just liked to make instant coffee in the french press just for the fun of it. Needless to say, I dont know the first thing about coffee haha
I often find myself drinking coffee more for the ritual of it than anything. I like coffee, but I probably drink it more often than I want it. It's nice to walk over to the cafe where I can distract myself for a few minutes between work. Sometimes looking forward to coffee is the best thing ever.