Coffee as Comfort

This virus is a lot.

Last week, I wasn’t sure if I was going to have to postpone my April wedding because I was worried my parents wouldn’t be able to fly out of the Philippines to make it. Even if they could, I was kind of bumming out at the thought that people would feel weird hugging each other or even eating next to each other.

Well, I’m writing this on March 17 and I don’t even have to stress about making a decision anymore. The wedding’s postponed for sure—Manila’s on lockdown, the US is in national emergency and we’re not supposed to assemble in groups larger than ten. I had to tackle someone for their toilet paper at HEB yesterday.

Just kidding on that last one. But wow, these are some pretty amazing, uncomfortable times. Even our morning coffee is going to be affected. In compliance with the city, Boomtown’s under pick-up/take-out only for the next two weeks. Right now, you’re allowed to pop in to order, but all of our seating is put up.

We need your support. Our neighbors need your support. And we need to be responsible in how we ask for your support.

While different people have different relationships with coffee, I think it might be safe to assume that it’s often a source of comfort. And in times like these, losing small comforts can make the severity of the situation really sink in. If you work on your laptop or meet clients at Boomtown, that coffee represents part of your livelihood. If you take your family to Boomtown every Sunday for drinks and pastries, that coffee represents part of your family time. There’s something really melancholic about that. But we’re not giving in to panic or fear. We’re still serving coffee—it just has to look and feel different for a while.

We’re currently doing a promotion on online whole-bean and merch sales: leave the words “FLATTENTHECURVE” in the notes section of your order and we’ll send over a $5 gift card to be used in our cafes. Thanks for your help!

<3 Chris Porto, Arts and Crafts at Boomtown