Coffee & Chemistry

As a full-time student, my circadian rhythm is not governed by sunlight,

which, between November and March, comp

resses into an overcast 9-10‑hour window,

but, instead, by caffeine intake (measured in milligrams).

I emerge from a near-sleepless night in dire need of espresso; 

my pending chemistry assignment begs for my vitalized  & undivided attention.

At 8:10 a.m., I step into Greek from Greece on 33rd Street.

The door opens into dim lighting, 

grey and configurated seating, 

and the smell of espresso and pastry dough.

I order a hot, oat milk latte.

The barista brews a double shot, 

steams the milk, 

pours it over, 

and hands me the cup.

The crema sits on top; 

heat radiates up the sides 

and into my palms.

I claim a corner table, 

open my laptop and an unused page in my notebook, 

poising my pen with forehanded readiness.

The first page covers the nomenclature, 

the functional groups, 

and the conformational schematics.

Not too sweet…Good…

I take sips between problems, 

again and again, 

my left hand lifting the cup, while my right keeps writing

…There it is…I am awake now…

At 9:15 a.m, the first five pages are done: 

the rings are named, 

the hydrocarbons are drawn, 

and the isomers are labeled ( half-doubtfully).

The cafe is quiet, 

except for the whir of Lo-Fi beats 

and the espresso machine’s rapid rattle.

My eyes become heavy-lidded from staring at my screen’s harsh light.

Time for another?

I walk down Lancaster Avenue.

The sun rays gild the teeming sidewalks 

where students rush to class.

After a 10-minute saunter, I reach Madis Coffee Roasters.

I enter, with the doors swinging shut behind me, 

muffling the street sounds within the brick walls.

The roasted beans perfume the air, 

mingling with greasy steam wafting hot from the kitchen.

I order a 12-oz black drip coffee. 

The barista pours from the heated carafe 

and slides the drink across the counter.

The coffee runs darker than usual, with fresh steam lifting off the top.

I grab a table by the window, 

scrolling to the latter problems of the worksheet.

Here we go.

I work through the trickier reactions, 

murmuring each step aloud as I go, 

finishing the remaining stereochemistry 

and the last functional group analyses.

The caffeine is surging through my veins now.

My right knee bounces up and down

thump-thump-thump– 

restlessly under the table.

I draw the last substituents — 

pausing once to appraise my work, 

then scan, digitally upload the pages, 

and cheerfully click “Submit.”

A victorious smirk tugs at my lips.

Thanks to a hefty dose of 215mg, 

“Assignment III: Nomenclature and Isomerism” is logged.

There is a little puddle of drink left at the cup’s bottom.

I lift it, slurping the last, lukewarm bit.

Is it too late for a third cup?

Written by: Amulya Arakala