The Coffee Project was kept at a toasty-warm temperature, a stark contrast from the biting cold weather outside. Creed arrived a little bit after I had a chance to order my own drink and find us a seat. She sat primly on the small wooden chair across from me, her black ensemble of clothing emphasized her slender frame, reminding me of the legs of the chair itself. She was tall, towering over me by a few good heads despite her seated posture. Her hair was a mixture of short, dark curls that brushed the tops of her ears, and shaved pattern that continued down the back of her head. Her oval face included small, brown eyes and a wide mouth. Creed’s most noticeable feature was her painted smile; the bright redness beamed throughout the interview, a token from her previous job as a barista, where keeping a smile was a mandate. She wore clothes that belonged in ‘00s Punk Fashion, a black leather jacket that was well-worn, hung on her slender frame, over a black t-shirt with a printed pattern of red and white stripes. Her jeans were also black and had rips in convenient places, some chains were hanged from her waist that jingled with every little movement.

Creed was a third-year student at Pratt University in Brooklyn where she wanted to become an architect. She used to be a STEM major, and wanted to become an Engineer, but changed her career choice after some influential encounters. She told me that she only wanted to become an Engineering because her parents wanted her to become successful, but she always loved creating things; from small furniture to home designs. Currently, Creed lives with two roommates who are more like family to her; and is located near the University. She was from Rhode Island but wanted to go to college out of the state, and in a big city.

The reason I chose to interview Creed was that being a former Barista at the Coffee Project and a student, she is more likely to understand the heavy workload placed on people, especially in an urban area like NYC. And she would be most familiar with people who often stay in coffee shops, constantly working. We talked about the connection between coffee shop openings in newly renovated areas, and increased production demands that are expected of us. Meaning that more coffee shops available to people in effect promotes productivity since the drug caffeine in coffee is popular for productivity. “I think we rely on coffee too often these days,” Creed says, “from experience, I know I’ve been dependent on it during finals or a big project”. Being an architecture student, Creed is aware of how helpful it is to drink coffee when working or to study. Coffee helped us stay focused throughout the day.