Coffee in Mallorca: “Cultivate your own garden!”

In the tranquil village of Colonia de Sant Pere on Mallorca’s east coast, I find myself reflecting on the ritual of morning coffee—a practice that transcends location and time. This routine offers a profound opportunity to shape one’s day through the alchemy of conversation and contemplation.

Back in Dubai, my coffee rituals are vibrant and diverse, I like to imagine much like Voltaire's time at Café Procope (stay with me here), where he surrounded himself with the era’s brightest thinkers and revolutionaries. My favorite café in Dubai is a microcosm of global stories and unexpected encounters. You might witness a policeman on horseback stopping by for a cortado or the café owner sharing samples of his latest coffee blend he insists changes each day for the better—a gesture that transcends mere hospitality.

I've been regaled with tales from across the Arabian Peninsula and learned from Eastern Europeans the efficiency of preferring direct business discussions over small talk. I've also heard hunting stories from a Levant gentleman who navigated three wars in different lands in an American SUV he bought in Iraq after selling his airplane, only to shoot grouse in the backyard of my home county. These moments, orchestrated by fate, have introduced me to characters I never imagined meeting in a thousand lifetimes.

Every morning is an opportunity to curate your surroundings and select companions who challenge and inspire you. Consider this:

• Where and with whom do you spend your mornings?
• Are your conversations stimulating and transformative, or do they merely echo the day-to-day grind?
• By deliberately choosing where you drink your coffee and the company you keep, you invite a profound shift in your outlook, breaking free from routine conversations and sparking deeper engagement with life.

The simple act of sharing coffee can become a powerful catalyst for new ideas and perspectives.

Much like Voltaire’s gatherings that ignited philosophical discourse—a chance encounter with revolutionaries, or perhaps the root cause of Costa Coffee!

From the man who drank 50-plus coffees a day, Voltaire chose these closing lines for Candide: "We must cultivate our garden." At the end of Candide's story, after the characters have endured misfortunes and misadventures, and finally found a modicum of peace, we find the curious advice to “cultivate our garden.” This means that instead of trying to change the world or worrying about the problems of others, you should focus on tending to your own life and finding joy in simple pleasures.

As I sip my penultimate morning coffee in the Mediterranean for this monumental summer of family fun, I’m reminded of the quiet power of these moments, allowing each morning to unfold with grace and insight. Let your mornings be a testament to the transformative potential of thoughtful choices. What stories and discoveries await you over your next cup?