Today is Valentine’s Day, which means baristas will be pouring an above-average amount of hearts in lattes. And today especially (though really this is an everyday occurrence), should muscle memory kick in and they pour an unrequested heart—one of the three primary latte art shapes, mind you—it will inevitably be misconstrued as some sign on interest by the customer and thus begin awkward series of interactions with a person who has already planned the entire relationship in their head. Based solely upon a foam shape in a cup. Baristas, along with service industry members in general, get objectified on a daily basis. A significant part of their livelihoods, tips, are based solely on being nice and welcome and often gets contorted by many into some grand but subtle gesture of affection. But a new zine is fighting back. Called DRIP, this new print publication exists as a space for members of the specialty coffee community to reclaim their sexuality, and it comes out today.
Created by Coffee People founder Kat Melheim and Amethyst Coffee’s Claudia Campero, DRIP Zine is a submission-based publication where coffee professionals can feel free to explore their illicit sides. Works will include “photography, poetry, short stories, illustrations, and other artwork where we explore how we feel about our bodies, sex, gender, nudity, power, vulnerability, expression, and identity.” And what better way to celebrate this new print venture that with a party, on Valentines of all days?
Tonight in Denver at Amethyst Coffee’s Lakeside location starting at 6:00pm, the DRIP Zine holding a release party, and it will be a night of erotic good times. Included in the night’s festivities includes “Glitter Pussy,” an aphrodisiac signature beverage competition presented in collaboration with Glitter Cat, X-rated Valentines Day card making, and even a little flash. Hand-poked tattoos from custom-made flash by @stickandpeg will be going on all night.
But for those unable to attend the release party, copies of DRIP Zine are available for $15 via the Coffee People Zine website (with the option of donating more). Partial proceeds from sales will go to benefit Planned Parenthood.
Just because today is a manufactured holiday designed solely to separate you from your hard-earned cash via overpriced plants and mass-produced confections doesn’t mean you can’t also treat yourself. Pick up a copy of DRIP Zine today and maybe find out how your fellow coffee professionals are treating themselves (and other consenting adults).
Zac Cadwalader is the managing editor at Sprudge Media Network and a staff writer based in Dallas. Read more Zac Cadwalader on Sprudge.
Top image via DRIP Zine
