There’s nothing quite like a warm cup of coffee to kickstart the morning—who could disagree? On October 27th, I enjoyed my drink at the Cornell Botanic Gardens’ annual Coffee in the Gardens event.

The event was organized by Learning x Leading’s team of Garden Ambassadors and featured multiple interactive stations. Attendees could explore the history of coffee, learn about the ethical challenges within the industry, understand its environmental impacts, and discover brands that prioritize sustainability. And of course, it wouldn’t be a true coffee event without some delicious coffee and muffins to pair with it.

I led the “Who is Behind Your Coffee?” station, where I discussed the harsh realities that some coffee producers face, including low wages and unsafe working conditions. I highlighted key points about workers in the coffee industry and engaged visitors with a fun guessing game about the world’s top coffee-producing country (hint: it’s in South America).

Participating in Garden Ambassador events is always rewarding. While I teach, I’m also learning from others. Visitors share anecdotes about their coffee experiences, and my fellow Garden Ambassadors provide insights from their stations. For example, I learned about the early biocultural history of coffee, such as the century when it became widely planted in the Americas, and the detailed process of coffee production, from harvesting to roasting. One station even had visitors rank different beverages by caffeine content. Can you guess if Coca-Cola has more caffeine than Snapple? This dynamic exchange of learning and sharing creates an atmosphere of shared knowledge that is unique to the Cornell Botanic Gardens.

This project reminded me of the complexity behind a simple cup of coffee. Typically, when I enjoy my morning coffee, I don’t consider the journey it took to reach my cup. But maybe I should, and maybe you should too. Through this event, visitors who engaged with our program learned about the extensive process it takes to enjoy a cup of coffee and the journey each cup entails. So next time, take a moment to appreciate your brew, and visit the Cornell Botanic Gardens to discover more stories behind everyday moments.

Milla Douer ‘26 is a Cornell Student and Garden Ambassador for the Learning by Leading program.