Carter is a junior English Literature & Language Major at Western Illinois University, and their interests include Doctor Who, politics, and adaptation in literature. Myers’ favorite day of the year is Halloween!

M&L: What is your coffee order?

CM: I don’t drink a lot of coffee (unless I am in a rush and am stuck in the Western Dining halls, in which case I’ll drink a pre-packaged Two-Shot Vanilla Dunkin Espresso thing that I’m sure is full of plastic). I also drink some straight espresso, but I prefer tea! No matter where I am, my standard order is a chai latte with oat milk (I’d ideally like to always be drinking a masala chai latte with an oat milk base, but not every coffee shop has every spice or plant-based milk). I make a lot of tea at home, and there I use cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, nutmeg, and allspice to add to my chai!

M&L: What is your favorite coffee shop? 

CM: So as to abstain from offending my peers and friends who work at Macomb-based coffee shops, I will say that my favorite coffee shop is Café Grumpy in New York City because it was the first place I ever received latte art. The truth, though, is that I’ve only ever had an intimate relationship with two coffee shops, and they are both located in Macomb.

M&L: Who do you share coffee with? 

CM: I’ve shared coffee and tea with a lot of friends and lovers in my short life. Now, though, I mostly share my tea with my cat in the evening, and with those who are studying with me at 11:30 P.M. on the third floor of Malpass Library.

M&L: How is coffee part of your reading and writing life? 

CM: Caffeine helps fuel my reading and writing during the school year. A lot of coffee and tea provide caffeine. Would I drink tea if it didn’t provide me with caffeine? Probably. But I certainly wouldn’t consume anywhere near as much. Too, I often drink tea at night, and it is something to look forward to while reading literature for a class.

M&L: Describe your first sip of the day.

CM: If I am having tea in the morning, it is probably… HOT! I am overeager and hasty! I am way too quick to taste through the milky foam on the top of the tea; I burn my tongue nearly every time I drink tea in the morning. Once it’s cooled, though, and I’ve gotten over my awakening shock, I let the spices mix and hit my tongue, tasting what remains sat upon the fluff; I warm up with my oaty/spicy goodness!