Coffee At The AALS: An Addict's Guide

Mary Dudziak over at Legal History Blog suggests that a candidate interviewing at the AALS hiring conference in DC might consider drinking Starbucks Via coffee in preparation for interviews.  Before serious coffee drinkers take this dramatic step into instant java, I think the issue of coffee at the AALS is worth investigating more deeply.

First, let's be clear what we're not doing: we're not revisiting the old "coffee versus tea" or "caffeine versus no caffeine debates."  Neither Mary nor I will ever be successful converting an agnostic to a believer.  But it is essential that candidates commit to one or another position prior to the conference itself; the AALS is no time to abandon coffee or discover the importance of a caffeinated beverage.  There will be plenty of time to challenge or reconsider your assumptions later.

Second, let's be clear about what is at stake: sleepiness versus perkiness, headache versus clear sailing, calm versus the shakes.  That is to say: everything. 

Third, let's consider what will be occuring on the ground.  For years, hundreds of coffee drinkers converged on a single Starbucks-branded franchise - yes,  a Marriott operated fake, not a genuine company-owned shop - which delivered overpriced Starbucks product at a significantly stunted production rate.  The pastries were lousy and lines were endless.  But that's all over now.  The Starbucks is gone.

Repeat: the Starbucks at the Marriott is gone.

Now there is an "Illy's" - presumably licensed by Marriott from the Italian coffee brand at a far lower fee than Starbucks charged.   Each individual drinker will have to decide if this is a satisfactory coffee for the conference.  It is essential that you figure this out now,  not in the midst of the meeting.  I would strongly encourage those attending the conference to do a test run with an Illy coffee outlet in their hometowns. 

Assuming, arguendo, that Illy's will fully satisfy, you can move to the next consideration: is this a safe space for coffee acquisition?   Most of the people in line will be either law professors or future law professors.  This is no time to trash individual faculty ("Filler was a real schmuck"), law schools("Drexel was obsessed with methodology and didn't ask me a single question about my policy prescription"), or entire paradigms ("qualitiative research isn't fact-based, it's stupid and biased  - quantitative work is the one and only path to truth.")

Finally, evaluate the alternative.  Open City Diner, a block away, serves Counter Culture Coffee out of Durham, NC - to my mind, a superb roast, and among the best available in the United States.  On the other hand, if you're running from Wardman Tower to Park Tower to Open City to Center Tower, you're going to work up quite a sweat.  And you have to walk outside while it's (inevitably) raining.    You can avoid the line and get your coffee at the nearby Woodley Market in the hotel lobby.  I don't know what brand they're serving these days, but past experience suggests that this is a functional alternative at best - think Gevalia.   There used to be a Dunkin' Donuts nearby - if you consider that drinkable, which I do not - but it appears to have disappeared, along with Ross Perot.

Which brings us back to Via.  It seems to me that there is no downside to keeping a couple of these packets handy in case of an emergency.  But freshly brewed coffee is, in my view, the better path in most cases.  In the end, now is the time to do some hardheaded analysis: choose your roaster, choose your brewer, and map out your path to a productive career.

Comments

[Matt Lister]

If you have time and access to hot enough water to make instant, I suggest just using a french press. I have a travel one, and though it does a pretty bad job of keeping all the grounds below the press, the coffee still tastes good.

The one thing I do recommend against is bringing your own supply of Cafe Pele:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/CAFE-PELE/73947474150

I speak from experience: this stuff should be avoided, unless you also need to fix a pot-hole or patch a roof, or perhaps kick a ball above your head. If any of those things are the case, than do bring a can with you.

[Jordy Singer]

For those who have some time between interviews, there is a (real) Starbucks a 10-15 walk north up Connecticut Avenue, past the zoo. It's a nice walk for clearing the head if you have the luxury. And for those who are populist, time-crunched, and/or desperate, there is a (gasp!) McDonald's right near the hotel as well.

[Jeff Yates]

The 2010 American Political Science Association meeting was held at the Marriott - so I dealt with the new coffee situation - to be sure the old "fake" Starbucks was a drag - not to mention the lines. I have news - granted the FRC is not likely as large as the APSA meeting, but I would bet that the lines for Illy's (which is also the place many will be going for food) will be extremely long. Further, I thought Illy's wasn't very good - and I wanted to like it - their logo and everything was so cool. The counter culture option might be ok and if you are willing to walk the 15 minutes up Connecticut Avenue there are real Starbucks as well as some mom and pop coffee shops. I suggest the walk if you are not too busy - it's nice to get some time out from any conference along with some fresh air.

[Mary Dudziak]

Dan -- thanks for advancing the AALS caffeine acquisition analysis. Just a note about the advice on my blog: my principle advice when packing for the AALS (or any interview) is to figure out ahead of time what you can't live without, and then figure out how to make it happen without depending on anyone else. Bringing your own (incl. coffee & breakfast) means that if you can't start the day without them, you'll have what you need even if room service never arrives, or if the Illy's has such a long line that it would make you miss your first interview.

There are great in-room options besides instant. I used to take a one-cup drip and bring my own Peet's. But when traveling, e.g. to give talks, I now prefer to simplify my morning and spend the free time going over my talk or even taking a quick look at an online newspaper. For AALS-ers, I'd figure out what help you have a good morning, whatever that is, and go with it.

My coffee/packing advice is here: http://legalhistoryblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/how-to-pack-for-aals-or-any-other.html
And thoughts about answering the question law & humanities folks hate the most is here: http://legalhistoryblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/whats-cash-out-value-more-aalsinterview.html

[Tim Zinnecker]

Those of us who have been anointed to teach the UCC have no need of liquid stimulants. The "Code" (not to be confused with the lower-case Internal Revenue code) doth provide.

[Paul]

The more important question is where you can get a good Diet Coke at the Marriott. If, like me, you prefer the fountain variety -- I'll drink the bottled or canned variety, but only as a last resort -- the options have been relatively thin. You can get a take-out cup from the pub or bar, but this is a rather pricey option, and the cups are fairly small. I've frequently found myself running down the hill to the McDonalds, no matter what the weather conditions.

[roger dennis]

Better yet, which schools bring better snacks to share with candidates? As dan filler can tell you we are very proud of the variety and quality of our snacks..take the you top tier schools..r

[Tim Zinnecker]

Uh, Dean Dennis, that room number again was ....?

[roger dennis]

We will get you the number Tim, and the tradition was created by Amy Boss, of UCC fame