For many, coffee is the center of their world in the morning; sometimes, two or three times throughout the day. And as it should happen, coffee is often a center of conversation or a source of a quip in some of the most memorable and iconic movies of our time. Coincidence? We think not.
Coffee, preparing coffee, buying coffee, drinking coffee, coffee shops and unroasted coffee beans are all coffee-related activities in some famous films. This is great because the world could use more coffee-themed movies and less caffeine-free movies.
It’s hard to narrow down the best coffee scenes ever in a movie, it would be like naming the time of day when you should have a cup of coffee. The possibilities are just endless. So, in no particular order, here are a few great movie moments that involve our favorite beverage, coffee.
Sudden Impact
In what is quite possibly one of the greatest scenes ever in movie history; Harry (Clint Eastwood) stops by his local diner to grab his daily cup of coffee only to discover the waitress has dumped a bunch of sugar in it in an attempt to send him a message that something is not right. Eastwood’s character, Dirty Harry, leaves the diner, takes a sip of coffee, spits it out and returns to the diner to complain. And when he does, he discovers the place is being robbed by a group of hooligans. It is at this point when Eastwood’s character pulls his trusty Smith and Wesson and boldly states, “Go ahead, make my day.”
This is proof that people will do anything to get a good cup of coffee.
Breakfast at Tiffany’s
No list of movies featuring a coffee scene is complete without mentioning Breakfast at Tiffany’s. The opening credit scene depicts Holly, played by the gorgeous Audrey Hepburn, window shopping with her cup of coffee.
The Usual Suspects
You don’t see many movies in which coffee is dropped not once, not twice, but three times. When Chazz Palminteri’s character figures out the truth, it is emphasized by having him drop his coffee and the cup shattering on the floor; in slow-motion no less. It may have been that sipping that coffee is what awakened him to the truth.
Pulp Fiction
Leave it to Quentin Tarantino to come up with a brilliant scene in which the characters of John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson take the time to discuss the quality of coffee while figuring out a way to deal with a dead body. Tarantino’s character is quick to take credit for the tasty cups of coffee by telling them he buys the gourmet coffee and his wife always buys the cheap stuff.
Best in Show
Parker Posey’s character explains how she met her partner through their Starbucks habits. They met at Starbucks, not the same Starbucks, but at different Starbucks across the street from each other.
Airplane 2
Take the time to rewatch Airplane 2, more specifically, the scene when the stewardess announces that they are out of coffee. You will laugh so hard that you will spit out your coffee.