Anyone who’s met TAHS English teacher David Rutter knows that his is coffee cred is undeniable. He clearly has a serious coffee addiction.

Some facts:

• He stops at Sheetz multiple times a day to satisfy his caffeine addiction.
• He has his own Keurig machine in his back room where it is rumored that he brews a fresh cup every couple hours during the school day.
• He loves his kids just a little bit more than he loves coffee.

“Once I was peeking in his room and saw him chugging it right from the pot,” said former student Brandon Kemp.

So who better to discuss coffee on  National Coffee Day  than TAHS’s own Mr. David Rutter.

1. How do you take your coffee?

David Rutter: “Real coffee drinkers drink it black. Period.”

2. What started your love affair with coffee?

DR: “My torrid love affair with coffee began back in my early college days. The long and lonely nights producing literary essays forced me to find a way to stay awake. I was hesitant at first. After my first sip, I was hers forever!”

3. Who has the best coffee in central PA?

DR: “Wow that’s a tough one. Personally, my favorite coffee is Sheetz custom-brewed coffee. I select their Peruvian blend with a shot of espresso. Two words: De Licious! One you might not expect: Donut Connection. Their regular brew is superb.”

4. How much coffee is too much coffee?

DR: “When you pass out from drinking too much, or you feel like you will jump out of your skin at any moment, you might want to curb your intake and think about switching to decaf.”

5. Is flavored coffee ever an option?

DR: “Ha! Never have. Never will. Kills the flavor of the bean.”

6. What is your favorite blend?

DR: “McDonald’s coffee is superb. Their breakfast blend and Colombian brews are perfectly balanced, have a terrific flavor, and are a delight to the taste buds.”

7. Is there any beverage you would choose over coffee?

DR: “Water because I need it to survive. Also, after an intense workout, hot coffee is not something I recommend. If I ever get to that point—be afraid. Be very afraid!”

8. Did your children drink coffee from their bottles?

DR: “No. However my youngest does love the taste of coffee. One day she grabbed my mug and proceeded to drink my coffee. She smiled and said, ‘More.’ I smiled.”

9. Is there any food that doesn’t go with coffee?

DR: “Asparagus. Toxic mix.”

10. What is worse, a day without coffee or a day without food?

DR: “Obviously coffee! You can go days without eating and survive. If I don’t have coffee within the first hour I wake up, I get a raging headache. And I’m not very pleasant. I wouldn’t be able to function without it. Sometimes at night, I wake up in a cold sweat after my nightmare about a world without coffee. A world where everyone drinks tea in perfect harmony. That, my friend, is what truly frightens me.”

In all honesty there’s no arguing anything Mr. Rutter says, especially when it comes to coffee. So in honor of Mr. Rutter and National Coffee Day, make sure to get a nice hot coffee, because we all know he wants us too!