The Enneagram Tasting: Coffee Shop Edition

Tandi
1 hour ago
5 min read

Before You Sip: Why the Enneagram Matters for Seekers

The Enneagram isn’t just another personality quiz, it’s an ancient map of the soul.

Its nine points trace nine different ways of being human, each with its own flavor of wisdom and its own habits of heart. The Enneagram helps us notice the patterns that keep us circling familiar stories, and the paths that can open us toward freedom and wholeness.

Many traditions recognize the same pattern language under different names. The Jewish mystics called it the Tree of Life. The Sufis taught the nine points as a sacred psychology of remembering unity with the Divine. Early Christians used it as a mirror for self-knowledge and grace. Modern teachers have shaped it into a tool for spiritual growth—an invitation to live more awake, more compassionate, more whole.

In spiritual direction, the Enneagram can be a gentle companion for seekers. It helps us notice where we move automatically and where Spirit might be inviting us to soften, stretch, or begin again. It helps us see that our patterns aren’t problems to fix but stories to understand and evolve.

To make this exploration playful, I’ve created a coffee shop tasting of the Enneagram. It’s a quick and light-hearted way to begin noticing how your energy moves in the world. Think of it as a spiritual espresso shot: small but potent.

When you’re ready, read through the descriptions and see what blend feels most like you, then take a slow sip of self-awareness.

The Enneagram Café Menu: Instructions

Take a breath and imagine yourself in your favorite coffee shop. Notice your usual rhythm, your way of being in that small shared space. The following reflections aren’t about perfection or performance. They’re about noticing what feels most like you, most of the time.

Read each group and choose one paragraph that best describes your natural approach.

You don’t have to agree with every word. Find the one that feels about 80 to 90 percent true.

Trust your intuition. Choose the paragraph that feels like a mirror, even if it’s not a perfect reflection.

Group I

I walk into the café with purpose. I already know what I want, or I’ll figure it out fast. I like things to move efficiently. I’m friendly, but I have things to do. If the line is long, I start strategizing: stay or go somewhere else. I like getting it right, done, and moving on to what’s next.

I step into the café like entering a little world. I pause, take in the scent, the sound, the faces. I might chat with the barista, ask about a new roast, or stand gazing at the pastry case, curious about what I didn’t know I wanted. The coffee shop is less about caffeine and more about presence.

I notice who’s working behind the counter. I care about where the beans come from, who harvested them, and whether the shop feels like a good neighbor. I’ll tip well, remember names, and maybe grab an extra drink for a friend. I want my choices to ripple kindness.

Group 1 choice: ________

Group II

I like my coffee moments to feel good. I might make small talk in line or treat myself to something new. Even if my order is mixed up, I try to keep things light. A smile, a thank you. I might bring coffee back for others just to share the warmth.

I know what I like. If the drink is off, I’ll notice and I’ll probably say so. I have opinions about beans, foam, and fairness. I value authenticity and don’t like being rushed or brushed off. Once I find a café that feels right, I’m loyal for life.

I appreciate order and consistency. I might mobile order the same drink every time and pick it up efficiently. I don’t need small talk. I just like systems that work. Calm, clear, steady. I’m polite, but I’m here for structure, not surprise.

Group 2 choice: ________

What’s Brewing in You

Combine your letter and number (for example, C in Group I and 2 in Group II = C2).

Then find your pairing below to glimpse your coffee shop spirit and maybe your deeper way of moving through the world.

Code	Enneagram Type	Type Name	Coffee Shop Spirit
A1	7	The Enthusiast	Joyful explorer, sampling the specials, savoring delight
A2	8	The Challenger	Confident and bold, takes charge at the counter
A3	3	The Achiever	Polished and efficient, knows their signature drink
B1	9	The Peacemaker	Unhurried and grounded, content to sip and stay
B2	4	The Individualist	Expressive and soulful, orders something unexpected and beautiful
B3	5	The Investigator	Quietly curious, watching patterns while sipping black coffee
C1	2	The Helper	Generous and relational, brings a drink for someone else
C2	6	The Loyalist	Steady and reliable, knows the baristas by name and trusts the ritual
C3	1	The Reformer	Principled and intentional, wants the drink and the world just right

You can explore more about what each type means from The Enneagram Institute.

Enneagram Types Acted Out

Another way I like to determine Enneagram Types is by observing them in action. And what better way than through comedy? Yes, please! Check out: Enneagram Types at Starbucks by Top Knot Comedy with Leeann & Michelle (8:22)

Which of these seems to be most like you?

Now What?

Take a moment to sit with what you noticed.

Did one description feel instantly familiar, like your favorite cup that always fits just right?

Or did you find yourself tasting from several cups, sensing truth in more than one blend?

That’s how the Enneagram works. It’s not about boxing yourself in, but about noticing how you move through the world, what energizes you, what drives you, what keeps you circling the same stories, and what opens you toward more freedom and grace.

Every type carries both gifts and challenges. The Enneagram doesn’t ask you to fix yourself. It invites you to grow in awareness, to notice when you’re living on autopilot and when you’re awake and grounded in Spirit.

So, sip slowly. Let what you discovered today percolate in you.

Notice your flavor, your habits, your patterns of heart and mind.

For Your Next Sip: Resources on Enneagram

Articles/Books:

The Enneagram is Not Just for White People by Micky ScottBey Jones and David F. Potter (Sojourners, March 2019)
The Honest Enneagram by SaraJane Case (who also has an Instagram that is just fabulous)
Spiritual Rhythms for the Enneagram: A Handbook for Harmony and Transformation by Adele Ahlberg Calhou

Podcasts:

The Enneagram Journey with Suzanne Stabile is Christian in orientation, but I find easy to translate.
Enneagram and Coffee with SaraJane Case

Websites: