Laura Herbert – The squarish features of this Mr. Coffee show its age as a 20th century machine, before most drip coffee makers took on more aerodynamic and curved designs (This rounded aesthetic presently serves as a mere affectation since household appliances are not mean to be used a projectiles). Its boxy look makes it seem more grounded and practical, giving it a certain gravity of austere utility. Its compact design, including a power switch that doubles as a signal lamp, also adds to its air of practicality.

The owner of this maker shows a sentimentality uncommon to many of our era—a time when many luxuries have become disposable according to fancy and whim. Her dedication to the machine is also a sign of fierce loyalty to the things that work in her life. Look carefully, and you will see the handle of the carafe slightly broken at its nadir, and this too shows her fidelity to her past. The space between the filter basked and carafe does not chafe, making decanting a simple maneuver without jiggling or wedging the pot. She wants her morning ideal, free of struggle.

Perhaps the most telling portion of this photograph is the unplugged power cord betraying a cautious nature. Haunted by images her home smoldering into an ash heap, she is sure pull the plug as a preventive measure. Her anxiety is manageable, but it is always there, even if only dormant, as she goes about her day. While many psychologists earn their paychecks by suppressing anxiety, hers is a somewhat healthy condition as it gives her a sense of responsibility and makes her more observant than those who are careless.