Roadhouse and Bookhouse under cloud-filled sky

Special Agent Dale Cooper Loves Coffee

In Episode 1.002 of Twin Peaks, Audrey Horne tells Donna Hayward at the Double R Diner that “Agent Cooper loves coffee.” Fueled by multiple cups of coffee on National Coffee Day 2018, I spent all day examining just how much Cooper enjoys a cup o’ joe that is “black as midnight on a moonless night.”

For this examination, I looked at every scene in seasons 1-3 that showed Cooper taking a sip of coffee. I didn’t include scenes where he is only holding a coffee cup or a coffee cup/carafe is seen nearby. For Season 3, I reviewed anything after he says “I am the FBI” in Part 16. This included a brief scene in Part 18 when he visits “Eat at Judy’s” (even though that could be “Richard” and not “Cooper.”). I’ll save analysis of Dougie Jones and Mr. C drinking coffee in Season 3 for another time.

SPECIAL AGENT DALE COOPER LOVES COFFEE IN SEASON ONE

Sheriff Truman and Agent Dale Cooper at the Twin Peaks Sheriff's Department at a table full of doughnuts
Pilot

Despite early mentions of coffee, the first time we see Cooper take a sip of coffee is at the end of the Pilot Episode. Sheriff Truman and Coop partake in the “Policeman’s Dream” at the Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Department.

Special Agent Dale Cooper drinking coffee
Episode 1.001

In Episode 1.001, Cooper has his morning cup of coffee in the dining room of the Great Northern Hotel. While exercising in room 315, he tells Diane Evans that the morning cup of coffee is his true test of any hotel. Good news for the hotel as their coffee is “damn fine” and one of the best Cooper ever had.

Sheriff Truman and Special Agent Dale Cooper at the Blue Pine Lodge drinking coffee
Episode 1.001

Pete Martell served Truman and Cooper fish flavored coffee in Episode 1.001 thanks to “a fish in the percolator.” Coop couldn’t get the taste out of his mouth.

Special Agent Dale Cooper and Sheriff Truman at the Double R Diner Counter
Episode 1.001
Special Agent Dale Cooper and Sheriff Truman at the Double R Diner Counter
Episode 1.001

Cooper and Truman later visit the Double R Diner where coffee and the best cherry pie in the tri-counties were consumed. Truman remarks Coop has the “metabolism of a bumblebee” after he enjoys multiple slices of cherry pie. Side note – according to Bumblebee.org, they have a metabolic rate that’s 75% higher than a hummingbird.

Special Agent Dale Cooper drinking coffee in the woods by a chalkboard
Episode 1.002
Special Agent Dale Cooper drinking coffee in the woods by a chalkboard
Episode 1.002
Special Agent Dale Cooper and Twin Peaks Sheriff's Department drinking coffee in the woods by a chalkboard
Episode 1.002

For Episode 1.002, it’s coffee time in the woods for Agent Cooper and the Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Department. The coffee is “damn good and hot!”

Special Agent Dale Cooper drinking coffee at the Great Northern Hotel
Episode 1.003

In episode 1.003, Cooper takes a sip of coffee for breakfast in The Great Northern Hotel’s dining room before telling Sheriff Truman and Lucy Moran about his dreams.

Special Agent Dale Cooper drinking coffee in the conference room at the Twin Peaks Sheriff's Department
Episode 1.004

The first time we see Cooper drinking from a Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Department mug is in Episode 1.004.

Special Agent Dale Cooper drinking coffee while Deputy Andy Brennan and Sheriff Harry Truman looks at files
Episode 1.004
Special Agent Dale Cooper drinking coffee at the Twin Peaks Sheriff's Department
Episode 1.004

Examining animal files from Bob Lydecker’s Animal Clinic leads to multiple sips of coffee from a Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Department mug later in Episode 1.004.

Trudy serving Special Agent Dale Cooper who is drinking coffee in The Great Northern Hotel dining room
Episode 1.005
Trudy serving Special Agent Dale Cooper who is drinking coffee in The Great Northern Hotel dining room
Episode 1.005
Audrey Horne speaks Special Agent Dale Cooper who is drinking coffee in The Great Northern Hotel dining room
Episode 1.005
Audrey Horne speaking Special Agent Dale Cooper who is drinking coffee in The Great Northern Hotel dining room
Episode 1.005

Cooper “only has time for coffee” at breakfast in Episode 1005 thanks to a large group of insane men staying on his floor at the Great Northern Hotel. And who brings their own FBI-themed mug to breakfast in the early 1990s? Cooper does!

Cooper drinks coffee in Jacques Renault's apartment with Deputy Andy Brennan and Sheriff Harry S. Truman
Episode 1.005

Cooper is thrilled with his cup o’ joe and doughnut upon arriving at Jacques Renault’s apartment in Episode 1.005. Watch this scene after Cooper hands Deputy Andy Brennan his cup and pastry – Andy takes multiple bites of the doughnut and sips the coffee. How did I never notice this until yesterday?

Special Agent Dale Cooper drinking coffee at the Double R Diner
Episode 1.006

At the Double R Diner in Episode 1.006, Cooper shares his “treat yo’ self” philosophy with Sheriff Truman over “two cups of good, hot black coffee.” This is the last sip seen in Season 1.

SPECIAL AGENT DALE COOPER LOVES COFFEE IN SEASON TWO

Special Agent Dale Cooper drinking coffee in the conference room at Twin Peaks Sheriff's Department
Episode 2.001

In the Season 2 opening episode (2.001), Cooper takes a sip from his FBI mug as he “lays it all out” at the Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Department.

Special Agent Dale Cooper drinking coffee at The Great Northern Hotel
Episode 2.002

During breakfast with Agent Albert Rosenfield in Episode 2.002, Cooper is watched by “cousin Jonathan” as he sips coffee at the Great Northern Hotel dining room. This episode also contains one of the only times Cooper is seen drinking orange juice.

Special Agent Dale Cooper drinking coffee while listening to Sheriff Harry S. Truman in his office
Episode 2.003
Special Agent Dale Cooper drinking coffee while listening to Sheriff Harry S. Truman in his office
Episode 2.003
Special Agent Dale Cooper drinking coffee while listening to Sheriff Harry S. Truman and Deputy Hawk in his office
Episode 2.003

Episode 2.003 shows Cooper sipping coffee at the Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Department while Harry discusses Josie Packard and Deputy Hawk returns with a report from Pearl Lakes.

Special Agent Dale Cooper drinking coffee while sitting at a table with Sheriff Truman and Judge Sternwood
Episode 2.004
Special Agent Dale Cooper drinking coffee while sitting at a table with Sheriff Truman and Judge Sternwood
Episode 2.004
Special Agent Dale Cooper drinking coffee with Sheriff Harry S. Truman
Episode 2.004

Several sips of coffee for Cooper from his FBI mug upon Judge Clinton Sternwood’s arrival at the Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Department in episode 2.004. Notice the green mug on the table – here’s a story about that one.

Special Agent Dale Cooper drinking coffee with Sheriff Harry S. Truman
Episode 2.006

Sheriff Truman and Cooper share a cup of coffee together after discussing Jean Renault and the past in Episode 2.006.

Law enforcement drinking coffee with Mike the one Armed Man at the Twin Peaks Sheriff's Station
Episode 2.007

The beginning of David Lynch directed Episode 2.007 has a line up of coffee lovers in the lobby of the Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Department. Cooper is again drinking from his navy-colored FBI mug.

Special Agent Dale Cooper drinking coffee in the woods
Episode 2.009

The only time Cooper is seen drinking coffee from a paper cup is in Episode 2.009. The shot takes place just after Sheriff Truman wonders where BOB is now. Maybe he is drinking coffee?

Special Agent Dale Cooper drinking coffee around the campfire
Episode 2.010

Campfire coffee time with Major Briggs in Episode 2.010. Cooper is seen drinking from a blue enamel mug before “feeling the call of nature.”

Dale Cooper drinking a cup of coffee at the bar with Denise Bryson
Episode 2.011

At the Milford Wedding Reception in Episode 2.011, Cooper enjoys a cup of coffee while speaking with Agent Bryson.

Sheriff Truman and Deputy Dale Cooper drinking coffee
Episode 2.014

At the beginning of Episode 2.014, Cooper and Truman take multiple sips of coffee while the vagrant’s body his removed from the Sheriff’s office. This scene contains one of my favorite little details.

Supposedly, shooting this episode was tough as the director Uli Edel required multiple takes. I’ve always thought the way Michael Ontkean (Sheriff Truman) holds his coffee cup is his subtle response to the director’s requests.

Sheriff Truman and Deputy Dale Cooper drinking coffee
Episode 2.014
Sheriff Truman and Deputy Dale Cooper drinking coffee
Episode 2.014
Sheriff Truman and Deputy Dale Cooper drinking coffee
Episode 2.014
Sheriff Truman and Deputy Dale Cooper drinking coffee as Deputy Hawk leaves the office
Episode 2.014

I mean you can’t miss Ontkean’s message as Cooper and Truman continue sipping coffee in this episode.

Deputy Dale Cooper drinking coffee as Truman reads from some paper
Episode 2.014

Cooper enjoys coffee from a green mug later in Episode 2.014 after setting the record straight with Sheriff Truman – “You say drink coffee, I drink coffee.”

Sheriff Truman and Deputy Dale Cooper drinking coffee as they question Josie Packard
Episode 2.015

While Josie Packard is being questioned at Blue Pine Lodge about the “Asian Man Killed!!” in Episode 2.015, Cooper is briefly seen sipping coffee.

Deputy Dale Cooper drinking coffee at Sheriff Truman's desk
Episode 2.017

Cooper takes a big drink from a yellow mug while discussing paperwork in Episode 2.017.

Deputy Dale Cooper drinking coffee at Sheriff Truman's desk
Episode 2.017
Deputy Dale Cooper drinking coffee at Sheriff Truman's desk
Episode 2.017

This mug makes a few other appearances throughout the series (including Cooper’s nightstand in room 315). But that’s another story for another time.

Deputy Dale Cooper drinks coffee at the Double R Diner
Episode 2.017
Deputy Dale Cooper drinks coffee at the Double R Diner
Episode 2.017

Later in Episode 2.017, Cooper meets Annie Blackburn for the first time at the Double R Diner. She serves him coffee which she made “just right.” He also feels the presence of Windom Earle who had just left the opposite counter dressed as a biker.

Special Agent Dale Cooper and Sheriff Truman drink coffee as Hawk enters Truman's office
Episode 2.019

Cooper’s FBI mug returns in Episode 2.019. Truman and him share a cup in the Sheriff’s office while a pink box of “Donuts Donuts” sits on the desk. I know Dunkin’ Donuts is changing it’s name to just “Dunkin'” yet I think they missed a golden opportunity not calling themselves “Donuts Donuts.”

Cooper and Truman drink coffee as Major Briggs speaks
Episode 2.020
Cooper drinks coffee as Truman watches the television
Episode 2.020
Cooper drinks coffee in the conference room at the Twin Peaks Sheriff's Department
Episode 2.020

While Major Briggs discusses Windom Earle in Episode 2.020, Cooper drinks again from his FBI mug.

Special Agent Dale Cooper drinks coffee at The Double R Diner while speaking with Annie Blackburn
Episode 2.020
Special Agent Dale Cooper drinks coffee at The Double R Diner while speaking with Annie Blackburn
Episode 2.020

Later in Episode 2.020, lovestruck Cooper sips coffee while speaking with Annie Blackburn at the Double R Diner. The scene ends with an image of slow dripping coffee from a pile of dropped dishes.

Special Agent Dale Cooper drinking coffee at the Twin Peaks Sheriff's Department with Sheriff Harry S. Truman
Episode 2.021
Special Agent Dale Cooper drinking coffee at the Twin Peaks Sheriff's Department
Episode 2.021

The last time Cooper has coffee in Season 2 is at the Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Department in Episode 2.021. He’s seen drinking from his beloved FBI mug. He holds coffee-turned-oil in the Red Room scenes from Episode 2.022, yet he isn’t seen drinking from the cup.

SPECIAL AGENT DALE COOPER LOVES COFFEE IN SEASON THREE

Cooper drinking coffee in a limo with the Mitchum Brothers
Part 16

While riding in the Mitchum Brothers’ limousine, the newly awakened Special Agent Cooper is seen drinking coffee in Part 16 on Showtime.

Cooper drinking coffee in a limo with the Mitchum Brothers
Part 16
Cooper drinking coffee in a limo with the Mitchum Brothers
Part 16

He takes two more sips during the scene.

Cooper / Richard drinking coffee at Eat at Judy's
Part 18

Lastly, Cooper (or is that Richard?) drinks coffee while visiting Eat at Judy’s in Odessa, Texas during Part 18 on Showtime.

That’s approximately 50-53 sips of coffee for all three seasons of Twin Peaks.

Author

  • Steven Miller at Twede's Cafe enjoying cherry pie and coffee

    A "Twin Peaks" fan since October 1993, Steven Miller launched Twin Peaks Blog in February 2018 to document his decades-long fascination with David Lynch and Mark Frost's wonderful and strange show. With his Canon camera in hand, he's visited numerous film locations, attended Twin Peaks events and conducted extensive historical research about this groundbreaking series. Along with fellow Bookhouse Boys, he dreams of creating a complete Twin Peaks Archive of the series and feature film. Steven currently resides in Central Florida.

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