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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!”
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.
The first time we see Cooper drinking from a Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Department mug is in 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.
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 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?
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Sheriff Truman and Cooper share a cup of coffee together after discussing Jean Renault and the past in Episode 2.006.
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.
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?
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.”
At the Milford Wedding Reception in Episode 2.011, Cooper enjoys a cup of coffee while speaking with Agent Bryson.
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.
I mean you can’t miss Ontkean’s message as Cooper and Truman continue sipping coffee in this episode.
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.”
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.
Cooper takes a big drink from a yellow mug while discussing paperwork in 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.
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.
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.”
While Major Briggs discusses Windom Earle in Episode 2.020, Cooper drinks again from his FBI mug.
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.
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
While riding in the Mitchum Brothers’ limousine, the newly awakened Special Agent Cooper is seen drinking coffee in Part 16 on Showtime.
He takes two more sips during the scene.
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.
