MORNING RITUALS

Currently, I have the blessing and the curse of having zero routine. On any given day my work could have me doing late nights, early mornings, both, or neither. Yet I still have a morning ritual, one that is probably very similar to yours.

And it begins with step one: putting the kettle on.

Step two: Putting on a podcast. It should be the news, but it’s usually some culture podcast. This morning was Curious Cases with Hannah Fry. Science. But it doesn’t really matter what I listen to because the kettle is loud and I can’t hear anything else.

Step three: Choosing the method. It will always be some kind of filter, but the specifics change depending on a multitude of factors. Well mainly one – what coffee contraption is clean and not left by the sink because I got home too late the night before to be bothered to do anything about it?

Luckily I have a V60, Aeropress and two plungers in my toolbox so it’s rare (but not unheard of) that I am out of any kind of contraption. This morning was my beautiful ceramic V60 given to me by a friend. I love using it.

Step four: Choosing the mug. An easy choice this morning as my beautiful V60 has matching mugs – both of which were clean.

Step five: Make a pour over. The Ethiopian Yirgacheffe Bright Roast is just superb for this. Mixed berries, bergamot and stonefruit. Chef’s kiss. A+.

Step six: Make breakfast. I try to do this simultaneously with making the coffee so it all comes together in climactic unison. But my breakfasts sometimes get a bit over the top and I have an addiction to pumpkin which I’m trying to curb, and often my the time I’ve finished making my breakfast I’m so hungry I’m mad and on the verge of throwing it against the wall in anger… so the other day I made a batch of baked blended chocolate oats which I just heat up then top with yoghurt and banana. Much quicker. Much more zen.

Step seven: Eat, drink and be merry! If it’s one of my late start days, I take my coffee, brekky and book outside and read a chapter before starting the day, otherwise it’s all being packed up into containers for a delicious car or train meal. Which is not zen, but tastes excellent all the same.

Would love to hear your morning coffee ritual!

*Why do you get in the car, but on the train?