I ran out of flat bottom coffee filters. That’s how it all started.
Thrust into a morning without the familiar pattern of rising to the smell of time-brewed coffee in my trusty old coffee maker that I normally set the night before, I panicked.
I needed coffee. The day ahead was long and the To Do lists for work, blog, kids, home, and teaching, were each daunting. I was majorly, ridiculously stressed out, as I had been nearly each and every morning in the days prior.
Then I remembered that I had alternative ways to caffeinate, one of them being a brand new Pour Over Brewer from Starbucks.
I quickly grabbed the Pour Over Brewer, stuffed it with a #2 cone filter, scooped two ginormous tablespoons overflowing with ground Caffé Verona coffee into the filter, and waited while a pot of water boiled in my tea kettle.
And waited.
And waited.
Without multitasking – no putting away dishes, prepping breakfast, or even going to the bathroom during this time – I watched the proverbial pot boil with a substantial 14 ounce mug in hand, patiently waiting to be filled.
In those short few minutes while the water boiled, I breathed in and breathed out. I thought about the day ahead. I smiled at my children and let their energy wash over me as they chattered on excitedly about their latest Lego creations. I listened to the gradual rumble of the water rolling to a slow boil.
I let go. I stopped, and I realized that was all I needed to do in those moments. To just BE. I hadn’t just been in a long time.
I picked up the kettle and poured the boiling water over the coffee grounds. Too quickly at first (my habitual I need COFFEE! NOW! instinct momentarily kicked in), and then, slowly, I found a soothing rhythm that worked.
Pour, fill, dissolve, drip. Pour, fill, dissolve, drip.
Who knew caffeine could be so calming?
In those few short minutes, I gained my breath, my health, my sanity, my life back. I let go of (most of) the stress, and savored the morning light.
I repeated the ritual again the next day. And the next. And the next.
I’ve used those minutes as my time to embrace the moment, and remind myself that no matter what happened ahead, I could handle it. It was all good. It was okay to stop, to wait, and to enjoy an amazing cup of dark roasted coffee, the way coffee should be enjoyed.
Sometimes, we just need these little rituals to force us to slow down, even if just for a short time.
The days still go by so quickly, and I can hardly grasp the fact that it is already August. There’s so much left to do with this summer, but I’m so very grateful for running out of flat bottom coffee filters that day not too long ago. I still haven’t purchased new flat bottom coffee filters for my 12-cup coffee maker. Maybe I’ll go back to it when the kids are back in school, maybe not. For now, the single serve slow brew and the mini mental vacation it affords me is a welcome way to start the day.
Life has a funny way of stopping when you’re running too fast, tripping over your own feet, you know?
Do you have a morning or daily ritual that helps you slow down and savor life’s little moments?
Get the Goods
The Pour Over Brew method invented by Melitta Bentz in 1908 is said to be one of the best ways to enjoy a cup of coffee. The single-brewing system allows for the full extraction of coffee flavors since you regulate the flow of water to grounds by hand. Personally, I also love the single-serving system because it brews a fabulously rich cup of coffee that you can truly enjoy, versus several cups of watered down, ho-hum coffee. Here’s what you’ll need:
Starbucks Pour Over Brewer System
Paper Cone Coffee Filters (#2)
Starbucks Siren Black Mug (14 oz)
This post was written in partnership with Starbucks Coffee. I am honored to be an official part of the Starbucks Blogger Community, and to share my experiences along with Starbucks products that I personally love and think you will love to. This post also contains affiliate links.