Slow Mornings at the Shore
People ask me all the time how I brew my coffee at home.
The answer usually surprises them.
For someone who spends every day around coffee — buying it, roasting it, tasting it, and talking about it — I keep things pretty simple. Especially when I'm at the shore.
Give me a French press.
That's it.
No fancy gadgets. No complicated routine. Just great coffee, hot water, a little patience, and a few minutes to let the day ease into gear.
The French press has become part of my summer ritual. It makes enough coffee for everyone who's staying at the house, and it gives me exactly the kind of cup I want first thing in the morning: rich, full-bodied, flavorful, and strong enough to remind you that you're drinking coffee.
The morning itself is just as important as what's in the cup.
Summer at the shore has a rhythm all its own. Some mornings the house is already buzzing. Other mornings it's quiet enough to hear the waves before you hear the neighbors. Either way, my dogs know the routine.
First, they go outside.
Then their breakfast.
After that, they watch me head back toward the kitchen.
They've learned over the years that once I start making coffee, they're going to have to wait a few minutes. There's no nudging me toward their leashes. No dropping a toy at my feet. They know I'll get to them... right after I get to my coffee.
And honestly, they're pretty patient about it.
There's something about making coffee in a French press that naturally slows you down. You grind the coffee, pour the water, give it a gentle stir, and then you wait. Four minutes isn't a long time, but it feels different when you're not trying to fill it with something else.
I usually spend that time looking out the window, thinking about absolutely nothing, or wondering what the day might bring. Sometimes someone else wanders into the kitchen, still half asleep, looking for a mug. Sometimes it's just me.
Either way, it's one of my favorite parts of the day.
As someone who works in coffee, I spend a lot of time talking about coffee origins, processing methods, roast development, and flavor profiles. I love every bit of it.
But coffee has never been just about coffee.
It's about the moments it creates.
It's the conversation that starts over the first cup. It's sitting on the deck a little longer than you planned. It's taking the dogs for a walk around the neighborhood after breakfast. It's watching the beach and our block slowly wake up while you finish what's left in your mug.
Those moments don't happen because life suddenly gets less busy. They happen because you decide they matter. I think that's one of the reasons people have gathered around coffee for generations. Not because they needed caffeine, but because coffee gives us permission to pause. Even if it's only for a few minutes.
At Reading Coffee Company, we spend a lot of time making sure every bag we roast is worthy of being part of someone's morning. That's not something we take lightly. We know coffee isn't just another beverage. For a lot of people, it's the first good moment of the day. It certainly is for me.
So this summer, I hope you find a few mornings where there's nowhere you have to be right away. Brew your favorite coffee. Sit on the porch, the deck, the beach, or wherever you can find a little quiet. Take the dog for a walk. Talk with family. Or don't say much at all.
The coffee will still taste just as good. Sometimes the best part of summer isn't doing more. It's slowing down enough to enjoy the moment you're already in.
See you around the roastery!
— Frank