Mornings are for coffee. They're for cats playing, and dogs stretching, and exercise and last-minute-homework (yes, even for me) and showers and mindfulness and . . .

Coffee.

French press coffee takes some time. It takes a little thought and care. This can be challenging in the morning, before you've had your coffee (a modern definition of a catch 22, perhaps?), but the results are worth it.

It's a "slow down and savor" kind of ritual.

French press coffee (french press carafe required)

• 2 TBS coffee per 8 oz cup, coarse ground
• boiling water

1. Put coffee in the bottom of the carafe

2. Pour water slowly over the grounds, evenly wetting them. Some people like to stir the grounds at this point, but I use the water to stir.

3. Put the top on the carafe and press the plunger down about an inch, just enough to make sure the grounds are all submerged below the water level. Set a timer for 4 minutes.

4. Press the plunger all the way down, trapping the grounds below the mesh screen.

5. Craft your perfect cup

Ahhhhh.