How do you start your day? Do you take time out to create a ritual that will help set the tone for your schedule ahead? Before you get after conquering the day, slonk your eggs and hit the gym, allow me to suggest adding a ritual to your morning that will give you a boost of energy, a moment to center and an opportunity to enjoy one of the finer things in life.
Namely, a morning espresso. Depending on where you are in the world, your locally available coffee culture may be limited to a trip to the local Starbucks. If you’re in middle America, chances are your coffee culture may only amount to a cup of hot-drip Folger’s at your kitchen counter or a trip to the local diner where you sit around telling stories with the old timers. Coffee is one of just a few beverages that can truly harness the emotions and create memories. Many of us can think back to sitting with friends at an all-night diner, smoking cigarettes and trying to top each other’s jokes, or a visit to an elderly relative where they insist that you have a slice of cake and a cup of coffee. Coffee touches us in ways that a mere glass of water never could. I’m not alone in thinking that Italian coffee culture is the standout. There is nothing quite like a bar-made espresso, consumed standing shoulder to shoulder with fellow patrons while you crunch a pastry or simply enjoy a few minutes of chatter.
Espresso is made from finely ground dark-roasted coffee beans, through which nearly boiling water is pressed at high pressure. This creates a thick, velvety coffee that includes some suspended solids within it and of course the essential “crema” on top. This is a coffee experience like no other. Espresso is the perfect way to start your day, to take a break in the middle or even wrap up a delicious meal. You could go as far as to say that a well-made espresso is the perfect drink at any time. I like my morning espresso with just a little sugar, or a rind of lemon or orange. Of course, espresso is a versatile drink. When combined with steamed milk, it becomes a cappuccino, macchiato or latte. You can drink espresso in a single shot, “doppio” (double shot) or “lungo” with a little more coffee. Italians will add boiling water to make an Americano (basically American-style coffee made with espresso) or will pour a shot or two of espresso over ice cream to make the beloved treat, an affogato.
Later in the day, espresso can be “corrected” by adding some grappa (a brandy made with leftover grapes from the winemaking process), sambuca or regular brandy: this is called caffe corretto (literally, corrected coffee). I personally love espresso with grappa, but don’t tend to enjoy it first thing in the morning. So how can you incorporate an espresso into your daily routine? You could buy an expensive espresso machine of more than $2000, and it would provide you an inestimable amount of joy over many, many years. However, if spending a mortgage payment on an espresso machine is not in your wheelhouse, you should consider the humble moka pot. The moka pot, moka express or “caffetiera” in Italian, is a simple device that you can use to make delicious espresso on your stovetop and is my preferred avenue for coffee heaven each morning. This genius kitchen gadget (around $25) is essentially made up of three components. The water chamber (boiler) at the bottom, the coffee basket in the middle and the collection chamber at the top. The most famous moka pot manufacturer is the Italian company Bialetti, but they are available from other companies as well.
The typical moka pot is made from aluminum but is also available in stainless steel (which is what mine is made of); electric moka pots are also common. The system is simple. As the water heats, it is vaporized and the steam forces the hot water up through the coffee basket. This creates the necessary pressure to make espresso, as the finished product comes out the spigot into the collection chamber.
To start the process, first fill the bottom chamber with water to just under the pressure release valve, preferably with water pre-heated to 70 degrees Celsius. Then fill the coffee chamber with ground espresso roast coffee, seat the coffee chamber in the water chamber, and screw on the top. Now gently heat the moka on the stove and wait until your espresso comes bubbling out of the spigot into the collection chamber. When you hear the moka gurgling, you’re just about there. You won’t necessarily get bar-quality espresso out of your moka – although there are some tutorials online which will explain a way for you to get that crema on the top – but in my experience it’s not worth the effort when the beverage you extract from the normal moka method is so satisfying in its own right. One tip: patience is the key. You want to gently heat the pot, because if you cook it too fast, the coffee will likely taste bitter and won’t be nearly as delightful. Like many things, practice makes perfect. If your first attempt isn’t to your liking, try it again, but take things a little slower.
Once finished, pour your new coffee into a ceramic cup (never paper or styrofoam), add a little sugar and citrus peel if you like, or drink it straight. You can also add steamed milk with foam for a delightful cappuccino. Don’t listen to those who tell you to consume espresso (whether at the bar or at home) in one gulp. Savor the experience. Take a few sips, enjoy the sunrise and consider the many ways you are about to claim victory over your day ahead. This ritual can add considerable quality to your morning. The experience of prepping and making your coffee will take you perhaps 10-15 minutes and it will be worth every second. Take the time to do this in some peace and quiet, without screens; maybe read a book or an article while you wait and while you sip. Toward the end of my espresso, I have a tendency to send my first tweet of the day to my many online frens. After this, perhaps you shower, have some eggs or hit the gym. The caffeine in espresso can be a great pre-workout supplement to help you hit some PRs. However you enjoy it, make your little cup of coffee a sacred part of your morning process. If we look after the little things, the big things will look after themselves!
I've always been a French Press guy, but after seeing your Twitter posts I got myself one and I'm enjoying the darker, harsher, brew. I like the process of making coffee, taking it slow, enjoying the moment. I find American starbucks drive through culture abhorrent.