How much do you love coffee? If you’re like most Americans, the answer is: A lot. Or, more accurately (for me, at least), you don’t so much love coffee as you aren’t sure what you would do without it. You NEED it, like the grungy addict that you are! Why deny it?

But there’s something nice about really taking your time in the morning and enjoying what is in your favorite mug. Being present for every sip. I’m not trying to get all Zen on you – especially if you haven’t had your morning cup, yet – but seriously, it’s worth taking those precious moments to just BE. That’s not always easy given the many demands of modern life, but even if you have to get up a smidge earlier than usual, the results are to be treasured.

If you need a little extra help to truly enjoy your coffee on its own merits, why not try French press? This is a thicker cup of coffee than you’re probably used to, and that richness can help jolt you out of your typical morning stupor and back into the present moment. Best of all, you can brew your coffee in just a few short minutes.

Here’s what you’ll need:

– Coffee

– French press

– Coffee grinder (optional)

– Pot or kettle

– Kitchen scale

Let’s get started.

First things first, go ahead and boil the water you need for the brew. The average French press handles 17-oz of drink, so in that case you would need about 12 ounces of water. You can check with your own French press to see how large its capacity is and adjust from there.

While you’re waiting for your water to boil, grind your coffee if you choose to incorporate this step. I’ve made French press with ground coffee from the store before, and it turned out okay. Some people are extra picky about this, though, so you’ll have to decide for yourself. Freshly ground coffee IS better, but it just depends on how specific you want to get. If grinding your own, aim for a coarse grind. Too fine, and it just won’t work right. You’ll want 1/12th of the coffee in comparison to the water. So if using 12 ounces of water, you’ll want 1 ounce of coffee, as measured by your kitchen scale.

In the next step, pour half of your water into the French press on top of your coffee grounds. Stir and let sit for 30 seconds or so. Add the rest of your water and then put the lid on the press. Wait four minutes so that the coffee can steep. Set a timer to be exact.

Finally, use the plunger to press your coffee and serve immediately. Remember to stop and enjoy it – that’s the whole point!