The best part of waking up...

Written by Adam

I enjoy waking up by 6:00 AM. The days somehow seem extended when you add a couple of early hours onto the morning.

During the week, this allows ample time to fire up the old Internet connection and get a good dose of daily news, sports scores, blog updates, and other online tidbits to start the day.

Sunday mornings we have a better way to make the most of this extra time - a great cup of coffee and some easy conversation for an hour or so as the world slowly joins us.  Eventually we get in motion, but this really sets the tone for a wonderful day.

Depending on the season, this meeting of the minds usually takes place out on the porch or in the living room (in front of a fire is nice). The one constant is the hot coffee... and us, of course.

Over the years I've enjoyed a fresh cup of campfire coffee on a chilly mountain morning, but I was never a regular coffee drinker. That was until about five or six years ago when I went on a backwoods camping/fly fishing trip in northern Maine.

It was late May and the ice and snow had just barely released its grip on the roads and waterways. It was perfect timing - no black flies or mosquitoes and the native trout were voracious, striking at anything that hit the water.

As could be expected, the weather was less accommodating. The nights were in the low thirties, followed by rainy and raw days. A good campfire, plenty of eats, and hot black coffee were necessary to maintain functional body temperatures.  

Needless to say, I enjoyed the hot morning beverage and the grown up feeling it gave me. I was hooked, so to speak. Now, coffee is an almost daily occurrence in our lives, for better or worse.

We have a fancy French Press, which is quaint. But my preferred method is a stove-top percolator - the same one from our camping kitchen. I like the percolator because it is durable and simple to use, even during a power outage.  

Our "brand" is Mind, Body and Soul. It's fair trade and all of that eco-friendly hooha we strive for, with a robust yet smooth flavor. We freshly grind the whole coffee beans at the Co-op, and keep it in a peanut butter jar on the pantry shelf. We alternate on the grind settings - Heather likes it chunkier, I go for the finer auto-drip setting.

Our standard ratio is one tablespoon of grounds per two cups of water, but it is not an exact science. Bring the water to a boil, then let it perc on low heat until it smells just right.  Pour into your favorite cup, add what you like (black for me), and find your place to start the day.

How your day begins can make a big difference in how your day goes. A nice hot beverage, pleasant company, and maybe a hint of woodsmoke in the air hits the spot for me.

How do you start the best day of your week?