My Morning Coffee Ritual

By Araz Shahbazian

I'm a little particular about my morning coffee, and I've made peace with that. It's not about caffeine so much as the ritual — ten quiet minutes at the start of the day that are entirely mine before anything else gets going.

There's a real value in doing one thing well first thing in the morning. Grinding the beans, getting the water right, not rushing it. It's a tiny practice in patience, and it sets the tone. If I can do one small thing carefully before the day speeds up, the rest of it tends to feel more deliberate.

Mostly it's just a good habit that costs nothing and pays off every single morning. No phone, no noise — just a good cup and a minute to think. Everybody should have a small ritual like that. This one happens to be mine.