The smell of coffee | how to savor your daily cup of Joe

I think Sweden has given me a coffee addiction.  I was certainly no stranger to the hastily-bought mocha on the way to class during my undergraduate years (and I will always have the fondest memories of afternoon coffee dates with friends at our little campus cafe, The Grind), but it wasn't a regular habit until I moved to Uppsala.  The typical collegiate American's coffee intake is laughable in comparison to that of the average Swede.  Only Finland natives drink more per capita.  Maybe it's to stay awake during all those long nights, I'm not sure, but the Nordic countries have institutionalized the daily cup o' Joe.

The untranslatable Swedish word fika describes the daily tradition of taking time for a coffee-and-pastry break (or two or three...) with friends or coworkers.  I just love this Kinfolk article about fika, as well as the cheeky Gevalia advertisement at the end of this article.  The idea of fika gets at the pause-button effect of drinking coffee.  It's a practice that embodies the temptation to siesta at any time of day.

But I also love waking up with coffee.  Personally, the smell of coffee will always be my favorite part of the experience.  It reminds me of Sunday mornings at home as a child.  My father always puts a huge spoonful of cinnamon in with the grounds, and that will always be my favorite smell/flavor.  Whether you're a morning person who starts the day with an automated coffeepot, or an afternoon cafe-frequenter like myself, here are my humble suggestions for savoring your daily cuppa.

1. Invest in a French press.  I recently got myself the classic Bodum Chambord, and there is no more aesthetically pleasing or simple way to make your own coffee than tossing the grounds in the bottom of a French press, filling it with boiled water, and then taking it to your cozy corner of the apartment and kicking back.
2. Clear your desk.  Coffee drinking is best suited for reading the news, checking your social media, and curling up with that book you've been letting gather dust on the windowsill.
3. Find your favorites.  Your favorite cafe, your favorite barista... or perhaps your favorite brewer (mine is the Swedish brand Arvid Nordquist).  Whatever atmosphere or taste makes the experience yours.
4. Have it your way.  The personalization doesn't end with the package.  Add a bit of cinnamon or even some cocoa powder when brewing your own coffee.  And after pouring, don't forget to add milk, cream, sugar, Stevia - whatever makes it particularly delicious to you!
5. Pair with the perfect treat.  Whether it's a morning croissant and egg, a Swedish cinnamon bun, or a slice of chocolate cake after dinner, coffee is lonely without something scrumptious to complement the flavor.
6. Read something.  Morning news?  Tumblr?  Your favorite food blog?  The newest issue of Elle or The Economist?  Or maybe a couple chapters of Game of Thrones if you're feeling ambitious... find the perfect read to go with that lazy weekend coffee.
7. Drink outside.  Whether it's a warm summer afternoon at a busy street cafe, a rainy morning on the porch of your house, or a day with snow falling past your apartment balcony, take at least a few moments to stand or sit outside and sip your cuppa while breathing fresh air and taking in the world around you.
8. Fika with a friend.  Having a cup of coffee can be a great retreat to clear your head, but obviously it's also a fantastic social lubricant.  Make a pot and invite a friend over, or meet an acquaintance you want to get to know better out at your favorite coffeehouse. 
9. Savor.  Take your time with that first sip.  Make sure you breathe in before you sip, inhaling the aroma.  Sip, savor, smile.  Repeat.

October book to buy: The Kinfolk Table

Kinfolk Dinner: Brooklyn, NY from Kinfolk (kinfolk.com) on Vimeo.

I wish more people knew about Kinfolk magazine.  Based in Portland, OR, this new indie magazine has a very unique theme: small, intimate gatherings.  Good food, good company, good conversation, the passing on of recipes and home-related skill sets, exploration, travel, &c.  It has a fantastic aesthetic - natural, rustic, simple, beautiful.  The team of freelance photographers, writers, travelers, and filmmakers who contribute to each new issue come from all over the world.  Their latest issue (#9 - they haven't been around that long!) has the theme of "defining your weekend, finding the right balance between work and play" and you can check it out here.  Another cool element of Kinfolk is their monthly events, which are themed each month but which take place simultaneously in locales all around the globe.  Take this month's "Preserving the Season" gatherings in Seattle, Mexico City, and Oslo, to name a few - all celebrating the harvest and teaching guests about canning, pickling, etc.  Upcoming events are always posted to their website here.

This October, Kinfolk is branching out even further - they're publishing a cookbook!  I had the pleasure to preview it, and it is really just fantastic.  The Kinfolk Table: Recipes for Small Gatherings is divided into sections by city/locale.  From Brooklyn to Copenhagen, to the English Countryside, each sections includes profiles of a variety of individuals who have been discovered by Kinfolk over the years.  Photographers, bakers, farm owners... they come from all walks of life, yet they've all welcomed Kinfolk into their homes and have shared their most precious recipes.  Some are their original creations, and some are recipes that have been handed down through their families.

The cookbook is full of gorgeous photography, not just of the culinary creations included but also portraits of all the contributors, and even a great deal of photos of their homes, their kitchens, the small beautiful elements that make up their daily lives.  The volume leaves you not only with the ability to make simply, healthy, delicious meals and desserts (such as Pasta with Wilted Arugula, Almonds, and Soft Goat Cheese or Chocolate Chip Zucchini Cake), but also stories: of people, places, livelihoods...  It's incredibly true to the magazine's mission, and is definitely a must-have for chefs, travelers, and all indie/hipster types. ;)

You can pre-order The Kinfolk Table on Amazon.

Release Date: October 15, 2013

$21.00 | hardcover