Coffee’s long history is filled with legend and ritual, helping solidify it as one of the most beloved beverages in history. Looking back to its origin in Ethiopia, coffee was prepared as a part of a ceremony, and was an important social event for the village. In more modern times, coffee houses served as a place where intellectuals could sip cup after cup of the brew while discussing politics and more with each other.
These days, the coffee ritual has transformed to a point where obtaining and consuming it is more of a habit and less of a ritual. Today, most Americans opt for a quickly-obtained coffee enjoyed alone, and on the run – often brewed from a pod or by a hasty barista seeking to serve the next customer in line.
The Return of the Ritual
As any coffee professional will tell you, it is the process of brewing coffee which truly can add to the experience. But our grab-the-coffee-and-go mentality pulled us further away from the time-honored ceremony of brewing and drinking the coffee.
Luckily, the tide may be turning – again. “The ritual of brewing is re-emerging everywhere,” explains Matteo Alessi, great grandson of the founder of the Italian Design House, Alessi. “And in my view,” he says, “it is linked to the fact that each of us, everyday, is under increasing pressure, and therefore feel the need to ‘unplug’ for a few minutes.”
And to partake in this growing desire to ‘unplug’ for a few moments, more consumers are returning to traditional brewing methods that require a more hands-on approach. These methods, which include the pour over, French Press and mocha pot, all require a bit more tending to than simply pressing a button, thereby creating a wonderful ritual that captures the true essence of the beverage.
“The coffee ritual is essential,” adds Alessi. “Instead of simply pressing a button, if you are involved in the process of brewing your own coffee, you will have a much better experience. By doing this, you can create your own beverage, tweaking it based on your preferences, and really take some time for yourself.”
That’s exactly what I have been doing. I’ve been brewing pour-over coffee every morning for the past 2-1/2 years. It is a habit that didn’t take long to create, and a ritual that I’m happy to have undertaken. I value the coffee more, I enjoy the experience, and actually pay more attention to the process of brewing coffee in this way. I’ve gone from fast to slow, which is a welcomed change in my crazy, fast-paced life. My morning coffee ritual is one I truly enjoy, especially since it is my only quiet moment in the day.
Here we take a look at three brewing methods that allow you to unplug from your daily life, and enjoy reconnecting with the ritual of preparing and drinking coffee.
Pour Over
There has been a resurgence of interest in preparing coffee at home using the Pour Over method. This is definitely being driven by its popularity of this method being used in cafes. While the process may seem intimidating, it certainly isn’t, and Melitta is making it easy for consumers to create that cup at home in a simpler way. As the inventor of this method over 100 years ago, Melitta is dedicated to helping consumers create a great experience. Coffee is a highly personal ritual and pour-over brewing allows you to customize to your taste preferences.
“Pour-over enthusiasts are connected to the process of handcrafting their coffee. And this process allows you to enjoy a flavorful, handcrafted cup without sacrificing time to prepare,” explains Melissa Le Fort, Marketing Manager, Filtration for Melitta USA. “Melitta pour-overs make it fast and easy with consistent results.” In fact, you can create your own pour over experience, brewing in three simple steps: Just add coffee filter and fresh coffee into cone, pour hot water and enjoy.
The Melitta Heritage Series celebrates the company’s rich and flavorful history and focuses on iconic Melitta designs over the years. Available now are the Porcelain Brew & Serve Carafe Set which is an homage to the mid-century Melitta porcelain coffee brewing sets that have become a symbol of good taste. They feature a 20 oz serving carafe, drip-resistant spout design and an updated logo treatment that is laser etched.
French Press
Before the French Press came along, coffee and water were boiled together, and the grounds were left to settle to the bottom. Then one day a French man decided to use a screen to push the grinds to the bottom of a pot. However, it wasn’t until an Italian created a plunger system, that the true French Press method came to fashion. It is a design that has stood the test of time, and one that exemplifies the idea that simplicity can be desirable.
Popularity of using the French Press method comes and goes. Many enjoy using it for entertaining, as it provides a great visual on the table for guests. But for daily drinkers, there are often drawbacks: how to keep the coffee warm for an extended period; the classic glass carafe is prone to breakage; the coffee grounds sit in the water, oftentimes causing an over-extracted flavor; and the plunger often allows coffee sediment to creep into the cup.
Refusing to give up on the time-honored method of brewing, Bonjour continues to evolve the design – both functionally and fashionably. The company’s new Ceramic French Press addresses these challenges, giving consumer the opportunity to make their French press ritual more enjoyable than ever.
Crafted with an insulating stoneware body and lid, the 8-CupFrench Press keeps freshly brewed coffee at its optimum heat and flavor longer. The durable and easy to maintain ceramic carafe also makes this French Press less prone to breakage. For the most aromatic and rich tasting coffee, from the first cup to the last, the pressfeatures BonJour’s breakthrough Flavor LockTMsystem, which shuts the brewing process with an easy twist of the knob on the lid to prevent coffee from over-brewing. The press also features BonJour’s classic filtering lid to reduce the amount of coffee sediment when pouring coffee into cups. Perfect for tableside coffee service when entertaining, the Ceramic French Press is styled with a colored bamboo handle and a retro-chic carafe design of bold and thin horizontal stripes. Crafted in two colors, with red or black stripes.
Moka Pot
Also known as the stovetop espresso maker, the moka pot was invented by Alfonso Bialetti in 1933. This aluminum stovetop espresso coffee maker, the Moka Express, became so popular that it quickly found itself in 90% of Italian homes, forever changing the fabric of the Italian coffee culture.
There is no denying that Bialetti changed the way Italians brewed their coffee, but it was Alessi who was instrumental in furthering the experience with beautiful design.
“People are emotionally connected to their favorite mugs and brewing devices, and it is that emotional connection that furthers the experience,” says Alessi, “It surely is the ritual, but that also involves the use of premium and well-designed products. Design is not just about the aesthetics, but it is about the whole experience using the item, like, in this case, making coffee. Design is important because it influences the whole experience of use — from looking at the object while you are waiting, to handling it, and also as it influences the quality of the coffee.”
For the past 40 years, Alessi has created a large number specially crafted coffee makers, revamping classic designs with the help of some great designers and architects.
Following the belief that design should create emotions,that is exactly what so many of the Alessi products do.“In the Pulcina Coffee Maker that we developed with Illy we spent a lot of time in finding the perfect shape of the heating chamber to make sure that we could have the perfect proportions between air and water in order to reach the right pressure at before boiling temperature, while avoiding burning the coffee in the brewing process,” Alessi explains adding a bit about brewing: “When brewing using a moka pot, it is very important to not rush. You have to use the right quantity of water and not set the flame high — because the water has to pass through coffee at the right temperature and at the right speed in order to extract the perfect aroma from the beans. These parameters are also what allow you to adjust the coffee to your own liking.”
Create Your Own Coffee Ritual
Take the time to create the experience and a delicious cup of coffee using these age-old methods, which feature beautiful designs that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Choose an alternative to the automatic drip coffee maker, your pod brewing (PLEASE STOP!), or our obsession to grab a cup on the go that someone else brewed hours earlier. Stop for a moment and create your own personal coffee ritual.
