I have an issue with Keurigs.
I’m probably one of those quintessential ‘coffee snobs’ compared to most of the population–I like to buy locally roasted, fair-trade beans and grind them myself. I abhor Starbucks for what I consider to be several legitimate reasons (their macchiato is NOT a macchiato, their beans for espresso are not freshly ground and tamped by the barista, etc.). I make my own espresso. I own a couple of different French presses, and actually know the temperatures associated with using them. I know darker roasts have less caffeine than light roasts, but I don’t give a shit because it tastes way better (either way I’m going to end up consuming more caffeine than is healthy for a normal adult). I inwardly judge people who add sugar and cream to their morning coffee. However, making quality coffee in the mornings is time-consuming. I’m fortunate that my company provides me with free coffee that grinds each cup fresh, and I’m able to lower my standards on beans for the word ‘free’. Previously, like most people, I’d gone the route of a Keurig. As a caffeine addict, my lifestyle and job almost necessitated the ease of it.
I work in the tech industry–in a sense, I’d argue we all work in the tech industry anymore. Technology enables us to do accomplish an incredible amount in a very short amount of time. Business booms. People across the globe can collaborate on the same document at the exact same time and avoid stepping on each other’s modifications to the work. Hell, I can do my entire job from my cellphone with a few apps. And, in the interest of furthering our ability to accomplish all of a day’s tasks in a short time period, automation has become our biggest friend. Sure, the alarm clock that also cooks you eggs and bacon is gimmicky and ridiculous, but is it really that much more ridiculous than getting your morning coffee from a single-cup brewing Keurig?
Initially, I thought I was anti-Keurig because of the quality. And then, my brother showed me this automated, high-quality coffee machine that could scientifically make a more perfect pour-over than I could even dream of: the Bruvelo.
I was torn. I love quality coffee, and felt like I couldn’t achieve this at the same easy and time that a Keurig allowed. With this expensive, fancy-pants kickstarter, I could have that. EVERY. DAY. But for some reason, I was still unconvinced. I still didn’t want one, and it wasn’t even the price that deterred me. And it hit me–even if this could make a superior product to my own cup of coffee, it wasn’t my coffee. It’s my own version of the IKEA effect.
I still prefer the process of making my own coffee. I like that it slows down my weekend mornings. I like the process of grinding my own beans and smelling the coffee and heating the water and watching the grounds soak and impart their deliciousness in my French press. It’s a part of my weekend mornings that’s deliberately slow. The process of making morning coffee is a tradition that’s been performed in my family for as long as I can remember. It’s my own personal tea ceremony.
It’s a simple reminder to take the time to slow down in life, enjoy the small things, and that, sometimes, efficiency is overrated.
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