There is nothing better than a fresh cup of coffee on a Saturday morning... right?  Saturday, because you have things to do, but not as much as you did Friday, but more than Sunday.  Saturday morning is a time when you need coffee, but have the time to sit down and appreciate a unique roast you just picked up at the market, your unique brewing process, and finally that savory bitterness on the back of your tongue.  Coffee is an excuse to experience people in a different way. Everyone makes a unique cup of coffee - whether it is with a Mr. Coffee machine, a French Press, or a patient Pour Over Device. How you make your coffee can say a lot about you.

This past weekend I made the decision to visit my friend Kenneth.  We grew up together, and he is a native Buffalonian who transplanted to NYC.  I met Ken at Sweet Home Middle School at a lunch table - we were trading Pokemon cards at the time.  Since then, Ken became a successful accountant in New York City, but our friendship never missed a step.  On Saturday, we chatted about what makes a cup of coffee so great, over coffee of course.

"Coffee is a chance to make something you need every day, and make it better each time."

To many people, Coffee is just a daily chore - usually one of the first tasks of the day.  Ken sees it differently. To him, coffee is an opportunity to appreciate life at a deeper level.  Since I have known him, Ken has taken great interest in making daily tasks into passionate pursuits:  Coffee, Cooking, Shaving, and Wine. “It’s about enjoying the finer things every day - and being able to contribute that to your life.  Finer things are usually simpler things.”

Ken’s top 5 tips to improving your morning coffee routine:

1. Store your coffee in an airtight container (Ken uses Evak containers).  Fresh coffee is good coffee.

2. Measure your coffee to water ratio.  You will be able to adjust your personal brew better to your tastes and then replicate it consistently.

3. Since water is the primary ingredient in coffee, use filtered water for better taste (bottled if you’re fancy).

4. Invest in a good burr grinder - being able to grind coffee yourself helps preserve freshness and prevent coffee from going stale too quickly.

5. Take a break from the standard house blend and try something new.

When you start your morning investing time into something you love, it will transcend through the rest of your day.  Even though we spent a few days wandering around Brooklyn and Queens, my experience felt like an extension of our coffee conversations - all that was changing was the scenery.  Check out some photos from our adventure below, and remember to start your day with something you love - whatever it may be!  And as always - capture each moment with great photography!