Can the habit of brewing coffee relieve daily stress?
Posted by TOBETAHIDEKI
How about incorporating the habit of "hand-dripping coffee" into your routine as an easy way to relieve stress? Neither espresso nor a convenient fully automatic drip machine, this classic method can bring surprisingly effective relaxation time.
Routine for regulating your daily rhythm
Some people brew and drink coffee at a set time every day, naturally setting up time for communication between spouses or partners.
Many business people have also started using the somewhat tedious task of hand-dripping first thing in the morning as a switch to carefully start their day.
This allows you to regulate your body clock, not just for the purpose of "drinking a delicious cup."
If you don't have time in the morning, or if you choose decaffeinated coffee at night, you can enjoy a relaxing time without worrying about caffeine-induced awakeness.
In recent years, decaffeination methods have evolved, not just to remove caffeine, but with various innovations to ensure the taste can still be enjoyed after processing, leading to a rapid increase in delicious decaffeinated coffees.
The "water process" method, which utilizes the water-soluble properties of caffeine, is widely adopted in the Japanese market.
Relaxation through the five senses
Although hand-drip brewing may seem troublesome at first glance, carefully and thoughtfully brewing coffee itself leads to a relaxing effect even before drinking it.
The pleasant "grinding" sound when grinding beans, the "dripping" sound of amber drops falling into the drip server, and the "shimmer" of steam rising from the coffee bed—these might be the easiest ways to feel the rhythm of nature while at home.
Especially with hand-dripping, consistent pouring is important and requires concentration.
This inevitably creates a moment of "stillness" in your busy daily life.
Nowadays, there are more stylish drippers that also boast functionality, so choosing equipment that matches your room's interior style is also one of the pleasures.
Click here for recommended albums for a morning of drip coffee
Time to move your hands and stimulate your mind
In this convenient age, even professional baristas acknowledge that convenience store coffee and instant coffee are delicious. At a certain convenience store chain, you can enjoy cafe au lait supervised by a world champion hand-drip barista or coffee from a drip machine for under 200 yen.
However, the experience of grinding your own beans and brewing a cup has a different value.
By focusing on the brewing method and being mindful of the recipe, you can moderately stimulate your mind and easily achieve a small sense of accomplishment.
You can incorporate a mere 5 minutes of "mindfulness" into your daily routine.
Even if you make a mistake, always jot down the recipe.
"The taste was too strong, should I lower the water temperature?" "Is the short aftertaste due to old beans?"—even when using the same beans, there's always something new to learn, which is the fun part of coffee.
You can enjoy drip coffee with just these four items:
・A scale with a timer (that displays in 0.5g increments)
・A drip kettle (ideally with temperature setting capability)
・A trapezoidal dripper is recommended for beginners as it reduces inconsistencies in extraction
・A hand grinder (an electric one is recommended if your budget allows, but a hand grinder has a nicer sound)
Health benefits of communication
Research has shown that increasing human interaction can help prevent various diseases, such as dementia.
Although it's an era where you can easily buy beans from famous roasters overseas via e-commerce, please try to make a habit of visiting a shop and buying your favorite beans while chatting with the barista and roaster!
Just knowing the following elements will make bean shopping more enjoyable! Please refer to them.
・For those who like fruitiness and a moderate acidity
→African origins are recommended, such as Ethiopia or Kenya.
・For those who prefer bitterness and body
→Dark roasts are recommended, regardless of origin.
Knowing a few more technical terms, like "what process" or "what variety" you prefer, will make going to cafes even more enjoyable when you can discuss them with a barista!
※ Related Columns
Coffeeology for Sleep - Caffeine Edition
※ Reference Information
The cafe Sensing Touch of Earth in Kappabashi Dougu-gai, Taito-ku, Tokyo, offers self-roasted coffee beans starting from 100g, and you can also enjoy special menus centered on specialty coffee in a unique space designed by space design professionals.
Furthermore, on the 2nd floor of the store, the "Theater SPROUT" theater hosts the "RELAX WORLD Café," a collaborative project that aims for ultimate tranquility by "being aware of many senses."
※ RELAX WORLD Café Related Articles
Recommended Cafe Music Albums
『Cafe Jazz "Relaxing with a cup of coffee" 』
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For listening on other services, click here♪
Text: RELAX WORLD Editorial Department
