Today is International Coffee Day—a perfect excuse (as if I needed one) to write about something I truly love. Coffee isn’t just how I start my mornings; it’s a treat. Not because I can’t function without caffeine, but because I love the taste. That first warm sip—the pause it creates—pure bliss.

Do you recognize the coffee cup in the picture? It’s Blue Bottle. When I lived in San Francisco, I was just around the corner from their very first café—a tiny kiosk in Hayes Valley tucked into a converted garage. That little shop became something of a cult favorite, and I’m glad it did. Their focus on small-batch roasting and serving coffee at its peak helped shape what we now call the “third wave” of coffee.

Now that they are having shops across the country, I have opportunities for small mental escapes back to San Francisco days, when coffee was my daily reminder to slow down and savor flavor. A small ritual, both grounding and indulgent—one I’m grateful to carry with me, even here in New York.