How I use coffee for productivity and as a weapon against procrastination

Coffee is an essential tool in my solo business. Every morning, I pour a big cup of Peet’s Uzuri made in my fancy Moccamaster Technoverm machine and sit, alone, and in silence while I sip it. It is an essential part of my morning practice, and if anyone interrupts me, I am not nice about it. I do what I call ‘meta planning’ plan during these 15 minutes. Without that planning, my day is chaos. Sometimes I use a bullet journal to capture my plan. Sometimes — if the plan is simple — I stare into space and visualize my day.

A long history of boosting productivity

Coffee is not only valuable to me. It has long been valuable to civilization. All over the world, people participate in a daily coffee for productivity ritual like mine. And it’s possible that modern civilization would not be as productive without coffee. I’m sure it’s possible to be a freelancer and run your own solo business without it. But I wouldn’t want to try it. When focus won’t come to me, a hit of liquid focus is a quick and pleasant cure. So, since I consider this lovely beverage an essential freelancing tool and have been brewing it with increasing ritualistic care for decades, here is an explainer on brewing and using coffee to keep up with the demands of a job that has no time for writer’s block, lack of focus, or days spent in unproductive meetings.

Choose the bean

The vernacular around coffee can seem as complex as that surrounding wine. You can buy supermarket coffee and brew it in a Mr. Coffee. Lots of people do. But if you want to find a brew that suits your palette and sensibility, it helps to understand the bean.

1. The types of beans

• Arabica is known for its smooth, complex flavor profiles, arabica beans are considered higher quality and are often used in specialty coffees.
• Robusta is typically stronger and more bitter. Robusta beans contain more caffeine and are often used in espresso blends.

2. The bean’s origins

Coffee comes from all over the world. Much like the grapes that go into wine, a coffee’s homeland defines its distinct flavor profiles.

• Latin America is known for its light, crisp acidity, and balanced flavor.
• Africa offers fruity and floral flavors, often with a brighter acidity.
• Asia and Pacific coffees tend to have a fuller body with earthy, herbal flavors.

3. Pick your roast

The roast is a huge distinguishing factor between coffee sellers. Starbucks, I think, burns the beans, which makes for a toasted flavor I don’t want. All roasters define their process in the following way, though each roaster brings their take to this:

• Light Roast: Has a light brown color and no oil on the surface. It retains the original flavors of the bean and its region but has a higher acidity.
• Medium Roast: A more balanced flavor, aroma, and acidity. The beans will have a richer brown color, and still, no oiliness.
• Dark Roast: Beans appear shiny due to oils brought to the surface. The flavors are bold, smoky, and may have a slight bitterness.

4. Check the date

• Look for beans that were recently roasted. Coffee is best used within a month of its roast date to ensure maximum freshness and flavor.

5. Whole Beans vs. Ground

• Opt for whole beans and grind them yourself. Pre-ground coffee loses its freshness and flavor much faster than whole beans.

6. Experiment

• Don’t hesitate to try different beans and roasts. Your preference can change over time, and exploring can help you discover what you truly enjoy. When you are using coffee for productivity, you might want to keep several options on hand.

7. Sustainability and Ethical Sourcing

• Consider purchasing beans from companies that prioritize sustainable farming practices and fair compensation for coffee growers.

Choose a Brewing Method

Brewing a delicious cup of coffee is an art and a science. You can invest a fortune in equipment chasing the perfect cup. But you don’t have to. Sometimes the simplest and cheapest method is exactly what you want.

Here’s an overview of all the brewing methods:

1. Drip Brewing (Automatic Coffee Makers)

This is your Mr. Coffee option. It is the most common household method. Water is heated and dripped over ground coffee that sits in a paper filter. The brewed coffee then drips slowly into a carafe or pot. Machines vary in terms of customization like brew strength and programming. This is easy but tends to make a high-acid cuppa. (Unless you invest in the Moccamaster Technoverm, an excellent machine designed to replicate the pour-over method.)

2. French Press (Press Pot)

This method involves steeping coarsely ground coffee in boiling water for several minutes in a press pot equipped with a plunger. After steeping, the plunger is pressed to separate the grounds from the liquid. This makes a nice, rich cup of coffee, though in-brew sludge can be a problem.

3. Espresso

Making espresso is complicated. Highly concentrated coffee is brewed by forcing hot water under pressure through finely ground coffee. Espresso forms the base for many coffee drinks like lattes and cappuccinos. It has a strong flavor, a creamy consistency, and a layer of crema on top.

4. Pour Over

Pour over is similar to drip brewing but the timing is slower and more precise. You pour hot water slowly over coffee grounds in a filter, usually by hand. The water flows through the coffee and the filter into a carafe or mug. Popular devices for this method include the Chemex and V60.

This makes a clean, crisp, and delicious cup that allows you to taste the characteristics of the bean without being overwhelmed by acid. Many people — myself included — enjoy the slow ritual and the scent of the coffee brewing.

When done by hand, this method is also the least expensive and most portable. It requires only a few pieces of inexpensive equipment.

5. Aeropress

This is a relatively new method — and wildly popular in some circles — where coffee and water are mixed together for about 10 seconds, then forced through a filter by pressing a plunger through a tube. It yields a cup similar to espresso but less oily, with the versatility to make regular-strength coffee.

6. Cold Brew

It’s easy to make a cold brew. And if you are looking for ways to use coffee for productivity, it can be a valuable tool in your arsenal. But it uses a lot of coffee. Coffee grounds are steeped in cold water for an extended period (usually 12-24 hours), then filtered. This method produces a smooth, mild coffee with low acidity. It’s perfect for a hot day and can deliver a powerful hit of caffeine. I reserve this for deadlines and similar work crunches.

It’s easier to make if you have a little equipment. But that equipment is inexpensive and quite portable.

7. Siphon (Vacuum Pot)

This is an elaborate method that uses two chambers where vapor pressure and vacuum produce coffee. This method requires attention to detail and precise heat source control. It also requires a significant investment in very cool equipment. It produces a clean, crisp cup of coffee with a complex flavor profile.

8. Moka Pot

This stovetop method is nearly universally used in Italian kitchens. The water is heated in a lower chamber to create pressure that forces water through a middle chamber containing the coffee grounds, up into the top chamber where the coffee collects. The equipment is cute and affordable. And if you like espresso — or the drinks made from it — and want to make it at home, this is a great way to do so without dropping a fortune. This method creates coffee that resembles espresso, rich and slightly thicker than what’s made with other methods.

9. Percolator

Once a near-universal brewing method in American homes, this has become the method of choice for camping. But, when done right, it makes a good cup of coffee. Hot water cycles continuously through coffee grounds, using gravity and heat. This method can be prone to over-extraction. If you don’t overdo it, though, it yields a robust, somewhat bitter cup.

10. Turkish Coffee

To make Turkish coffee, fine coffee grounds are simmered (not boiled) in a pot (usually with sugar), then poured into a cup allowing the grounds to settle. This produces a strong, sweet, and thick coffee that is wonderful after dinner.

11. Instant Coffee

Brewed coffee is freeze-dried or spray-dried into soluble powder or granules, which are then rehydrated. This is convenient and quick, though it makes a poor cup of coffee. It lacks flavor depth compared to freshly brewed methods – and tends to be weak — but if you are traveling, it can be a lifesaver. And some companies are making instant coffee that’s better than your grandpa’s and that has other mind-boosting stimulants such as mushrooms, which can add a fresh and effective element to your coffee for productivity strategy.

Use caffeine intelligently

Once you understand coffee, you can use it intelligently to boost your productivity without sacrificing your nerves or your ability to sleep.

I start the day with a delicious but relatively mild brew and head into my day alert. This is often enough to get me to the end of a workday and a long to-do list.

But if I am tired, my day calls for above-average focus, or I have a deadline, I often dip back into the liquid energy well for a boost to my coffee for productivity strategy. If my attention is lagging, and I cannot afford to miss the mark, I might grab a cold brew after an early lunch. This powerful brew overcomes all procrastination tendencies and will often see me directly to my deadline without pause.

Cold brew is too powerful for me to use after 3 PM, though, if I hope to sleep. An espresso or cappuccino is a better choice later in the day. This milder brew, especially when mixed with steamed milk, is a delicious treat that will help me stay on task without turning me into a rabid squirrel or making me miss my bedtime.

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