At first glance you’re wondering what that picture is. It’s just coffee grounds in a filter. When it comes to coffee, I prefer the pour-over method. Fresh ground single-origin coffee beans, placed in a screened coffee filter, with water heated to somewhere between 190º to 200º, but NOT boiling, then slowly poured over the grounds. But there’s a catch—as if the pretentious details weren’t enough. The water must first be poured lightly over the grounds, saturating them enough for the first layer of water to pass through quickly, and then pull the kettle back. Wetting the grounds from top to bottom quickly then holding back allows the water to pass through and release air, causing the bubbles you see in the picture. It’s called “letting it breathe” or some aficionados call it “blooming”.
You can laugh; you can roll your eyes; but I kid you not, its the best coffee you’ll ever have, and it will change the way you think about your morning cup of joe.
“The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and taught. Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat.” —Mark 6.30–31 NLT
In the text we learn that even Jesus rested from His labors. From rest came the life-changing, soul-transforming work that He would accomplish through His ministry. He stepped away to breathe, to be with the Father. Jesus was often found off alone, praying to the Father. He had to let His soul breathe and connect to the Source.
When making pour-over coffee, its easy to criticize the process. I’m sure many of you laughed when you read the first few lines and said, “Well, that’s just silly. Why not throw some grounds in the basket and hit start?!” I get it. That’s easy. But I’m not looking for caffeinated dark water; I’m looking for an experience. And coffee provides an experience. Flavor, taste, notes, and let’s not forget the pick-me-up (although I will never understand you “decaf people”, ha ha).
But for all the process that goes into making pour-over, its almost wasted effort if you don’t let it breathe. When you do, there’s a great bloom of flavor and taste that you never knew was there. It takes the whole notion of a cup of coffee to the next level.
But I’m not here to convert you to changing your method of preparing coffee or even how you drink it. What I am here to say is that you got to let your soul breathe. You have to go off by yourself to a quiet place and rest awhile. Let your soul breathe. Let your mind connect; and let it connect to more than CNN and Fox News. Move away from reels and TikToks. Get out of people’s business through gossip and did-you-hears. There is a Savior to receive and a transformation to experience. The question is whether you will rush through life and miss His goodness, or stop and connect on a REGULAR basis in order to receive His transforming grace.
Will you let it breathe? No, not the coffee, but your soul.
—Pastor Whit