What a French Press Taught Me About Choosing Simplicity

A simple life is not a small life — it’s a spacious one

The Quiet Ritual of Making Coffee

There’s something about the French press that has always felt like a quiet ritual to me.
No buttons. No blinking lights. No twenty-step process.

Just coffee grounds, hot water, and a few slow minutes.

In a world overflowing with options—coffee pots, espresso machines, drive-through lattes, cold brew makers, and those Keurig pods that somehow manage to create both convenience and plastic waste at the same time—the French press feels like a soft exhale. A small rebellion against the idea that everything needs to be bigger, faster, or more complicated.

Finding Ease in the Everyday

My French press gives me three full cups every morning (one giant mug, really)—just enough to carry me through until it’s time for tea. But it’s not really the coffee that matters. It’s the ease of it.

The whole process invites me to slow down.
Heat the water. Scoop the grounds. Pour. Wait. Press.
A rhythm instead of a rush.

And this little ritual keeps whispering the same truth: things can be simple.
Not everything, of course—not motherhood, not life—but the pieces we get to choose don’t always need to be ornate, optimized, or dressed up with extra steps.

When Complexity Brings Joy — and When It Doesn’t

Some people love the espresso machine ritual.
The steam, the grind, the tiny moment of artistry.
For them, the complexity creates joy and beauty.

And that’s wonderful—because that kind of complexity has intention behind it. It aligns with what they value.

But there’s also a deep peace in choosing the simpler route, especially when your days already feel full and your hands already hold so much. Sometimes the simplest option is the most nourishing. Sometimes it’s the thing that brings you back to yourself.

Choosing Simplicity on Purpose

The French press is my reminder that life doesn’t always have to be so heavy. That ease is allowed.
That simplicity isn’t a downgrade—it’s a choice.
A gentle one. A mindful one.

And when I’m looking for places to soften my day or unclutter my mind, I return to this thought:

If it can be simple, let it be simple.

Create Your Own Daily Rituals

If you’re craving more simplicity, intention, and ease in your days, explore the Natural(ish) Life journals designed to support mindful motherhood.
Gentle prompts, soft structure, and space to breathe — a grounded way to come back to yourself.