Morning routines are personal. Some of us head straight for the coffee maker, while others reach for tea or an energy drink to signal to our brains that the day has begun. The drink itself may be simple, but the habits around it often say a little more about us.
There’s the favorite mug we always grab, or the spot where we take that first sip. The few quiet minutes before the inbox opens, or the routine that follows. These small details are easy to overlook, but they offer a glimpse into the people behind the work.
So, in honor of National Coffee Day on September 29, we asked the DCG team to share what’s in their cup, the mugs they reach for, and the little rituals that help get their mornings started.
What’s in Your Cup?
Coffee may get its own holiday, but there’s no “right” way to start the morning. From carefully crafted coffee orders to tea, water, and everything in between, we all have our go-to.
Daniel Edwards
Go-to drink: I have two go-to drinks: an oat flat white when I am feeling fancy, and a regular drip coffee for every day
“I live close to several coffee shops (I live in Seattle, after all), so I have a favorite spot for the espresso drink (Sound & Fog — you may see their cups and their logo make an appearance on Teams calls) and separate shops for their drips (usually Realfine or Easy Street). It’s an expensive habit but especially since I work from home, it’s nice to break up my early mornings with a short walk to one of the coffee shops, especially in the Summer when the weather is nice.”
Katie Spector
Go-to drink: Freshly ground and roasted coffee from my husband.
“As I’m reading this back, I think my favorite part about coffee is actually my husband! Ha!”
Alison Opoku
Go-to drink: Cold brew coffee with some soy milk and vanilla syrup
“ I switched to cold brew because as a mom, I end up drinking it cold anyway so I figured I should just embrace it. “
Sydney Anderson
Go-to drink: Iced ceremonial-grade matcha, bamboo-whisked and poured over almond milk with a touch of vanilla bean syrup, topped with sweet cream cold foam
“I’ve accidentally Pavlov-ed my dog, Doug, to come running for his “whipped cream tax” the second he hears the can shake.”
Allison Weinstock
Go-to drink: I have a hot chocolate after lunch almost every single day
“It’s the sweet treat to help transition me from the break in my day back to my desk.”
Of course, what’s in the cup is only part of the story. Sometimes, the cup itself has just as much personality.
The Mug With a Story
A favorite mug can come from just about anywhere. Some carry a story; others have earned their place in the morning rotation over years of use.
Kim Van Wyngaardt
“It’s a gift from my daughter. We’re HUGE New Girl fans. ALL DAY!”
Allison Weinstock
“I’ve featured my baby Ozzie mug — a photo from the breeder, he was probably 6 weeks old — that my mother-in-law printed on a mug. He’s now 6 years old and much bigger.”
Patrick McCarthy
“The glass mugs were a gift, and I like the look of seeing the coffee in the mug.”
Alison Opoku
“My favorite mug is known as “Mama’s mug”, and my kids will not allow anyone else to use it without a fight. It was given to me by my aunt, who is one of the smartest women I know!”
Sydney Anderson
“More often than not, I’m drinking something iced, so I stick to a mason jar glass with a glass straw.”
Daniel Edwards
“My favorite mug is a relatively new purchase. I was in Australia last year and in Melbourne especially they take their coffee very seriously. One shop in particular pioneered a cold coffee drink called the Mont Blanc, which is essentially cold brew with a creamy cold foam infused with orange zest. The shop is called Good Measure and both the logo and the design of the mug are very unique so I picked up a mug from the shop.”
Hayden Yarbrough
“While I don’t think I have a favorite mug, I love my little coffee station. My coffee and sugar canisters are vintage, my son’s favorite tchotchkes of the week usually end up on the mug rack, and my husband and I leave each other little notes on a thrifted notepad I found at a yard sale. It just feels super cozy and full of family love.”
Taylor Wood
“We gift each other mugs a lot in my house, and my ghostie hug mug is one of the most recent gifts I received.”
Marina Parsons
“I have way too many favorite mugs to pick just one! I wasn’t even really a coffee person until I started dating my now-fiancé. He’s a huuuuge coffee nerd — he even roasts his own beans and dreams of starting his own little coffee business one day. I started collecting mugs as a way to support his hobby through one of my own: thrifting and collecting pretty things. Fast-forward to now, and I have approximately a million mugs… and I actually really like coffee! I also have a funky coffee spoon collection.”
While a favorite drink or mug may be part of the routine, that first sip can be what makes the morning feel a little more manageable.
The Ritual Behind the First Sip
Maybe it happens at the kitchen counter while everyone else is asleep. Maybe it’s during the commute, after school drop-off, at a desk while checking email, or somewhere in between getting ready and settling into the day. The routines look different, but that first drink often becomes the highlight of the morning.
Carrie Jo Evans
Their morning ritual:
“I make cold brew ahead of time, so every morning I can quickly pour a glass without waiting for the coffee machine to heat up and then waiting for my coffee to cool down. I sign in to my laptop, read through my emails, and plan out my day.”
Noah Albro
Their morning ritual:
“My corgi, Atlas, wakes me up every morning at 3:45 am. I feed that little imp, take him for a walk, then make my wife coffee. Afterward, I pour myself cold brew and read in my office for the first 30–45 minutes of the day.”
Taylor Wood
Their morning ritual:
“I usually grab my coffee and sit at my desk so my first sip is as I’m starting to read my emails and plan out my day.”
Marina Parsons
Their morning ritual:
“My fiancé taught me how to use his AeroPress, and it’s become my favorite way to make coffee. Most mornings, though, he’ll make coffee for both of us with all of his fancy coffee gear — which I’m certainly not complaining about! I like to have my first cup after breakfast and filling the bird feeder, then I’ll snuggle up on the couch and watch the birds on my deck while I drink. It’s probably my favorite part of the morning.”
Sydney Anderson
Their morning ritual:
“I like to head out into the backyard with my glass before opening my laptop. My first sip typically happens while sitting in the shade or meandering through the garden before the workday kicks off.”
Hayden Yarbrough
Their morning ritual:
“I refuse to drink my coffee until my son is at school strictly because I want to enjoy it in peace and quiet. Once I’m back from drop-off, I pick from my very large mug collection and sift through my emails with my hot coffee in the quiet. It’s my perfect ritual.”
Patrick McCarthy
Their morning ritual:
“We invested in a Jura machine in 2019 after enjoying a similar model at a hotel we stayed at. We did not have a coffee machine prior and thank goodness we did invest in the machine when we did, as we were able to drink good coffee while at home during Covid. My routine is simple… hit the coffee button, listen to the beans being grinded, and watch the coffee enter the mug. Other members of my family have far more entertaining routines using the machine’s ability to make Lattes or Cappuccinos.”
Sometimes, though, the easiest way to explain a morning routine is to finish one simple sentence.
My Workday Doesn’t Officially Start Until…
Some morning routines are elaborate while others are simple. We asked the team to complete the sentence: “My workday doesn’t officially start until…”
“…I have my cold brew and check my emails.”
— Carri Jo Evans
“…my matcha has been sipped and my to-do list is made”
— Sydney Anderson
“…I finish my morning reading.”
— Noah Albro
“…I’ve circled back with myself post-coffee to confirm bandwidth for the day ”
— Kim Van Wyngaardt
“…I’ve had coffee and opened approximately 47 tabs.”
— Marina Parsons
“…everyone is out of the house, the dogs are fed and quiet, and I can drink my coffee in peace”
— Hayden Yarbrough
“…I have my water and coffee at my desk.”
— Taylor Wood
More Than a Mug
A morning drink may seem like a small part of the day, but the choices and routines around it can reveal a bit of personality.
So, here’s to the coffee-crazed, the slow tea sippers, the giant-water-bottle crew, the energy-drink enthusiasts, and all the little routines in between.
