I now live in a coffee-free household

Plus, a recent jello expedition 🔍

For my entire adult life I was a coffee snob. I thought tea was boring compared to the strength and grit of coffee. I was committed to freshly ground beans and my “Precision Brewer.” I let years go by before I admitted that coffee was actually messing with my stomach and making me more jittery than I needed to be. The level of comfort it brought me seemed to outweigh whatever physical effects it brought .

But then, I gave coffee up for a week. Just to see. I felt so much better. When I returned to coffee after that week, it was impossible to ignore how much worse I felt. I didn’t want to give up coffee, but I needed to give up the way it made me feel. So I cut it out. Not cold turkey, but it’s been a few months since I’ve woken up everyday and had it. Since then, I’ve been trying to lean into tea to replace the habitual comfort of it.

A couple of weeks ago, I finally removed my coffee maker from the spot on my kitchen counter that it’s been on since I moved in three years ago. The upside: a fresh slice of the limited countertop real estate.

I’m traveling to Europe in a few weeks, and in an attempt to give myself a moneystress-free week in Berlin and Milan, I’ve been trying my best not to shop. Given the timing, my “tea nook” would need to be crafted out of stuff my apartment already contained. Figuring out ways to repurpose or reimagine things I’ve owned for years has helped me unlock a level of satisfaction that not even acquiring new things can.

I bought a Bougie Woogie pedestal at Prelude and Dawn¹ when I was living in LA years ago. I’ve never felt like I really unlocked its potential. I have so little surface area in my apartment that makes sense for a little pedestal. Still, it’s so cute. Plus, when I spent that money on it then (like $100, or something), it felt like a lot of money to spend so I’ve never been able to part with it. Now, in my little tea nook, I see it everyday. It’s a great size for a couple of teapots, some tea canisters, and a bottle of honey.

The alcove underneath is a near perfect size for the Hay Panier basket I’ve also had for a few years.² I’ve used this for all kinds of things, but now it’s a spot for tea bags . I bought the framed artwork at an estate sale, also while I was living in LA. It’s been in that spot since we moved in, but now without the coffee machine there, it has some appreciated breathing room.

Sitting in front of it all is a silver table vacuum. It was a true godsend when my coffee grinder would spit out stray grinds. I have less mess now, but it’s sticking around.

Elsewhere in the kitchen…

I recently tried Gelée, the cool new jello brand you may have seen in T Magazine or Vogue. It takes a few hours to set, and I’ve been running around too much lately, so I spent a few weeks waiting for the jello mood to strike. I am so deeply obsessed with the packaging that I left the box sitting out on my counter the whole time.

I was nervous that the product couldn’t possibly live up to its packaging, but it tasted just as unexpected and delightful as it looks. My favorite was the “Piña Coco” one, but this kit also includes passionfruit and guava flavored jellies. I really want to have a jello party at some point and make a bunch of different jellies in these molds. The flavors of the Gelée jellies are so rich—even a little bite per person can go a long way.

so cute! and weirdly very similar in color to my new tea set up lol. (the white spot is because i went a little too hard lining the mold with coconut oil, fyi.)

This week a couple of pieces I wrote that I’m excited about were published. Check ‘em out:

• ”The Hidden Meanings of Different Design Styles in Severance” for Dwell

• “How Backdrop Sold Rental-Dwelling Millennials on Paint—and Grew 300 Percent” for Inc.

Anyway, I await your caffeinated tea recs…….

1. Prelude and Dawn is closing soon - if you’re in LA, go while you still can!

2. Bonus points if you can spot the two other Hay things in this pic lmao…