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If you're one of those folks who enjoys making coffee in the comfy confines of your own casa... this article is for you. With guidance from Samantha Chulick at Stumptown Coffee, we'll explore some great options for concocting a great coffee experience without stepping into an overcrowded, overpriced chain.

Atlas Coffee Club

You could keep waking up with Folgers in your cup... or you could live a little. The subscription box trend has now made its way to your caffeine. Atlas Coffee Club offers subscribers the sensation of globetrotting without leaving home base. There’s a unique coffee available each month, sourced from the world’s best bean producers and brought right to your doorstep. Customize your deliveries by selecting from quantity, frequency, roast and grind. You’ll also receive professional brewing tips on how to enjoy each coffee to the fullest. But how you prepare it is ultimately up to you.

Once you have your desired coffee type, it’s time to consider brewing methods. Samantha recommends this brew guide that goes into great detail, including how-to videos about the many intricacies of coffee prep.

Press Your Luck

For those who want their morning cup imbued with a little European flair, the French Press is a great way to take total command of the coffee-making process. It also eliminates paper filters from the equation, thus maximizing flavor. Almost as satisfying as the coffee itself is the unique pressing motion used to prepare it. If you’re looking for the right gear, folks at Stumptown and beyond favor the French Press brewers made by Bodum—top-rate and reasonably priced.

Give Us Your Pour

If you’re dissatisfied with the output from your current drip coffee-maker, you can amplify flavor by switching to the more hands-on, pour-over method. Proper technique requires attention and finesse, so Stumptown’s walkthrough is useful for the uninitiated. The main idea is to allow for an even, controlled extraction that’ll create a richer flavor than simply letting hot water dribble through grounds. It’s like setting an hourglass to work, but with tasty coffee droplets as the sands of time.

Grab A Cold One

Drinking cold coffee might seem antithetical to some, but the recent popularity of cold brew coffee has made it a household name—and a cold brew maker could very well be in your own household. It takes a longer time to prepare the cold brew concentrate, but once a batch is made it can last for days (weeks even), ready to go for your morning routine. Stumptown is partial to the Filtron Cold Brewer for its taste and user-friendly instructions. The summer heat makes cold brew an especially timely option.

Go Tea

Not a coffee-drinker but still need that morning boost? Make a new friend in Earl Grey and company. Aside from the various health benefits that have been linked with it, tea provides an energy boost with a lower amount of caffeine than coffee that is easier on the stomach. Green tea, for example, contains the amino acid L-theanine, which slows caffeine absorption so you don’t dive head first into a post-jitters crash. So if it’s a modest morning you’re after, swap the beans for bags and steep your way out of sleep.