We spend so much time in default mode, operating on the conditions that seem required by modern life. But are they required? Is this way of life inevitable? What happens if we slow down, take stock, and find our own way?

If you love cold coffee but don’t have 8-12 hours to wait for cold brew, you can make excellent iced coffee with a pour over method and a few simple tricks.

Need coffee for a crowd? Want to set it and forget it? A humble drip coffeemaker can make café-level results.

In Sweden, it’s called fika. In Japan, nomikai. In Spain, tapas. In Italy, aperitivo. In the United States, it’s known as happy hour. The details vary: there may be tea or coffee or wine or spirits; cakes or cookies or olives and cheese. Some happen in cafés, some in bars, some in living rooms or courtyards or break rooms. There’s no single formula—but there is a key ingredient: community.