If you're a first-timer standing in the coffee aisle, here's what I'd tell you across the counter: pick a medium roast from a roaster you trust—Windbar's own merch line has a Colombian medium that's a solid starting point, but any reputable bag works. Buy whole beans if you can, and grind coarse at home. If you can't, ask the shop to grind for French press and use it within a week.

Don't get sucked into 'specialty' hype or rare single origins yet. Those are fun later, but for your first few bags, you want something balanced and forgiving. Medium roast with a French press is exactly that—a cup that tastes good black, takes milk well, and doesn't need a chemistry degree to brew.

That's the honest version. No snobbery, no rituals. Just good coffee you can make before you're fully awake. And if you mess up the first time, adjust the grind or the steep time—both are easier to fix than you think.

This is general brewing guidance, not a promise of specific results. Your water, beans, and taste will vary—experiment to find what you like.