The weekend is over, and now it’s officially time to get back to business. Having a little bit of trouble getting started on Monday? What better way to kick off your week than with a strong Monday coffee?

Strong Coffee Defined

What is strong coffee, anyway? For some, it comes down to caffeine content. The higher the caffeine content, the more of a lift your coffee will give you. For others, a coffee’s strength is measured by its taste. That first bracing belt of java during the Monday coffee routine ignites the senses, pries open drowsy eyelids, and gets those neurons firing on all cylinders. We’d posit that a truly strong cup of Monday morning coffee has the best of both worlds: a substantial dose of caffeine coupled with a robust flavor sure to boost the mood.

Monday Coffee Magic: It’s in the Beans

If you want a good, strong cup of Monday coffee to being your week off right, you’ll need to start with the proper beans. In terms of caffeine content, Tanzania Peaberry, Colombia Supremo, Indian Mysore, and Kenya AA are all known to be among the strongest. Generally speaking, Arabica and Columbian have the strongest flavor.

Don’t Forget the Roast

Of course, the roast has a lot to do with your Monday coffee’s flavor, as well. The longer a coffee is roasted, the more intense its flavor becomes. That being said, it’s important to note that roasting also burns off some of the coffee’s caffeine, so take that into account when choosing your coffee beans. Strong coffee lovers generally favor beans that have been French roasted. If you’re the DIY sort, you can even roast your own Monday coffee at home. Green coffee beans can be ordered online or purchased at high-end grocers. That way, you can find the perfect balance between a strong roast and optimal caffeination.

Back to the Grind

The way you grind your beans also affects your coffee’s flavor. Fresh-ground coffee is always best, and don’t overdo it. Choose a coffee grinder that allows you to grind your coffee to a coarse, chunky consistency for the strongest flavor, and avoid overheating your grinder, or you’ll end up with bitter coffee. Speaking of eliminating bitterness, here’s a great tip: add a pinch of salt to your coffeepot. You’ll be pleased to find that it allows the subtleties of even the strongest coffee to shine through.

Monday Coffee Is Where the Rubber Meets the Road

The first day of your workweek sets the tone for the rest of it, so it’s important to kick it off with a bang. That first strong cup of coffee can give you the boost you need to shake off the Mondays and get things done. While we’re big fans of frontloading the week and tackling the tough stuff first, it’s best to enjoy your morning ritual first, just to set the right tone.