What Do Monks, Samurai, and CEOs Have in Common?

A Ritual Through the Ages

Some call it fuel. Others call it comfort. But look closely and you’ll see a quiet companion to monks in candlelit halls, samurai sharpening their discipline, and modern CEOs staring down a wall of emails at 6 a.m.

Strange bedfellows, right? Yet they share the same thread…

The Monks: Prayer in Liquid Form

Centuries ago, monks in Ethiopia and Yemen leaned on coffee not as a pastime, but as a tool. Imagine long nights of chanting, prayer, and meditation — the spirit willing, the body dragging. Coffee became their ally.

They roasted beans over open fires, ground them by hand, and brewed slowly. Each step was deliberate, each sip folded into the rhythm of devotion. For them, coffee wasn’t a jolt; it was a sacred companion to stillness.

The Samurai: A Warrior’s Quiet Practice

Now picture the other side of the world. Samurai didn’t have coffee, but they had ritual — the Japanese tea ceremony. No rushing. No multitasking. Just a warrior sitting with his cup, focusing on the act itself.

Why bother? Because how you do one thing is how you do everything. The ceremony sharpened their minds the way steel sharpens steel.

Today, most of us aren’t walking into battle with swords, but we do battle deadlines, bosses, and a crowded inbox. The modern “warrior’s cup” might be coffee instead of matcha, but the principle hasn’t changed: begin with focus, carry it through the day.

The Coffeehouse Revolutions

Jump to 17th-century Europe and coffeehouses were buzzing. They weren’t just cafés; they were nerve centers. Poets, merchants, revolutionaries — they gathered around steaming mugs and swapped ideas that would rewrite history.

Lloyd’s of London? Born in a coffeehouse. The New York Stock Exchange? Same. Political uprisings? Sparked after a few strong cups and heated debates at communal tables. The world we know today owes a surprising debt to those crowded rooms that smelled like roasted beans and candle smoke.

The CEO’s Cup: Morning Armor in the Modern Age

Fast forward again. Today’s leaders guard their morning coffee like treasure. Some of them brew it themselves, others have assistants who know exactly how they take it. Doesn’t matter. What matters is that they protect the ritual.

It’s not about caffeine alone. It’s about rhythm, anchoring, a sense of control before making decisions that ripple through companies and markets. That first sip isn’t just a pick-me-up; it’s a signal: the day has begun, and I’m ready.

The Thread That Ties Them All Together

Monks. Samurai. Revolutionaries. CEOs. Worlds apart, yet they all understood something simple: the ritual matters more than the liquid. Brewing, pouring, sipping — these small ceremonies set the tone for everything that follows.

And maybe that’s what we’ve forgotten in the rush of drive-thru culture and lukewarm office pots. The act of drinking coffee isn’t just about staying awake. It’s about shaping the state of mind you carry into the world.

Your Ritual, Your Anchor

So here’s the question: what’s your ritual? Do you rush through it half-awake, or do you make space for it? Because whether you’re storming through spreadsheets or chasing after kids, your day deserves a deliberate beginning.

History shows us one thing clearly — the vessel matters. Monks had their clay cups. Samurai had lacquered bowls. CEOs flaunt their branded mugs. And for the modern warrior? A stainless steel tumbler that keeps the brew hot, steady, and ready while you carve your path.

Tap into your inner monk, samurai, and CEO with a new Beast Tumbler today, now available in autumn colors.

Thanks for stopping by, all the best.
Jenn
Greens Steel