Somewhere between that very first cup of coffee and the moment the day beckons you to your feet, there is a quieter, slower window that hobbits (and like-thinkers) reserve for second breakfast. More than just a meal, it is a celebration of sitting down, unhurried, with good bread and better company. In a world that treats mornings like something to rush through, hosting a second breakfast is a gentle act of rebellion.

Hosting second breakfast gives you an excuse to invite like-minded friends over, put the kettle on, spend a whole hour talking about nothing in particular, then put the kettle on again. It is the social antithesis of late nights out on the town, and yet no less enjoyable when among the right sort of company.

The tea comes first

Second breakfast lives or dies by the brew, so choose something with enough boldness to stand up to butter and jam. A proper English Breakfast tea is the most crowd-pleasing choice; malty, honest, and morish enough to encourage a second (or third) top-up. Brew it strong, pour it slowly, and warm the cups first.

The menu

Keep choice small enough to not overwhelm and portions generous enough to linger over. A good second breakfast spread looks something like this:

• Warm toast, salted butter, and a selection of jams. The ideal choice is a farmhouse bloomer, but any fresh white loaf will do, as long as you can cut hearty slices, thick enough for the butter to melt right through without soggy-ing the toast.
• A small board of sharp, nutty cheeses. Think Cheddar, Manchego, Gruyère, etc. Ensure the cheese is at its best by serving it at room temperature, alongside handfuls of chilled, red grapes and sweet, ripe blackberries.
• Crumbly shortbread biscuits. Although delicious just as they are when nibbled alongside the second cup of tea, bring them to life with a dollop of clotted cream and a spoonful of marmalade. 
• Breakfast bellinis. A refreshingly decadent choice for the boozy brunchers; plop a spoonful of marmalade into your flutes, pour in your choice of champagne, prosecco, or cava until the glass is about halfway full, then top up with fresh orange juice.

The toasts

All second breakfasts need one small, ceremonial toast — enough to mark the occasion, but not so much that anyone has to stand up. A few that have served us well are:

• "To second breakfasts, and everyone who partakes of them."
• "To rainy mornings spent with sunny people."
• "To the garden path, the front door, and the kettle waiting beyond it."

A few hosting notes

• Set the table the night before. Future you will be grateful, and the room will invite you right in just the same as you will welcome in your guests; and after all, this is your treat, too.
• Don't over-cater. The charm of Second Breakfast is its simplicity. Even the most humble selection of foods can warm the heart and please the stomach as long as they're delicious.
• Put your phone away. The whole point is to be right here, with these people, for exactly this long.

Bring the Shire home

If second breakfast with friends becomes a habit (and we hope it does) the Second Breakfast Club shop is stocked with coffee, tea, biscuits, mugs, and more to make it feel like a proper ritual. With worldwide shipping, no kettle will be left cold.