diff --git a/docs/middleware/custom.md b/docs/middleware/custom.md
index 5fa82b78c..72a3ef8c5 100644
--- a/docs/middleware/custom.md
+++ b/docs/middleware/custom.md
@@ -9,8 +9,7 @@ prev_name: Available Middleware
 prev_link: ./list
 ---
 
-Middleware are classes that implement a `call` instance method. They hook into
-the request/response cycle.
+Middleware are classes that implement a `#call` instance method. They hook into the request/response cycle.
 
 ```ruby
 def call(request_env)
@@ -24,7 +23,7 @@ def call(request_env)
 end
 ```
 
-It's important to do all processing of the response only in the `on_complete`
+It's important to do all processing of the response only in the `#on_complete`
 block. This enables middleware to work in parallel mode where requests are
 asynchronous.
 
@@ -43,3 +42,16 @@ later, response. Some keys are:
 :body   - the response body
 :response_headers
 ```
+
+### Faraday::Middleware
+
+There's an easier way to write middleware, and it's also the recommended one: make your middleware subclass `Faraday::Middleware`.
+`Faraday::Middleware` already implements the `#call` method for you and looks for two methods in your subclass: `#on_request(env) and `#on_complete(env)`.
+`#on_request` is called when the request is being built and is given the `env` representing the request.
+`#on_complete` is called after the response has been received (that's right, it already supports parallel mode!) and receives the `env` of the response.
+
+### Do I need to override `#call`?
+
+For the majority of middleware, it's not necessary to override the `#call` method, as you can simply use `#on_request` and `#on_response`.
+However, in some cases you may need to wrap the call in a block, or work around it somehow (think of a begin-rescue, for example).
+When that happens, then you can simply override `#call`. When you do so, remember to call either `app.call(env)` or `super` to avoid breaking the middleware stack call!
diff --git a/lib/faraday/middleware.rb b/lib/faraday/middleware.rb
index 5bbe4a0e1..fcf9f4fa0 100644
--- a/lib/faraday/middleware.rb
+++ b/lib/faraday/middleware.rb
@@ -6,15 +6,25 @@ class Middleware
     extend MiddlewareRegistry
     extend DependencyLoader
 
-    def initialize(app = nil)
+    attr_reader :app, :options
+
+    def initialize(app = nil, options = {})
       @app = app
+      @options = options
+    end
+
+    def call(env)
+      on_request(env) if respond_to?(:on_request)
+      app.call(env).on_complete do |environment|
+        on_complete(environment) if respond_to?(:on_complete)
+      end
     end
 
     def close
-      if @app.respond_to?(:close)
-        @app.close
+      if app.respond_to?(:close)
+        app.close
       else
-        warn "#{@app} does not implement \#close!"
+        warn "#{app} does not implement \#close!"
       end
     end
   end
diff --git a/lib/faraday/response.rb b/lib/faraday/response.rb
index e931ea03b..3fd17d03d 100644
--- a/lib/faraday/response.rb
+++ b/lib/faraday/response.rb
@@ -7,12 +7,6 @@ module Faraday
   class Response
     # Used for simple response middleware.
     class Middleware < Faraday::Middleware
-      def call(env)
-        @app.call(env).on_complete do |environment|
-          on_complete(environment)
-        end
-      end
-
       # Override this to modify the environment after the response has finished.
       # Calls the `parse` method if defined
       # `parse` method can be defined as private, public and protected
diff --git a/spec/faraday/middleware_spec.rb b/spec/faraday/middleware_spec.rb
index 0ae9aab33..50b8ee110 100644
--- a/spec/faraday/middleware_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/faraday/middleware_spec.rb
@@ -2,23 +2,49 @@
 
 RSpec.describe Faraday::Middleware do
   subject { described_class.new(app) }
+  let(:app) { double }
+
+  describe 'options' do
+    context 'when options are passed to the middleware' do
+      subject { described_class.new(app, options) }
+      let(:options) { { field: 'value' } }
+
+      it 'accepts options when initialized' do
+        expect(subject.options[:field]).to eq('value')
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe '#on_request' do
+    subject do
+      Class.new(described_class) do
+        def on_request(env)
+          # do nothing
+        end
+      end.new(app)
+    end
+
+    it 'is called by #call' do
+      expect(app).to receive(:call).and_return(app)
+      expect(app).to receive(:on_complete)
+      is_expected.to receive(:call).and_call_original
+      is_expected.to receive(:on_request)
+      subject.call(double)
+    end
+  end
 
   describe '#close' do
     context "with app that doesn't support \#close" do
-      let(:app) { double }
-
       it 'should issue warning' do
-        expect(subject).to receive(:warn)
+        is_expected.to receive(:warn)
         subject.close
       end
     end
 
     context "with app that supports \#close" do
-      let(:app) { double }
-
       it 'should issue warning' do
         expect(app).to receive(:close)
-        expect(subject).to_not receive(:warn)
+        is_expected.to_not receive(:warn)
         subject.close
       end
     end