Read on Twitter
It was 2007. I had gone to Bangalore to attend Coffeefest. I wanted to learn roasting and start a cafe.
I met two roasters, who were from Delhi. I hated them at first because they debunked everything I knew about coffee.
I met two roasters, who were from Delhi. I hated them at first because they debunked everything I knew about coffee.
2/
I was like today’s coffee enthusiast; high on energy and low on real stuff.
I gulped down my ego, and met them in Delhi. One of them was a typical loud mouth Delhiite. Every time I asked a question, he would lose his cool.
I kept meeting them and learning .
I was like today’s coffee enthusiast; high on energy and low on real stuff.
I gulped down my ego, and met them in Delhi. One of them was a typical loud mouth Delhiite. Every time I asked a question, he would lose his cool.
I kept meeting them and learning .
3/ They helped me run India’s first manual coffee bar @kunzum in 2010. People in Delhi had never seen coffee being brewed in pour overs, Abid and later in Vacpot.
4/ Together in 20111 we started perhaps India’s first coffee appreciation series called @coffeesatsang . A small group used to get together and tasted and cupped coffees.
I had drifted towards running a digital marketing outfit. Cafe never happened. So did roasting.
I had drifted towards running a digital marketing outfit. Cafe never happened. So did roasting.
5/ I just finished a Kalita drip of one of their blends. They used to call it Solitaire. Perhaps the best blend to come out of Indian speciality coffee scene.
Coffee Rating has rated it amongst the best in the world. https://www.coffeereview.com/review/monsoon-mist/
Coffee Rating has rated it amongst the best in the world. https://www.coffeereview.com/review/monsoon-mist/
6/ Then the new kids arrived on the block. Blue Tokai ( I met them first at Coffee Satsang), and then the rest came one by one.
Now kids loved single origins and light roasting. Sadly Indian coffees taste best as blends.
The old boys did not care about spreading their names.
Now kids loved single origins and light roasting. Sadly Indian coffees taste best as blends.
The old boys did not care about spreading their names.
7/ They started a coffee chain called @bizibean . It’s shut due to lock-down. It has introduced speciality coffees to the most unlikely people; neighbourhood elderlies, women, businessmen and staff of the local businesses in the mall.
Rest focus on hipsters. They don’t.
Rest focus on hipsters. They don’t.
8/ While I was sipping my coffee, old memories came rushing.
I was hopeful that new kids would raise the bar of Indian speciality coffee. Instead, they chose gimmicks, sans the real thing.
I have tasted most of the coffees. It seems its time I should start roasting.
I was hopeful that new kids would raise the bar of Indian speciality coffee. Instead, they chose gimmicks, sans the real thing.
I have tasted most of the coffees. It seems its time I should start roasting.
9/ There is so much to explore in Indian coffee other than blabbering about the farms, micro climates and notes, which we fail to recognise.
Also, everyone does not have to be a chemistry expert to brew a good cup of coffee. That’s why I started @thekaapi .
Also, everyone does not have to be a chemistry expert to brew a good cup of coffee. That’s why I started @thekaapi .
10/ It will take a while to source a roasting machine and an espresso machine. But, I will.
Indian coffee lovers deserve better and lot more amazing coffees, and less gibberish.
Indian coffee lovers deserve better and lot more amazing coffees, and less gibberish.
