What’s your brew? Coffee?

“May your coffee be stronger than your challenges you face today. But if not, remember: DON’T throw your cup at anyone. You need it for refills.” – Nanea Hoffman

At the very outset I must tell you that I’m not a tea or coffee person. My favourite beverage is a glass of pure water, with no added preservatives or taste enhancers. You think that’s funny? Well, I intended it to be.

Though I’m not fond of drinking coffee doesn’t mean I can’t make a decent cup. My cousin, Conrad, brother-in-law, Ronald and a friend, Mr. Prakash will vouch for that. Dr. Dubey who’s extremely choosy when it comes to taste has also certified that I make a good cup of coffee. Hence, you can think of safely consuming a cup of the brew made by me.

Let me reveal a teensy-weensy secret to you... I do taste my own preparation on rare occasions. I share a similarity with James Bond in this context. Wondering how? Well, just like James Bond likes his martini ‘shaken not stirred’, I like my coffee ‘beaten not stirred’. So, if you’re serving me a cup remember that. Otherwise, be prepared for a polite ‘no’ to your offer of ‘Would you like to have a cup of coffee or tea?”

Now you must be thinking why I am talking about coffee out of the blue. Well, it’s the celebration of International Coffee Day that has triggered this write-up. People celebrated this beverage internationally for the first time on 1st October 2015 and are doing so every year. The world now indulges in Cappuccinos, Frappuccinos, Double-shot Espressos and variety of other endless coffees.

As ‘International Coffee Day 2021’ flashed on my mobile screen when I scrolled through a certain social networking site, I was curious to know more about a beverage that serves as a morning motivation for many around the world. Quite unheeded, a scene from the movie ‘Mr. and Mrs. Iyer where Konkona Sen (playing a Tamil Brahmin) says, “Coffee for me” flashed on my mind’s eye. The accent, the expressions... were dot on point.

This scene took me to South India, where Coffee is consumed more than North India's favourite ‘Chai’ aka Tea. In my research to know more about coffee I learnt that this beverage was introduced for the first time in India during the British Raj in Chikmagalur, Karnataka which is a few hours away from Coorg. It is one of the biggest contributors to India’s production. Coorg is exceptional in its scenic beauty and it is said to be a piece of paradise that fell accidentally on earth. The plantations at Coorg produce the Arabica and Robusta varieties of coffee. I’ve also read that November is the best time to visit this place if you want to participate in the berry picking. (You can plan a trip; November is just around the corner!). Well, dear readers I wonder if you know that Karnataka alone produces 70% of India’s coffee. By the way, Yercaud in Tamil Nadu and Wayanad in Kerala are equally prominent coffee places in India.

I also came across interesting legends and stories related to coffee. There’s an Ethiopian legend which says that a goat herder Kaldi first discovered the potential of these magical beans. As the story goes, Kaldi noticed that his goats became energetic and did not want to sleep at night after consuming the berries from a certain tree. He reported this to the abbot of a local monastery who tried a brew from these berries which amazingly kept him awake and alert all through the long evening prayers. He shared this discovery with the others and soon word spread. Coffee travelled to Arabia, Europe and then to India. Coffee houses and penny universities sprang up where stimulating conversations engaged many. In some parts of the world coffee also gave rise to revolts such like the Boston Tea Party. Some people were even suspicious of this new beverage, calling it the ‘bitter invention of Satan’. Voyages were undertaken and pirate attacks bravely foiled in the quest to transport or obtain the coffee seeds. Although in the present world coffee is the most sought, after crude oil but sadly the coffee farmers lament in dire need of economic stability. Hence, the theme for 2021 is to ‘promote fair trade practices’ in the coffee industry.

Dear readers, the next time when you sit down to enjoy your morning cuppa don’t forget the journey of the coffee bean and the efforts of those who brought the delicious richness of taste and aroma to you because it is ‘the moments that matter’ in a journey.