Hi Beanbuffs,
After I had pulled down the online store, I wanted to roast my own coffee. Except, roasting is a time taking process. It is also important to learn from the experts. So, I am taking the first step, by attending a five day workshop in Benagluru. I am also visiting Bengaluru to check out espresso machines for the espresso bar. Online is great, but somethings are better in person.
Wish me luck 🤞🏼
1. Shacoco Update: Kaapi Sashtra
The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing. - Stephen Covey
In the specialty coffee world the main thing is the beans. To learn about it I am attending Kaapi Sashtra workshop by Coffee Board of India. I will be learning to roast coffee, brew coffee and grade coffees.
Coffee Board gets the bad name for not keeping up with the times. But, no one knows about Indian coffee better than the board: coffee types, processes, Indian terroir, growing practices, grading and exports. I have been guilty of geeking out on the second hand knowledge.
The main thing for now is to understand coffee from the point of a cafe owner. After the workshop I should be able to judge the various coffees and roast profiles without second guessing. After returning I will be back to setting up the espresso bar.
2. Luru’s kaapi scene
While I am in Bengaluru, I will also explore the coffee scene there. I have heard great things about Luru coffee roasters and coffee professionals. I have made a small list of people and places I will visit or meet.
Kaapi Machines: They are country’s biggest B2B coffee brand. They are also behind Somethingsbrewing. I will check out machines, grinders and roasting machines at their office.
Benki Coffee: I find it the most beautiful cafe. I will also try to meet Suhas, the owner of the cafe and Benki Brewing Tools.
The Caffeine Baar: It is one of the most exciting cafes in the country. Geetu Mohnani built it along with the owners. She is a Barista champion and a cafe consultant.
Oak & Hill Coffee: One of the few coffee businesses, which is doing it for the specially abled people.
Kohi Roasters: I like how it only focuses on small batches and great coffees. They were also synonymous with Guji coffee from Ethiopia.
Araku Cafe: It has to be India’s most opulent cafe. It’s got Modbar espresso machines and more.
If you know someone interesting in the coffee world in Luru, please help me meet them. I will talk to them and meet them.
3. Inexpensive Syrian espresso
Espressos in Istanbul are amongst the cheapest in the world. As Syrian refugees entered the city, they brought their hundreds of years old coffee culture with them. Syria was amongst the first countries in the world with the popular coffee culture.
Syrian coffee is also very sweet. The traditional Syrian coffee Murra is brewed with smashed coffee beans. It takes four to five hours to brew the coffee, by boiling it in the water. Each Syrian household has it for the guests, which one can drink throughout the day. Each espresso costs less than
However, in Istanbul it was not possible to either prepare Murra. Therefore, local entrepreneurs started buying second hand espresso machines. Except, they add instant coffee to the espressos. Yes, that is true.
Worth your time:
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