Coffee is an intimate part of so many people’s routines and I’m intrigued at how it offers a sneak peak into their lives. IA cup of coffee is not just a cup of coffee; in the world of brewing the ritual matters as much as the beans. What is a person’s coffee ritual every morning? Do they like an instant cup, or do they set aside some time to indulge in the meditative process of grounding their beans before brewing them in an apparatus of their choice? Are they fans of the fruity, citrus base or do they like deep, dark and earthy tones in their brews? Do they add milk? What about sugar? How do they enjoy their cuppa – in silence, with a book, while listening to the news or maybe even a podcast? Or are they the ones who enjoy coffee on-the-go? There’s so much to that one cup, and if you look closely there’s a lot that a cup of coffee can say about a person.
What’s interesting to note is the broad range of coffee enthusiasts that covers those who love their instant coffee with coffee art and drinkers who use a refractometer every time they wish to brew themselves a cup. I repeat, it’s so interesting to see how coffee is such an intimate part of people’s lives. I say intimate because a cup of coffee finds its way into some really special moments of our lives, like meeting a friend after a long time, a professional catch up, a date, me-time after a stressful week, taking in the sights and sounds of a new city while trying to keep jetlag at bay…coffee is tied closely to people through these moments, the importance of which is often overlooked. There’s something about knowing the coffee order on your first date that brings you closer over time (I find it heartwarming when someone knows my beverage order, it’s like they’re really making an effort to know me.) Knowing that you had a productive brainstorming session on a lazy afternoon that you thought would never end, thanks to a brilliant cup of coffee, is also quite an achievement, isn’t it? It’s the little things, you’ve just got to stop and smell the coffee to notice them.
There’s also something about the brewing process that calls attention to itself. As much as you need your cup of coffee, that coffee needs you too. A good cup of coffee requires attention to detail – the right type and temperature of water can bring out the notes of your coffee beans. The size of the grounded beans has a co-relation to your caffeine hit. The amount of time for which you let the coffee brew affects the flavor profile. You get the drift. All that I’m trying to say is that coffee making isn’t just an art, it’s also science through and through.
Cities run on coffee today, fueled by constantly evolving social norms. Through this photo diary I wish to honor the magic of this brew. It’s a winter mood.
