COFFEE CONQUERS THE INDIAN EMPIRE

Image Credit: Anisha Mahima

"I have measured out my life with coffee spoons"

T.S Eliot

There are two kinds of people in this world. Those who love Coffee, and those who suffer from Guillain-Barré syndrome (a disease of nerve attacks around the cerebral cortex) . FCS is empathetic towards these unfortunate members of the human race, but would like to move on to some riveting facts on COFFEE.

A hot cup of Java, and piles of literature is what inspires FCS. Therefore an article on Coffee was a mandatory one. Post the 90's economic liberalization in India, and the entry of the two tailed mermaid (Starbucks) things have changed drastically. The rapid increase of coffee drinkers in the urban space and the social mutation it has caused, is worth discussing.

Around the nutty, chocolaty and resinous cup of bean brew, a certain culture has developed, which some would call the "Coffee Culture". FCS would like to define Coffee Culture in this way : "A revolutionary insurgence of thousands of Mr. Coffee BEANS across India spreading the taste of happiness"

This happiness has spread like a canopy in the recent years and so without much delay, lets dissect this Coffee Culture and look at some of its effects.

5 C's of COFFEE CULTURE

1. CULTURE

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Home" just 5 minutes away from Home

The warm ambiance, snugly cushions , woody furniture and cozy corners have made coffee houses a "second home' for its customers. "Eight or nine years back, if you told a friend who was visiting from another city, 'Let's go for coffee,' they'd really scoff at you," said Ashish D'Abreo the master mind behind Flying Squirrel , a Bangalore based Cafe' (Woolsey, 2016). Coffee was always tyrannized by a member of the dominant culture, "Chai", until recently it has tried strangling "Chai" by the neck and succeeded in its endeavor, at least in the metropolis.

Residing in an ancient heritage building in Colaba, (No, I have nothing to do with the forbidden clan of Sobos), Coffee shops are my perfect get aways. When monotony creeps on me within the hostel walls, CCD is just 5 minutes away. What about you? Having Monday blues? Cross few roads, take some turns, enter the world of Coffee, the nectar of life.

2. COMMUNITY

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Building community bean by bean

In the BBC Business Boomers documentary, on the emergence of Starbucks, Howard Schultz mentions that customers at Starbucks would enjoy, not so much the coffee but the community. One of the ways coffee has impacted the youth culture in India, is by giving them a place to come together, and a reason to come together.

Facilitating community through something as simple as coffee, is indeed an epochal change in the Indian culture. Well, this surely has swerved a certain population from fizzy and sugar overloaded drinks to the heavenly bitter decoction.

3. CONSTERNATION

Corporate Dopamine Management

Not too long ago, in the year 2013, i was working with one of the leading Non-Government organization in India called Teach For India . The organization drew its corporate culture from the west. Debriefs and meetings were held at Starbucks, along with a cup of freshly brewed coffee.

Now whats interesting is, the need to organize formal meetings in an informal setting. What is the need for lawyers to discuss companies act sitting on a vintage furniture and not the rotating office chairs? Why would college students discuss projects while surrounded by artsy decor and fancy colored walls? The answer is simple: a reduction in anxiety level of work. Research has proven that Coffee stabilizes dopamine levels and releases stress.

So now we can thank Coffee, for sending stress to inferno and providing a relaxed environment for work.

4. CREATIVITY

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Neuron Brewing

Ever wondered where feminist Beauvoir or the existentialist Camus got their literary streak from? 20th century Paris saw authors and intellectuals gather at coffee houses to discuss philosophy, one such cafe was the Les Deux Magots, the creative cocoon of many french bigwigs.

MIT researched this relationship between productivity and coffee, and proved that coffee and creativity are best friends. Caffeine kick starts the neural stimuli birthing innovative ideas. While this in itself is hard to digest, the research stated that low level buzzing sound of coffee shops, make the brain strain harder on a concept thus invigorating the mind into abstract thinking. Want to get those cobwebs of stagnation out? Go get a cup of latte!

5. CHRONIKER-ING

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(It's) about Time

With the growing Coffee Culture in cities like Mumbai and Delhi, "lunches" and "dinners" have settled down on the back seat, while master coffee takes the drivers seat. Coffee compliments social transaction in a much more efficient manner, than full meal outings. With Coffee, focus remains on the communication rather than curries and chicken kebabs. Thus giving more time in relationship building and fellowship.

That's a lot to handle in one post, however looks like we are on the right path when it comes to coffee breaks. FCS sincerely hopes that this article will invite you to enjoy that celestial cup of goodness, along with some amazing Filter Coffee Stories in future.

© 2017 Anisha Mahima ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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