It's a Coffee Culture, not Caffeine Culture

Cape Town recently made the list for top 10 best city for coffee globally and i'm sure just like me, you're not really surprised. We're spoiled with choice, quality and variety when it comes to good coffee experiences in Cape Town. Travelling through the Netherlands with some friends and colleagues, I attempted to justify this badge of honour my home town received, and yet there was still some confusion. Coffee is equally big here, with every corner cafe claiming the fame of 'specialty' coffee, just to disappoint when their offering excludes any manual brews. My rule of thumb is, if they don't offer a flat white, you should probably lower your expectations all together. I know, it's a very superficial and flawed measurement, but it works for me.

I continued to explain, we have a big coffee culture, not a big caffeine culture. This simplification seemed to hit the mark. The culture of coffee drinking has become a modern day renaissance.

There are very few things under R100 that bring me as much joy as having someone pridefully and mindfully making me a cup of good coffee. I don't drink coffee at home. Only very recently, did I start stocking my home with some single origin beans for my Aero Press. Coffee is somewhat ritualistic. For me, and for many others, going somewhere for a cup of coffee if not just about the cup of coffee. It's a curated experience, a coffee break. The Swedes have a word that described this perfectly. Fika. Pronounced Fee-kaah, it means to take an intentional coffee break either solo or with company, usually paired with a sweat pastry on the side.

Maybe our brewing recipes should include setting up your environment and intentions too ;)

After reading the article on the Top 10 coffee cities, and reflecting on what differences I can distinguish on good coffee cities and bad coffee cities, I've come up with my very own criteria for what makes for a 'Coffee Culture'

1. Quality. It goes without saying that quality is a number one checkbox. The quality of the beans sourced, the roasting process, and the brewing method used.
2. Community. Strange how this one is mentioned almost last in many cases, but heavily underestimated. A sense of warmth and welcoming kindness. Lacking this won't ruin a good quality cup, but it's the tipping point for good to great coffee experience.
3. Passion & Knowledge. Almost inseparable from one another, passion breeds a curiosity to learn more and vice versa. There's an Aura of pride and enjoyment watching someone brew you coffee that adds to the taste.
4. Accessible but not ordinary. A good coffee culture makes quality coffee accessible to people who want it. There's a balance here between scarcity and retaining speciality and creating accessibility to the public.

Currently travelling through Budapest and i've been pleasantly surprised at the coffee culture has grown here since I last visited! I recently visited one of my now favourites, Meron Coffee, to try out a pour over with their El Vergel Columbian Single origin, double fermented with berries. 

I'm headed to Copenhagen in 4 weeks and pretty stoked to go try some esteemed specialty cafes after Copenhagen took 1st place on the list. It better be good, since my South African rands will be bleeding afterwards.

Remember, life happens, coffee helps. Until next time,
Stephanie.