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morning, reaching the destination, meeting the person want to do, because I will be paid regardless. I make it or a training school next to a farm, or working in a coffee
we were supposed to interview, set the space, do the clear that we will have arguments, and disagreements. I farm. I feel people nowadays just look at an Instagram
interview, find a place to stay, charge all our instru- also don’t spoon feed things to them. profile and say “ I want to do what this person is doing”
ments, and then plan for the next day’s travel and in- For example, when I work with coffee farmers, I without really knowing the background, or the reality of
terviews and then also manage the finances before tell them that if they hire me for a year they shouldn’t what that person might have gone through to do what they
sleeping and doing the same thing again the next day. It hire me the next year, they should be able to work on are currently doing.
was exhausting but memorable! their own. It’s a bad business plan, but I get a good night’s
Glad that I did it, without any sponsor, it was a dream sleep at night. Have you traveled much outside of India and what
made into reality and I knew more people would follow has that experience taught you about coffee and
this path. I already see more short videos and documen- Can you speak to how coffee is perceived and con- life in general?
taries being made. sumed in India today? I thankfully have traveled a bit. I studied for some
In India, all the waves of coffee are flowing together time in Switzerland, I worked there too, then also in the
What does it mean for you to be “On the Road”? at the same time. We have a huge part of the population USA, Ecuador, Middle East – and Azerbaijan, China and
On the road means you are everywhere and nowhere that is still drinking instant coffee, or dark roasted coffee. recently Thailand. One thing that I am really happy about
at the same time. Like you are not at home, but then you Then we have a big consumer base, that’s drinking the is that Indian coffee isn’t too bad plus I think coffee is
are on the way to “somewhere”, this somewhere could be coffee from chains and coffee shops that offer commodi- like food, you must keep the local culture in mind.
anywhere so potentially everywhere that you possibly can ty coffee. These coffees are based on milk and flavorings. We should have an easier and more localized way of
go, but you are on the way and hence you have not reached There’s a small number of people in the country that’s disseminating coffee information, like a local flavor wheel
anywhere so you are also technically nowhere. consuming “specialty coffee”, which by the way doesn’t that actually makes sense to locals than having one that
It’s the time when technically I feel FREE. Imagine have a clear unanimous definition. From the numbers I is pushed on to us all. I remember when doing cupping
being on the road for hours, no phone calls, no work calls, got last year, specialty coffee is less than 0.6% of the total sessions, I tell most students to not use the flavor wheel,
no meetings, or anything, just you and the road, a map production of the country. because it limits us and it’s restrictive.
maybe, good music and no schedules or deadlines. I am Somehow the smallest of this segment is the most I also sometimes do this small trick – I cup and say
also not a big fan of brewing coffee on the road. I feel that’s shared on social media. Now, I don’t mean it’s a bad I taste a bit of “Blood Jack” in the cup, and most of the
What was it like creating India’s first specialty cof- every coffee has its own importance and I like it when thing, I just feel it’s a thing. We think of specialty coffee time, there are plenty of participants who agree with me,
fee documentary C for Coffee? the setting matches the coffee; in a way, to taste and ex- to be bigger than what it is. Even in these said specialty only later do I reveal there is no fruit called “Blood Jack”,
I really get a kick from doing things “first” and doing perience what the local culture has to offer. Sometimes stores around the country, the product that sells the most it was a made-up fruit. We don’t dare to share our own
things that aren’t usually thought of or done. I remember it’s good, sometimes it’s not so good, sometimes it’s is either cappuccino/latte or cold coffees. opinions, and I think we should work on that.
seeing some documentaries about coffee from Europe and freaking amazing. There are serious coffee enthusiasts too, who are
then a 2015 movie called “Barista”. There didn’t exist any I have had some “interesting”, “weird” and super spread out around the country who are extremely serious What’s next for Binny Varghese? What can we expect
proper video documentation that was about Indian coffee, strangely “amazing” coffees over the years of traveling on about the brews, making sure to get the best out of the from you in the near future?
let alone specialty Coffee. the road, from camel milk coffee to coffee with spices beans. But the number of such enthusiasts at a café level I don’t know, there is so much going on in my head,
I had asked a few people to help me sponsor it finan- based on a recipe from mid 60’s in south of Kerala, to or at home is still very very small. and there is so much I want to do. Definitely something
cially or in any way, but I soon realized not everyone will having custom made instant coffee using a milk boiling One great thing that has happened with the arriv- like a coffee school is in mind. I also am looking for po-
help you, until you become big or famous. In fact, the machine, a black coffee served with black salt and many al of specialty coffee is that our coffee producers start- tential partners to open up interesting and innovative
company I was working at, had asked me not to make this. more…And sometimes you do find some good specialty ed to get a lot more recognition, which was long due. coffee shop outlets, focusing on our traditional local
All I knew was I wanted to do it, how – I had no idea. I coffee shops too on the road. It’s simply great when a farmer sees their name on the coffee. More travels with coffee and motorcycles and most
never knew there was something called cinematography, coffee packaging. importantly trying to be happier.
sound design, audio recording, lighting, camera adjust- As a consultant you help aspiring coffee people
ments, noise control, background music, editing, captions bring their projects to life, can you tell us more What advice would you give someone who wants to
and subtitles, producing music, direction and financing about the work that you do with them and what break into the coffee industry in India?
the movie all together. that means to you? I don’t think I am someone who can give advice, cause
But while making this documentary I had to learn all I actually hate the term “consultant” because it’s too even I am still making my way in it. But I think what one
of it. I still remember I had posted on Instagram, that I transactional. For me it’s like a teacher-student relation- should do is have their core values clear. One must really
was going to do a trip from north to south of India, and ship, where both parties learn and grow together. I feel know what makes them happy or satisfied. Regarding
if there’s someone who would want to join on this trip by like I work differently than most consultants. Consulting work, I would say be flexible, because you never know On the road means
being my pillion passenger and ride through while shoot- in coffee is fairly new here, so I won’t say it’s a big mon- what eventually you will end up liking. If your core values
ing content, and a good friend now, an acquaintance back ey making machine, but for someone like me, I like it, I are clear, you know what makes you happy then there are you are everywhere
then, replied to it saying “let’s do it”. like to be part of someone’s story. so many things that can be good for you.
It was really nerve wrecking cause I had a 15 day Whenever there’s a discussion about a project, I Having said that, please DO NOT ROMANTICIZE the and nowhere at
leave from the company, and I had to travel through 9 make it clear with the client that I am not going to be a coffee industry, whether you want to open a café in a quant
different states. Ride on average 300 kms from early fake friend and say all good stuff, and agree to all they street, or by the river, or have a roastery in the mountains, the same time.

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