JDButi Coffee

Black Coffee. Black the colour of Krishna. Krishna, whose stories I grew up listening to. Krishna, who people say is god. Krishna who became my teacher, friend, guide, ideal. Black and dark stands the statue of Krishna, the once king of Dwarka. Dwarka, where people settled in search of peace, away from conflict and malice. And then drunk on that peace, lay waste to everything. Now Krishna stands silent, eyes closed, mum, if at all he is there. For, the misery, laziness, futility, and characterless anxiety of the excuse of people swarming the streets can bring shame even to gods. They sell Krishna, his name, in his name, for Rs. 10, blessings for Rs. 200, and the blessings across generations for Rs. 1000. Who was Krishna, they don't know, they don't care. What did he stand for, they don't know, they don't care. What did he say, do, and why, they don't know, care. They care about how many times he married. They care about the flowers and sweets. They care about touching the marble, and getting close to it. They care about getting ahead of other anxious vain stooges, so that they can get a faster view at the marble. It is marble, it is stone, it is not a temple, no god, at least not Krishna. I am convinced of that. Because if Krishna was there, he would've slain these cockroaches in no time, in the hope that a newer society, better one rises from the ashes. He's done it before. Sounds dark? It is because, it is. Dark, bitter, true, invigorating, enticing, addictive, energetic extreme. Like Krishna. Like Black Coffee.

Tea Appreciation Post

In the blind extremism of coffee vs tea, we often forget to appreciate the nuance each beverage has to offer. This is an appreciation post for tea as a beverage, and what it can offer. Today is the New Year Day for Gujaratis as per the Vikram Samvat Calendar, and as a new year dawns, I decided to try something different.

Those who know me, know my undying love for coffee, but I haven't somehow "hated" others. I had tried teas every now and then, so had a soft spot for tea (and sometimes tea drinkers as well). So I visited this tearoom for dinner - . After a sumptuous meal, I decided to try some traditional tea - originating from the land where tea itself first flirted with humans, China. I had the King of Silver Arrows, a white tea which is said to be the least processed tea on earth with 15 times more antioxidants than all other teas.

It had a seeping time of 2 mins after with a pristine clear and light nectar emerged in the ceramic cup. It was refreshing and every sip just dissolved my excitement, happiness, sorrow, anxiety, past, future and surroundings into one. It was nirvana in a cup. Breathing naturally became stable and my body became lighter.

Tea, thus, needs to be appreciated for the finer balance it brings to life, especially when done right. Looking forward to exploring more such teas, and sharing with you!

Cafe / Coffee Story:

I visited the in Goa. It was like stepping into a sanctuary. The vibe was lively yet serene. They roast it on site.

I tried the Aeropress. The bean was a Single Origin Red Honey Microlot from Kerehaklu estate, the process being sequential anoxic honey, roasted light. The cup was clear and bright. Soothing on the palate, it was meditation in a cup.

A companion tried a flat white, which was par excellence. Not being influenced by the perfect latte art, the mouthfeel was a bit dry but the tangy undertones blended well with the microfoam cream.

I liked the coffee so I picked up small bag for home brewing. I'd like to try doing a Moka Pot, Phin and V60 with this, but that's for another time.

I had a chat with Siddharth, the guy at the helm of it. It was an inspiring conversation weaving through his experiences and mine, how he came about doing this, and where to now. He talked about the community they've built, the principles of meditation, peace, and the ability to merge material and spiritual to build a sustainable lifestyle.

To anyone having some time in Goa, I'd definitely suggest paying this place a visit.

Morning essentials!

(Coffee beans, Arabica Coffee, Home Brewing, Speciality Coffee)