Breath is the link between mind and body – Dan Brulé, world-renowned pioneer in Breathwork
Breathing is in our basic human nature. We need oxygen to nourish our bodies. With each breath, we also inhale various aromas from our environment. Aromas affect our thoughts and emotions in everyday life. Mindful breathing brings peace. Our sense of smell has a powerful effect on our brain’s many functions.
They cooperate closely with farmers who own small coffee plantations in the outskirts of Da Lat. It is their aim to create a support framework to empower farmers so that they are fully equipped with the vital skills required to cultivate and process high-quality Arabica coffee beans. Passion goes a long way.
Light and transparency are some of the main features of La Viet. The high and open space of the innovative coffee shop is surrounded by glass walls, allowing passers-by to see what’s going on inside. Glass walls also surround the roaster and workshop inside the building. Pipelines are visible across the walls; they remind the guests that they are drinking their coffee in a place, which is also a factory.
We rented a car for 1 week and explored the Tarrazu region, which is located in the Central Highlands of Costa Rica. This area is a gourmet coffee growing center of the country and a mecca for coffee-lovers.
While driving through the highlands and valleys, we passed many coffee fields. We saw quiet mountain towns surrounded by spectacular mountains, which are completely covered with shiny-leafed coffee bushes.
We had been invited to visit the coffee farm of Senior Fernando Navarro Valverde, which is located in San Francisco/San Marcos de Tarrazu. His coffee plantation is about 1 hour away from Cartago, Costa Ricas first city and original capital founded in 1563.
I am amazed, how baristas in Asia generally have a strong desire to really understand the complex processes of coffee growing, harvesting, processing, roasting, brewing and tasting. They want to know, how one process has a causal effect on the other processes. Many Asian baristas enjoy to taste coffee knowledgeably. It brings them happiness to understand why for some brews the most notable flavor is blueberry or dark chocolate.
Tuning into our physical sensations and gut instincts will help us in making the right decisions, not only when preparing coffee. Let’s not ignore what our body is trying to tell us.
Let’s not just follow recipes, without seeing, touching, tasting, listening and smelling.
Abonzo coffee shop in Doi Chang
The Gallery Drip Coffee shop is located at the bottom floor of the Bangkok Art and Culture Center, right next to the entrance.
Surrounded by lofty glass windows, the space of the coffee-shop is limited yet it is bursting with inspiring work of art. Guests are invited to enjoy coffee while appreciating art in a relaxed atmosphere. Pi and Natthiti use their shop to promote the work of fellow artists.
I like the idea of ‘Specialty Coffee Festivals’ that celebrate the idea of unity and diversity. It does not matter, who is ‘the best’ farmer, ‘the best’ roaster or ‘the best’ barista because ‘the best’’ does not exist. We are all different from each other, but not superior or inferior to others. Compared to all the aspects that differentiate us from each other, there are so many more things that we have in common. Let’s not compare ourselves with ‘others’, but let’s work together and be inspired every day!
The mountainous Arabica coffee growing regions of Chiang Rai, Doi Chang and Doi Tung are only a few hours drive away from Chiang Mai – a vibrant but at the same time quiet city that embraces a culture of experimentation.
Chomnok Chommai, Mae On District
There are many word pictures – so-called metaphors – for our lives. Life can be seen as an adventure, a battle or perhaps a journey. Metaphors can inspire us. We use them to make sense of our lives. Word pictures help us seeing the big picture.
This way they serve coffee in Vietnam
