The Hindu Business Line : Perfect blend

AAP ithna kagaz padthe hain?(Saab, you read so many newspapers every day?), asked my newspaper vendor, the other day. He cannot believe that one reads or rather glances at six English newspapers every morning when most residents in the housing society do not touch a newspaper for months. One did not want to tell him that the office was paying for the six papers; sans underwriting, one would, like the others, not buy a paper.

Subscribing to a newspaper is thought by some as sheer waste of precious funds and one cannot wholly disagree. My newspaper vendor, a friend of Lachman Singh, spends an hour reading Navbharat Times, after distributing the day's news at the doorsteps of middle class homes in Borivili (West). One was eagerly waiting for him when six newspapers landed in the front room with a thump. This morning, the Mumbai edition of the Indian Express was the best with a neat banner telling it all: Naidu Delete. The sad part of a brilliantly catchy heading and a good layout is that the reader does not move on to read the copy. Its like a good photograph. You admire the frozen shot and forget the detailed print. For about five minutes one mused over the good job done by the Express sub-editor in the night before neatly folding the paper for the family to refer to in the afternoon.

In contrast, one was not sure what the editor of the Times of India was trying to tell the unfortunate reader. There is no pride left in telling one's friends that one is a regular reader of the Times of India. As good as the Mumbai edition of the Indian Express was the morning coffee served by Rema. The coffee had an unusual aroma and a kick. The drink had a beatific laziness about it like the May vacations.

You sipped the coffee and thought for a time; you resumed the sipping and the thinking to make the morning about the best in many months. For the coffee, one has to thank my young friend Veena, whose father, M. Venugopal, works for Aspinwall & Co Ltd in Mangalore. If Veena had been working as a reporter in times gone by, when smoking was allowed in a newspaper office, she would have smoked out everyone.

Modern newspaper offices located in air-conditioned quiet, have turned journalists into colourless marketing executives selling toothpaste. In the 70s, there were only male journalists, females were out; in 2004, there are only female journalists; males are out. When one runs short of a cigarette one can always depend on Veena. She loves her drinks and more, delights in her work and never wears a long face. She is chirpy and knows how to laugh. It was while discussing with her the virtues of drinking coffee that she dropped the information that her father was working in a coffee estate in Mangalore. Immediately, one begged of her for a reference as one was keen on getting coffee beans fresh from the soil. I had never tasted quality beans and that was a small disappointment. Veena sent out an SMS and in two days her father sent me a packet of coffee free with a letter detailing the contents.

Please find within, two packs of coffee blends prepared by us. One pack of half kg is roasted and the other is just green coffee, says the letter signed by M. Venugopal and provides technical details. The composition of the blend is 50 per cent Plantation A, 20 per cent Robusta parchment pea berry, 20 per cent Arabica cherry and 10 per cent Robusta Cherry AB in both packs. If possible, after taking the required quantity out of the roasted pack every time seal the same so that the aroma would not escape.

I tasted the blend and have approved the same. Hope you also enjoy the same. Cheers and happy brewing, concludes Venugopal. None has yet offered me free coffee beans so lovingly. When one meets up with the gentleman in the future, one would like to get some clarifications on coffee technicalities.

As an alternative, one plans to refer the letter to my good friend Daiva Kripa Varam, the best commodities correspondent in the country. Varam has covered tea, coffee and other commodities for years and can turn out superb copy when in the mood. So did you like the coffee beans? Veena asked me at the office. I have not tasted better coffee, one replied and she was gracious enough to extend a regular line of supply every month, free.

For this writer, every sip of quality coffee brings with it the air from the dense green of Kodagu (Coorg). There is some mystery, which floats in with the coffee vapour, and one day I would like to visit the place. Surely, Venugopal will be of help though one has not checked out on the point.

More Stories on : Lifestyle | Reflections

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
Himatsingka Seide to open more furnishing stores

Perfect blend

Back in business

Fashion event by Raymonds in Hyderabad

Y's Men Intl meet in August

Woe Taj

Celebrities to tee off for needy sportspersons