I am a very avid coffee drinker. The make of the coffee, such as how you make the brew, what you put in it, etc. are all interesting, but what I think makes coffee such a spectacular drink is it’s rich history to go along with it’s rich flavour. Coffee, in many ways, represents unity, hospitality and exchange between different countries and cultures, and is a drink that has in many ways transcended the barriers that I mentioned when talking about expats.
Felix: A Coffee Story is the perfect illustration of this idea. Felix, a Kenyan coffee farmer, tells the story of his intimate relation with coffee, and his belief in the plant’s magical elements, while also showing how deep such a produce’s history runs. He holds that coffee’s existence is “a journey of cultures and people.” and that his roastery is “A melting pot of different nationalities”. Felix has dedicated his life to his craft, even meeting his partner because of coffee, and his belief that coffee can inspire and unite is quite inspiring.
Seeing this exhibit has taught me a few things. Firstly, how deep research must run to truly be able to understand the culture behind something, even if its something as simple as coffee. Secondly, it has taught me that opportunities to write or create around something do not need to be complicated or grandiose for this very reason. Anything can be written about, as long as the sufficient amount of research has been put in. Finally, it shows how rich only a single person’s story can be; everyone has lived independent lives with their host of experiences and tales.
In this way, experience is key, and I look forward to having more opportunities to meet and talk with people and share these stories so that I can create something truly interesting.
Sources:
The exhibit: https://artsandculture.google.com/exhibit/felix-a-coffee-story/QQFUKHZ5
The origin of the story: https://www.f-in-d.com/stories/felix-a-coffee-family
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