Nowadays, everyone is drinking coffee. But when the product was first introduced in Europe back in the 16th century, it caused quite a stirr. It was ‘unhealthy’ and evil because it ‘would make people think’. During The Age of Enlightenment in Londen, Yumi tells us, the first cafes were called “Penny Universities”. Yumi: “People had to pay one penny for a cup of coffee and started talking about politics and recent new discoveries. Coffee is always related to revolutions, because people have an awake mind, are critical. Suddenly they dare to say: “The king is not the greatest thing alive”.
Coffee is coffee. And it’s gooood. It’s our black juice in the morning and evening. Gives the brains and body just the extra mile. It’s an appealing part of a city’s imagination; without it, a city isn’t a city. But there’s more to it. Coffee is city’s “social fuel” for many reasons. Yumi Choi from coffee shop Bonanza Coffee Heroes in Berlin (go there, it’s coffee heaven) has the story. Also you’ll find THE list of coffee places for your perfect brew.
Coffee is a lubricant of exchange. A creative help for communication, especially for cities.
Back in the days
It’s the third wave of coffee!
citizenMag discovered that a lot of independent coffee places nowadays are part of the “third wave of coffee”. We read abou this phenomenon in The Guardian. It says that the first wave peaked when freeze-dried techniques made coffee popular, if not necessarily any good. The second wave came with global Starbucksification and the shift from robusta to aribica coffee beans – all helped improve coffee quality. The third wave is about taking coffee to the next level, refering to produce high-quality coffee, and consider coffee as an artisanal foodstuff, like wine, rather than a commodity, like wheat.
Coffee in the city
“Let’s meet for a cup of coffee”. Sounds familiar huh? Daily, tons of citizens meet each other over coffee. According to Yumi, this act has also something to do with the effect of coffee. Yumi: “Coffee is a communicator, an energizer. With caffeine you overcome certain borders and people start talking to each other, based on the effect the ‘drug’ coffee has. Coffee is a true ‘lubricant of exchange’. A creative help for communication and creativity, embraced by busy citizens.”
Yumi Choi’s list of favorite coffee places
Coffee grows in over 50 nations across the globe. It’s the second traded commodity in the world market.
HQ to a city
Europe has developed a great culture around coffee. New and unique social spaces, stirring up our social life. Coffee Bonanza has a lot of creative guests, referred to as “The Easy Jet Generation” by Yumi. “DJ’s, architects, designers, writers, actors and artists, coming in and out of cities. They are the citizens of the world, and coffee places are the perfect introduction to a city. Instead of starting at the main tourist destinations, they’re directly placed in the middle of what’s going on. Coffee places are true Head Quarters to a city.”
Bonanza Coffee tastes great
Bonanza Coffee baristas are part of the so-called “third wave coffee movement”, which focuses almost obsessively over coffee quality and roasting technique. Yumi: “We have certain techniques and machines and we take care that we only buy the best green beans. Coffee has a very complex taste and aroma profile, its aroma is more complex than wine. Our taste is something in between chocolate, caramel, sweet, citric, berry, and coffee flavors. It’s a culinary experience. Adding milk to it, you still taste all the flavors. When you start to notice the difference with your regular coffee, you will never can go back… “
citizenM says:hello night owl or morning person, your coffee in our canteen is always fresh and delicious.
Relax and reloadOur coffee machine wakes you up in the morning and serves you during your afternoon get together. Feel free to ask our baristas to make your favorite coffee!
Bonanza Coffee Heroes Berlin
A bonanza in beans. Drinking coffee is a joy. Making coffee is an art. The Bonanza baristas – Kiduk Reus and Yumi Choi know how to roast, blend and complement the best beans with water and milk. Their store is called Bonanza Coffee Heroes.
