.png)
Interview with Dennies John: Insights about the Coffee-Tea Culture, whether in Kerala or the rest of India
Interview with Dennies John (DrippedCoffee.com) from Kerala, South of India
Ever since I officially entered corporate
marathon, I got fascinated by the addicting hobby that is coffee drinking. Do
not get me wrong though, I am (still) not at the level where I need seventy
five cups of coffee! Or perhaps even at the kind where I become the opposite of
nice if I don’t drink one. #monster But yes, it’s my elixir of life, bring out
energy and some more good stuff.
So imagine my astonishment, when I found out
another equally addicted bloke, all the way from the South of India. I have alot of Indian friends at work and they tell me all these nice stories about the South of India - from people down to culture in itself. The country
full of awesome coffee choices. Yes, indeed. Dennies is a coffee blogger and a
coffee enthusiast, and I truly appreciate how caffenaitedly cool his site is. You have to check it out as well!
Gotten a change to pick his brain out with
some delightful insights about his passion for coffee, life in India, and why
you should try the Filter Kaapi and Masala Chai.
Can you
tell us a little bit about yourself and where you are from?
Dennies: I was born and raised in
Kerala, a beautiful state located to the South of India. I still live there with
my parents in my childhood home.
I’d
like to describe myself as a pretty laid-back kind of guy who loves music and
good food. My future career was all about being a mechanical engineer. In high
school, I strived hard to grab good grades and get into a great university like
the IITs, which is a prestigious institute in India.
However,
I hadn’t tried hard enough, so I ended up in a normal college. But in there I
got wind of SEO and Internet Marketing through friends who were experts in this
field. They gave me the inspiration to learn those techniques.
I
then graduated as a Mechanical Engineer in 2012 and took over my family business.
But it was when I went to US for 3 months did my life take an unexpected turn.
I
was visiting my cousins in the US and was drawn to the US coffee culture. Eventually
I started experimenting coffee brewing methods on my own. I used many online
sources like Youtube too, and learnt quite a lot about coffee brewers.
Then
it was time for me to come back to India. I came back, and put my knowledge on
SEO and Internet marketing to use by starting up a coffee blog called Dripped
Coffee that focuses solely on a caffeinated audience.
What are
the three things that people would be surprised to know about the city you are
from, and why they should come visit?
Dennies: Here goes the top three
facts that’ll take you by surprise:
1.
Most People start their day with tea, not coffee. South Indian filter coffee is
the most popular coffee beverage over here.
2.
Even though people turn 18, they still live with their parents under one roof –
unless of course something demands separate-living such as an outstation job.
3.
People work really hard over here. They party and club less. They’d rather
spend quality time with their families and save money for them.
Kerala
is famed for its greenery. It has special backwaters such as Kumarakom and
Allappuzha that tempt people to ride a boat. It also has unique dishes with
heavenly tastes. Additionally, you can find a wide variety of spices and
ayurvedic massages in Kerala. These massages are better than spas and can leave
you feeling relaxed and happy.
Hill
stations like Idukki and Munnar are located in Kerala and they’re the ideal
places to chill out and have a great time. Kerala is, in fact, a place kissed
by Mother Nature that all nature-lovers should pay a visit to. For these reasons
alone people have dubbed Kerala as the ‘’ God’s own country.’’
What is it
like blogging about coffee in https://www.drippedcoffee.com/? The Good, the
Bad, The Funny
Dennies:
The Good
———
The
learning curve has been excellent. I experiment with coffee and have discovered
so many new things. I take great pleasure by sharing them with my readers.
I
can settle my bills by doing something I really love.
I
can work from anywhere too, and travel wherever and whenever I please.
My
blog has turned out to be the best excuse to experiment new varieties of
coffee.
I
can connect with fellow coffee bloggers, product manufacturers, coffee roasters
and lots of great people.
The Bad
———-
Living
in India comes at a cost as I may miss important occasions such as famous
coffee conferences as well as AeroPress contests.
Lots
of people have invited me to have coffee with them. They are mainly from the
US. I miss such opportunities. However, I’ve plans to move to the US in another
few years.
I
hate things like dealing with Wordpress issues and server issues. They
frustrate me and consume a lot of my time.
The Funny
—
My
blog has turned me into a coffee addict. The first thing I inquire when I
decide to leave home is whether they have a Breville with them. If they don’t,
the first thing that goes into my bag is the Breville. Clothes come later.
Tell us
your day job and typical day at work.
Dennies: I’m an early bird.
I
start my day at 6 and fix a fresh cup of espresso from my Breville BES870XL which I
bought from the US (I’m obviously quite addicted to its taste) and enjoy it for
a good 10 minutes before everything else.
I
will then stick to my daily workout routine for an hour. By 9, you’ll find me
in the office of my family business. I’ll usually be greeted with a pile of
work waiting for me – CAD drawings, calls, meetings and so on.
In
between everything I still manage to reserve a few hours to run my coffee blog.
It has turned into something like a hobby. So I go about doing things like
researching facts related to coffee or SEO and internet marketing.
But
I love working at my family business as well. There is no pressure involved. My
work is very flexible.
Apart from
your day job, do you have other passion projects you are currently involved in?
Dennies: I like taking up things
one at a time so that my attention won’t be deviated. Dripped Coffee is the
only project that I’m focusing on at the moment. I spend a good amount of time
working to grow audience via SEO and marketing.
Once
my blog thrives, I might direct my attention towards putting up an e-commerce
store. I want it to focus on one particular niche with high quality products.
I’m
also getting my hands into the stock and forex markets.
Any advice
for people who would like to travel around your city and experience the local
coffee there?
Dennies: The majority of people
in Kerala may love tea instead of coffee. But a
growing number of coffee drinkers, along with planters have made Kerala contribute
more to coffee production than any other state.
Filter Kaapi (coffee) is one of the very
popular beverages found in Kerala. It’s stronger than an average coffee and has
a savory unlike anything you’ve come across.
Masala Chai is another beverage not worth missing. It’s a
very special tea that beats all other teas with a unique brewing process and
taste.
On
top of everything you’ll find coffee shops in every corner of this beautiful
State. They may not fix you coffee with fancier terms, but with so many
traditional ingredients that are rarely found in other parts of the world. This
alone attracts thousands of visitors every year.
Thanks for the opportunity, Bowdy.
ReplyDeleteAmazing photos! and helpful interview! Coffee became a strong tradition for majority of people, regardless of country, nationality, gender or age. It is a whole culture and ceremony. People don't regret money for professional coffee machines and complementary tools. I understand why you have bought Breville Barista. We also have it in our family. Mb someone who will read this interview, will be interested in https://milkfrothertop.com/breville-bes870xl-barista-express-review/ complete Breville review. No doubt, it worth every dollar!
ReplyDeleteGreat article thank you for sharing this article.if you want information about best home latte machines visit us at https://yourcoffeelover.com/best-latte-machine-2019-updated/
ReplyDelete