Drifted Away
“Coffee sits in the background of some of the most important moments in our lives.” - Drift Mag
Diving into the coffee world can be intimidating at times. From a technical view, there are many sources of information about extractions, ratios, brewing methods and so on, to the point that I struggle to keep up. While all of that is important, from a professional perspective, I remind myself the reason why coffee plays a huge part of my lifestyle - the social perspective. The experience in and around coffee culture is fascinating and it is these experiences that keep me grounded.
I was visiting a small exhibition showcasing how many companies around the world are re-using and recycling coffee for practical and architectural purposes, ranging from watches, cupboards, floor tiles, to sewing coffee jute sacks as plant pots and tote bags. The exhibition was hosted at one of London’s reputable book shops, Shreeji Newsagents. I was about to leave the shop until, in the corner of my barista eye, spotted a La Marzocco espresso machine, Mazzer grinder and coffee bags. It wasn’t on display or for show, coffee was served here. Encouraged to spend some more time here, I looked around for coffee-related magazines and, long and behold, I saw Drift - a magazine I was meaning to get my hands on, albeit was difficult as, understandably, many vendors were sold out.
“How different cities are bonded by coffee’s wonders and its ability to make you feel and add to your everyday life”
When you open a magazine, the natural thing to do is flick through some pages, look at the photos and put it down right? Correct. I did exactly that, however, I made time to reach each and every page. Aside from the beautiful photographs (a great inspiration for my own shots), the stories were incredibly descriptive and detailed. I don’t know anything about coffee culture in Paris (which this edition was about), but it was a window into that side of the world and even though it was just a hint, the moments felt very real. Stories were about people’s individual experiences, ranging from personal everyday life, family, love and break-ups, all based in the same setting - coffee shops. Coffee was not the main subject, however, it was the car and the author was the driver. As Drift Mag puts it - “Coffee sits in the background of some of the important moments in our lives”.
I really enjoyed the written moments in Drift, some of which resonated with my own experiences. How different cities are bonded by coffee’s wonders and its ability to make you feel and add to your everyday life. I have yet to explore coffee on a more international scale, but eloquent writings like this is a window into other parts of the world.
