Paul Pratt starts off with a short article to set the tone for what his column will be about - the coffee scene and culture in South East Asia, and Hong Kong.
Camchatka Senior Member Joined: 10 Nov 2003 Posts: 15 Location: Toronto, Canada Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Krups Bravo Plus #872 Grinder: Starbucks Barista Burr Vac Pot: Bodum Drip: Bodum single cup filter Roaster: Hearthware Precision
Posted Sat Nov 29, 2003, 3:14pm Subject: Re: Setting the Scene for Coffee in Asia by Paul Pratt
Paul, I look forward to reading what is coming next.
Having spent a little time in China I found that coffee was a very bizarre phenomenon there and becoming what Bubble Tea is here in Canada: an exotic if not perplexing novelty for Westerners and a taste of home for Asian immigrants and students.
Despite my profound love for coffee however I found myself taken by the amazing blends of tea while touring the country ("When in Rome, er Beijing..."). It is for this reason that I am so interested to hear what breaking into the market there is like.
coffeedane Senior Member Joined: 4 Dec 2003 Posts: 4 Location: Taiwan Expertise: I like coffee
Posted Thu Dec 4, 2003, 9:40pm Subject: Re: Setting the Scene for Coffee in Asia by Paul Pratt
Actually, the espresso coffee scene in China is exploding, with cafes popping up constantly. Moreover, it's already developing into one of the bigger markets for coffee related equipment.
Espresso is still fairly new to Asia, but it's developing fast, and the appetite for new ideas, cafes and a decently pulled espresso is big.
Paul_Pratt Senior Member Joined: 2 Sep 2002 Posts: 283 Location: Hong Kong Expertise: Professional
Espresso: Marzocco SMAL Grinder: Eureka Drip: Pourover cone works best for... Roaster: Probat
Posted Sun Dec 7, 2003, 10:12pm Subject: Re: Setting the Scene for Coffee in Asia by Paul Pratt
Yes the PRC is happening in a big way and I know that there are a lot of companies trying to get a piece of the action now.
It is not all doom and gloom and there are a few places for coffee that really stand out and you can get the same level of committment, passion and quality that you associate with places in the US or Canada. As you can guess these are owner/operators and as such they cannot afford the high rents for high profile locations and are to be found off the beaten track.
In the coming months I will address the coffee culture in Asia and share with everyone the "joys" of running a small business in a difficult market.
epic1400 Senior Member Joined: 28 Dec 2003 Posts: 7 Location: Hong Kong Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Krups Mini Cappicino Grinder: Braun KMM30
Posted Sun Dec 28, 2003, 1:39am Subject: Re: Setting the Scene for Coffee in Asia by Paul Pratt
A very interesting article and I am looking forward to the one coming up.
But an important "place" (I dare not to offence anyone, you know.. ), apart from Japan, who is having a high standard in coffee tasting/making is missed out -- Taiwan.
Personally, I have been flying over to Taiwan (Taipei to be specific) sole for their coffee, they have a lot of individual cafe (not chain store) and I have met up a group of coffee expert who roast their own beans and brew with their modified coffee machine. Their coffee (espresso or single blend coffee) are excellent.
Afterall, I think here in HK, the coffee culture is still just an early start, many ppl are enjoying their presence in a coffee shop instead of enjoying their cup of coffee. :)
AndyL Senior Member Joined: 31 Dec 2003 Posts: 1,310 Location: australia Expertise: Pro Barista
Espresso: synesso Grinder: Robur,k10, major, mini,... Vac Pot: still in its box Roaster: atomica
Posted Fri Jan 2, 2004, 5:24am Subject: Re: Setting the Scene for Coffee in Asia by Paul Pratt
THE UK HAS GOOD COFFEE??? NOT I was a little upset to hear someone say australia is 5 years behind the U.S in gourmet coffee and asia is five years behind australia. As an australian who has traveled thru out asia and the U.S. generally coffee is bad everywhere you go if you have a high standard. Asia is no way 5 years behind australia. I would say at least 50 years. Just because you open a few Starbucks or Coffee beans doesnt mean you understand coffee. If anyone has traveled to Melbourne Australia would see an amazing standard of coffee. Coffee in australia has not been taken over by franchises who have no real passion for coffee. Love is the barista behind the machine. I bet you the owner of Starbucks isnt behind his machine in his shop. He's just looking how to make more money!!. To say Australia is 5 years behind is very stupid. Without researching our culture, background, the amount of coffee shops here.. Im really insulted!!!! Starbucks only have a very small market in the coffee industry in Melbourne. WHY??? because you can't train passion and love.
ppanduro Senior Member Joined: 7 Jan 2004 Posts: 4 Location: Copenhagen, Denmark Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Isomac Super Giada Grinder: Bosch - (I know...) Vac Pot: Bodum Drip: yakk - never
Posted Wed Jan 7, 2004, 2:56am Subject: Re: Setting the Scene for Coffee in Asia by Paul Pratt
Hej Holger - selv på jagt efter den ultimative espressomaskine er jeg netop stødt på Coffeegeek.com, som ser ud til at være mødestedet for den ultimative kaffenørd.... Bare en hilsen fra det våde og lidt kedelige Danmark - og så kan det jo være vi "tales" ved ... venligst Peter
johannabanana Senior Member Joined: 13 Jul 2003 Posts: 431 Location: Vienna, Europe Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: La San Marco 1,2,+3group,... Grinder: 2 LSM, 3 Tourmix, 1 demoka... Vac Pot: not yet Drip: Melitta aroma boy,... Roaster: Precision & Mr. Gunter :-D
Posted Wed Jan 7, 2004, 3:18pm Subject: Re: Setting the Scene for Coffee in Asia by Paul Pratt
ppanduro Said:
Hej Holger - selv på jagt efter den ultimative espressomaskine er jeg netop stødt på Coffeegeek.com, som ser ud til at være mødestedet for den ultimative kaffenørd.... Bare en hilsen fra det våde og lidt kedelige Danmark - og så kan det jo være vi "tales" ved ... venligst Peter
I have no idea what you are saying, but it reminds me on someone I met in my youth. It made me search the web to find him again - Thanks for that moment :-D http://www.muppetworld.com/cooking/index.html (take a look at the cookbook) joey
(This is no sarcasm! Pure pleasure, honestly!!!!... Please don't kill me)
"Do everything right. You will gratify some people and astonish the rest." (Mark Twain)
ppanduro Senior Member Joined: 7 Jan 2004 Posts: 4 Location: Copenhagen, Denmark Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Isomac Super Giada Grinder: Bosch - (I know...) Vac Pot: Bodum Drip: yakk - never
Posted Thu Jan 8, 2004, 8:26am Subject: Re: Setting the Scene for Coffee in Asia by Paul Pratt
Hej Joey - apologies for the usage of a language known to only a few - but for the record, the chef in the Muppet Show was Swedish - and you came across Danish in my email. Right, Danish means more than just a language to some - oddly enough, we call it "Viennabread" - what is commonly referred to as "Danish"....
Nevertheless, hope you found your lost memory - but watch out for confusing Danes with Swedes , it's like calling a Scotsman and Englishman, not good....
Hope you enjoy Vienna - as your profile seem to imply that's where you enjoy your coffee - not the worst place and I miss it from my many frequent visits when live in Budapest a while back.
Symbols: = New Posts since your last visit = No New Posts since last visit = Newest post
Forum Rules: No profanity, illegal acts or personal attacks will be tolerated in these discussion boards. No commercial posting of any nature will be tolerated; only private sales by private individuals, in the "Buy and Sell" forum. No cross posting allowed - do not post your topic to more than one forum, nor repost a topic to the same forum. Who Can Read The Forum? Anyone can read posts in these discussion boards. Who Can Post New Topics? Any registered CoffeeGeek member can post new topics. Who Can Post Replies? Any registered CoffeeGeek member can post replies. Can Photos be posted? Anyone can post photos in their new topics or replies. Who can change or delete posts? Any CoffeeGeek member can edit their own posts. Only moderators can delete posts. Probationary Period: If you are a new signup for CoffeeGeek, you cannot promote, endorse, criticise or otherwise post an unsolicited endorsement for any company, product or service in your first five postings.
= No New Posts since last visit 