amber magazine

amber JIM JARMUSCH COFFE & CIGARETTES

EXLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH UNDERGROUND DIRECTOR JIM JARMUSCH ON HIS MOVIE COF FEE & CIG ARETTES AND ON WORKING WITH ROBERTO BENINI & STEVE WRIGHT THE ETHIOPIAN LEGEND OF THE GOAT AND WHERE COFFEE ORIGINATED. THE MUTH BEHIND THE HOT BAVERAGE

CAFES AROUND THE WORLD CLASSY PROVERBS NYC’S TOP SEVEN COFFEE CULTURE VIENNA WORLD’S BEST COFFEE BEANS D: 9,50$, A: 11$, CH: 18CHF, I: 12$, F:12$, ESP: 12$, BENELUX: 11,20$, DK: 110 DKR, UK: £9,50, US $15 AMBER ISSUE: JUNE 2010

amber magazine N® 01

EDITORIAL

E d i t o r i a l

On this page, are 767 words, 365 in German and 402 in English, set in the Lucida Bright typface all at 8 point with a 10 point spacing, arranged in two columns, each 68.505 mm wide. In the upper left side of this page, the word ››Editorial,‹‹ made up of 9 characters, is set in Avenir LT Std 85 heavy. The English text starts 4mm below the word ››English,‹‹ set in Helvetica New at 5 point, with the words ››On this page ‹‹ ...

This is how one can miss the greater picture - by getting lost in details. A brain that functions ››normally ‹‹ would merely perceive a text, which it would consider a useful introduction to this issue’s theme (››Coffee ‹‹) or dismiss as boring. A brain possessing an eidetic or photographic memory however, might perceive this page exactly as described above. An eidetic memory recalls the minutest details with utmost accuracy and preceives every detailas equally important, without the capacity to classify things within a range of importance ot to comprehend correlations. In such a brain, things probably look like they do in the home of a person suffering from messy house syndrome, a psychological disorder which is considered the most extreme implementation of dissor-

02

derliness. Bur while people diagnosed with this disorder might acknowledge the fact that they lead a lifestyle not in keeping with common social standards, they don’t consider themeselves disorderly. On the contrary, they keep things in order, and when forced by others to throw something away, that sense of order is severely shaken. Incidentally, this disorder shows overlaps with the socalled Diogenes syndrome, which is marked by personal neglect and withdrawal from social interaction. Actually, persons suffering from this diorder, are said to be in no way unhappy with living in a state of frugality.

To dish a bit of dirt: each time we close an issue, the entire amber editorial staff starts to collectively suffer from the messy-house syndrom. Long-dismissed content is suddenly brought up again, everybidy fights for their favorite stories and people break out in tears at the slightest shortening of a caption.

Why make such a fuss about nothing, you ask? Well, it’s all a matter of proportionality.

But in the end, we are always consoled by the fact that there is so much to discover in each issue, with each page being universe in itself, a gateway into new dimensions.

PAGE N® 03

CONTENT

C o n t e n t

04 Jim Jarmusch

10 Coffee Myth and Legend

14 Coffee Consumtion Worldwide

16 New York’s Best Cafes 2011

18 The World’s Best Coffee Beans

20 Coffee Culture Vienna

24 Top Ten Coffee Drinking Nations

26 Proverbs and Famous Quotes

amber magazine N® 01

J I M

JIM JARMUSCH

J AR M U S C H

Mini Biography Jarmusch was born to a family of middle-class suburbanites in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio in 1953. His mother, of Irish and German descent, had been a reviewer of film and theatre for the Akron Beacon Journal before marrying his father, a businessman of Czech and German descent who worked for the B.F. Goodrich Company. She introduced the future director, the middle of three children, to the world of cinema by leaving him at a local cinema to watch matinee double features such as Attack of the Crab Monsters and Creature From the Black Lagoon while she ran errands. The first adult film he recalls having seen was the 1958 cult classic Thunder Road (starring Robert Mitchum) the violence and darkness of which left an impression on the seven-year-old Jarmusch.

Another B-movie influence from his childhood was Ghoulardi, an Cleveland television show which featured horror films.

Despite his enthusiasm for film, Jarmusch, an avid reader in his youth, had a greater interest in literature, a pursuit in which he was encouraged by his grandmother. Though he refused to attend church with his Episcopalian parents (not being enthused by “the idea of sitting in a stuffy room wearing a little tie”), Jarmusch credits literature with shaping his metaphysical beliefs and leading him to reconsider theology in his mid-teens. From his peers he developed a taste for counterculture: he and his friends would steal the records and books of their older siblings – William Burroughs, Jack Kerouac, Mothers of Invention. They made fake identity documents which allowed them to visit bars at the weekend but also the local art house cinema – which though it typically showed pornographic films would on occasion feature underground films such as Robert Downey, Sr.’s Putney Swope and Andy Warhol’s Chelsea Girls. At one point, he took an apprenticeship with a commercial photographer. “Growing up in Ohio”, he would later remark, “was just planning to get out”. Another of his well known Quotes is: “ I know. It’s all so independent.

I’m so sick of that word. I reach for my revolver when I hear the word ‘quirky.’ Or ‘edgy.’ Those words are now becoming labels that are slapped on products to sell them. Anyone who makes a film that is the film they want to make, and it is not defined by marketing analysis or a commercial enterprise, is independent. My movies are kind of made by hand. They’re not polished they’re sort of built in the garage. It’s more like being an artisan in some way”.

04

amber magazine

d i r E C t o r

Jim Jarmusch - Director of the 2003 named classic

n速 01

JIM JARMUSCH

amber magazine N® 01

COFFEE & CIGARETTES

C o f f ee

Movie Review Yes, this is a movie review. But maybe this whole discussion would be better off located over there on the other side of the Stylus Magazine homepage with all that rock and roll. After all, Coffee and Cigarettes, director Jim Jarmusch’s latest experiment in storytelling, feels more like a good rock album than a movie.And it’s better enjoyed that way too. Like most albums, this one has a set of tracks, episodes prefaced by a title and closed with silence. Each stands on its own. There is no story in this film, no introduction of characters in the first 20 minutes, no denouement in the last 15. But the order and the details do matter, not for plot clues, suspense, and catharsis, but for momentum and tone. There are recurring themes and unique instrumentation that bring the pieces together.

They make experiencing the whole even more rewarding. There is no story in this film, no introduction of characters in the first minutes, no document in the last five minutes.

In this case the episodes depict a series of conversations. And usually, those conversations are pleasant, lighthearted, and trivial on the surface. Although neither the participants nor the setting remain the same, you can always count on lots of coffee and even more cigarettes.No car chases, romance, sex, or even space aliens. But that’s just fine. There is method to the underlying triad. The smoking and the drinking give structure to the random and fascinating who and about what of all that talking; like stiff rebar to flowing, gritty cement.

“I will tell you, Tom, this stuff is more addictive than heroin, and I should know.”

The Coffee and Cigarettes project actually got its start in 1986 with a short film that Jarmusch made starring Roberto Benigni and Steven Wright. He followed with two more in 1989 and 1993. This full length feature uses those films as its first three episodes, then fills them out with seven more for a solid 96 minutes that are endlessly varied and strangely satisfying.

06

Each section is filmed in black and white and many feature celebrities, or quasi-celebrities.

Some play themselves, some play completely fictional characters, and most, we sense, are floating somewhere in between. Steve Buscemi just plays a lowly waiter, greasy and overfriendly.Later Bill Murray plays Bill Murray the comedian and actor, who also happens to be hiding out as a lowly waiter, greasy and overfriendly. There are mythic tales and whackedout Elvis conspiracy theories in one sequence, then Iggy Pop and Tom Waits anxiously tripping over the mundane in the next.At once Cate Blanchett plays both her famous self. In this case the episodes depict a series of conversations. And usually, those conversations are pleasant, lighthearted, and trivial on the surface. Although neither the participants nor the setting remain the same, you can always count on lots of coffee and even more cigarettes.

That’s about it. talking, smoking, and drinking No car chases, romance, sex, or even space aliens. But that’s just fine. There is method to the underlying triad. The smoking and the drinking give structure to the random and fascinating who and about what of all that talking; like stiff rebar to flowing, gritty cement.The Coffee and Cigarettes project actually got its start in 1986 with a short film that Jarmusch made starring Roberto Benigni and Steven Wright.

He followed with two more in 1989 and 1993.

This full-length feature uses those films as its first three episodes, then fills them out with seven more for a solid 96 minutes that are endlessly varied and strangely satisfying.Each section is filmed in black and white and many feature celebrities, or quasi celebrities. Some play themselves, some play completely fictional characters, and most, we sense, are floating somewhere in between. Steve Buscemi just plays a lowly waiter, greasy and over-friendly.

Page n速 07

a n d

C i g a r E t t E S

The Coffee and Cigarettes Cover of the first vignettes from back in the 1980 starring Roberto Benini and Steve Wright.

MOVIE REVIEW

amber magazine n® 01

STRANGER THAN PARADISE

S t r a n g E r

t H a n

Later Bill Murray plays Bill Murray the comedian and actor, who also happens to be hiding out as a lowly waiter, greasy and over-friendly.

There are somw mythic tales and whacked-out Elvis conspiracy theories in one sequence, then Iggy Pop and Tom Waits anxiously tripping over the mundane in the next. and a jealous flunky of a cousin.

Super cool rockers Jack and Meg White turn out to be science nerds as well. We get it: the ambiguity of fame, the fluidity of character. The meditation is all there, but it is also pleasantly unassuming just the same. And if you merged these two together, you’d have one perfectly balanced personality.

Here, as in much of Jim Jarmusch’s previous work, the point is not the point. In other words, all that deliberate thematic pondering that might come off as obvious and showy in another movie, is really just tasty good seasoning for the main ingredient here: the people.

08

And that’s where the movie glows.

The conversations each reflect strange weird relationships, some strained and hostile, others awkward and pitiful. Most are oddly funny as well. They make you ache and swell with empathy, due more to how the words come out than to what is being said. Best of all, this is a thinking movie. Not thinking in the Tom Stoppard-ish, philosophy-laden, lots of very clever allsions kind of way. But rather, in the satisfyingly and accessible way that it welcomes and encourages, but never begs, you to wonder what makes people talk about the things they talk about. It’s one of those great indecipherable questions that are easy to ask and impossible to answer. It’s the kind of thinking that’s one-part spiritual exploration and one-part dorm room bull session. And, of course, it’s the kind that goes just perfectly with a cigarette and good cup of coffee.

Page n® 09

P a r a d i S E

Jim Jarmusch - Director of the 1984 classic “Stranger Than Paradise”

James R. “Jim” Jarmusch born January 22, 1953) is an American independent film director, screenwriter, actor, producer, editor and composer. Jarmusch has been a major proponent of independent cinema, particularly during the 1980s and 1990s

JIM JARMUSCH

amber magazine N速 01

M y t h

COFFEE ORIGINS AND MYTH

a n d

Le g e n d

Once upon a time in Ethiopia, there was a staid goat-herder named Kaldi who herded equally staid goats. One evening, the goatherder was surprised to discover that his goats had failed to return to their stable. He went out into the night to look for them.

His surprise was significantly intensified when he finally came upon his herd: his goats were gathered toge ther and appeared to be dancing vigorously in the moonlight. Perplexed, the goat herder disco -vered that theywe-re munching on the red berries of a dark leaved shrub. He concluded that this was the cause for their energetic movements. By this time, the goat herder was quite hungry himself, and a fair bit sleepy. Perhaps because this, he decided to throw caution to the wind, and joined his goats in eating the mysterious fruit. Sometime later, a neighbourhood monk came upon this unique group composed of goat herder and goats dancing about with unabashed glee. Coming to the same conclusion as the goat herder, the monk decided to bring back some of the berries to the monastery. Being more scientifically minded then Kaldi or his goats, he conducted various experiments on the berry before Trying various preparation methods, he particularly enjoyed one combination where he would boil the roasted berries, leaving behind a steaming brew. After a few sips, the monk found that he could now pray long into the night with- out getting drowsy. So he spread word about this wonderful drink across Ethiopia, and across the world.

10

Page n速 11

b E H i n d

t H E

H o t

COFFEE AND ITS MYTH

b E V E r a g E

amber magazine n® 01

COFFEE ORIGINS AND MYTH

THE ETHIOPIAN LEGEND OF THE DANCING GOAT How did humans discover coffee?

We may never know, but over the centuries, people have come up with legends that explain coffee’s debut. The “Legend of the Dancing Goat” is perhaps the most popular version.

Once upon a time in Ethiopia, goats in eating the mysterious there was a staid goat-herder fruit. Sometime later, a neighbournamed Kaldi who herded equally hood monk came upon this unique staid goats. One evening, the group composed of goat herder goatherder was surprised todis- and goats dancing about with unco-ver that his goats had failed to abashed glee. Coming to the same return to their stable. He went out conclusion as the goat herder, the into the night to look for them. monk decided to bring back some His surprise was significantly Ad et eat laceperio torum qui ut erum quist dolor aut inexplacia of the dis berries nis qui to dolupit, the monastery. officturis delecus cipietur sit fugitatur? lat scientifically etusam dis doluptensified Loreprae when he sitatas finallyexplita came eribus Being ent more minded tasit in nonsequodi aceriberisto quia velitam explat were pra quaspis et labores exercid upon his herd: his goats then Kaldi or his goats,ucideni he conminctat ibusam, sime omnitio nemporeres eiciet experiments et diosam verest gathered toge ther est andmolecae appearedculparisquo ducted various on the rerit verferio. Gitatur? to be dancing vigorously in the berry before Trying various prepaEd minverate nonsendemmoonli-ght. qui totatemPerplexed, et abo. Nam, velis quishe sitibus. the offic goat temodit ration methods, particularly enSandae commolentiur atibus sitidiscovered temporempori officta praejoyed venihitas mi, ut anihil where id mag-he herder that they one combination nim esse non renimus velis ilique nes as dolupti nctions estium were munching on the red ber- erspid wouldque boildes thedoluptatem roasted berries,leadoluptat raesseq uiaspe ries dipicae esequaesed of actotatus dark leaved shrub. moluptur He ving alisquo behind assenduc steamingipieturebrew. After cum reicatem conseque reperat enissim porunt, verum quo quithe natetus, concluded that this was the causequam a few sips, monk iumquiation found that he nos ipsum quas iur? for their energetic movements. By could now pray long into the night Nest, sa vel estrum fugit this hictisc impore que net ellorwas sed modiatet dolestiur, commoltime, the goat herder with- outexeri getting drowsy.

So he oris quam, con rest, estequite repedit rerrovit eum qui volloremodit por hungry himself, andquodit a fair ullorpore spread word about thisaute wonderful sectem conse volorentur,bit tem expellest modit ut estiorates a nestint quam verro moluptate sleepy.

Perhaps because this, drink across Ethiopia, and across nonsenitia voloria suntiunt lenempo facerferum qui odiciatiis he maximil decided to throw rehent, caution te toveriam the world. quo cusa est vendanisciet pe nonand cus he eturthen re nobis expello the wind, joined his quatest, omnia iur? Beaquostem

iliquam eum facestrumPerferer ovidic te excestios dolorum quatque corit doluptis volendis sunt, sitat lam quodi cum ra cum etAlicil eum fugit quunt incid quia voloruptas ese inisciis nonem est quid etur, nos eaquamus as moluptate et rem. Ces ex etur molumqu idenime quo tem eles arum facia doluptatur? El id modis sumqui none nus id molupta turitem.

Offic te voles et milliquam, que vel erchiliquati con natest voluptaeptas consed ut labo. As que pratatio cora nos nus ut volori offictisque is dolendel escipicia ne re, officiiscium sum aceatem quaepra sequia num ipsaest, core, sunt.

Iquamet eliam quas nuscius.

Soloribust voluptaquati nis acimendit endanis inullam hil il ma voluptaqui il iditi officiisitia eum veriamet facculparum qui ditate ni int.

Num is aut et aut adisciditio el is dolectiatTuri blabor modi doluptium fugiatis aut que

12

Page n速 13

LEGEND OF THE DANCING GOAT

amber magazine N® 01

PROVERBS

Charles Maurice de Talleyrand The French statesman Charles Maurice de Talleyrand, Duc de Talleyrand-Périgord (17541838), remains the classic case of a successful turncoat in politics. For half a century he served every French regime except that of the Revolutionary “Terror.”

Charles Maurice de Talleyrand was a masterful diplomat of the old school as ambassador and foreign minister. Admired and often distrusted, sometimes even feared by those he served, he was not easily replaced as a negotiator of infinite wiles. Talleyrand has been an extraordinarily difficult figure for historians to understand and appraise. His moral corruption is beyond question: he was an unabashed liar and deceiver; he not only took but sought bribes from those with whom he was negotiating; and he lived with a niece as his mistress for decades. He repeatedly shifted political allegiance without visible compunction and possessed no political principle on which he would stand firm to the last; and he was also at least technically guilty of treason, engaging in secret negotiations with the public enemies of his country while in its service.

Yet closer scrutiny of what Talleyrand did shows an apparent steady purpose beneath the crust of arrogant contempt for the ordinary standards of mankind’s judgment, expressed in the comment attributed to him on the kidnaping and execution of the Duc d’Enghien at Napoleon’s command: “It was worse than a crime, it was a mistake.” Talleyrand had his own vision of the interests of France, which lay in making the transition from the Old Regime to the new as painless as possible, at the same time preserving the territorial interests of the French nation. His fidelity to whichever persons happened to be at the head of the French state lasted at best only as long as their power, but this matchless cynic seems to have possessed genuine devotion for France as a country, and his apparent treasons can be seen as the products of a higher loyalty. Yet this picture of him may be false, for Talleyrand destroyed many of the records by which the truth regarding his career could have been more closely reached. It is easier to decide his guilt than to specify what he was guilty of, easier to affirm his deeper innocence than to prove it.

The problem lies both in the man himself.

14

Education and Priesthood Talleyrand was born in Paris on Feb. 13, 1754, into one of the most ancient and distinguished families of the French nobility. As the eldest son of Charles Daniel, Comte de Talleyrand, a lieutenant general in the French army, he was destined to follow his father’s career until a childhood accident caused a permanent injury.

His father compelled him to accept a career in the Church over Talleyrand’s protests, for he had no vocation as a priest. But he took Holy Orders in 1775 after studies at the Collège d’Harcourt, a secondary school, and at the seminary in Reims. His rapid promotions came to him as an ecclesiastical administrator with powerful backing, not as a shepherd of souls.

His first important post was as general agent for the assembly of the French clergy in 1780, negotiating with the government for the “voluntary” payments made by churchmen in lieu of the taxes from which they were exempt.

Then, in 1788, he was appointed bishop of Autun and was consecrated the next year, as the French Revolution was about to begin.

Elected to the Estates General as a deputy of the clergy, Talleyrand quickly showed that he wished the First Estate to cooperate in the transformation of the Old Regime into a new order, even at the expense of its own privileges. Passing over into open opposition to the court, he was influential in persuading his fellow ecclesiastics to join the Third Estate in the newly proclaimed National Assembly on June 19, 1789. He proposed on October 10 that the vast properties of the Church be put at the disposal of the state in exchange for salaries to be paid by the state, and in line with this policy he accepted the Civil Constitution of the Clergy and was one of the consecrators of the new bishops established under its provisions. For these violations of Church discipline, Pope Pius VI excommunicated Talleyrand in 1791. His report on public education in September 1791 won wide praise for its principles but was never applied.

PAGE N速 15

Black as the devil and hot as hell, pure as an angel and sweet as Love Charles Maurice de Talleyrand

ZORN ANDERS

amber magazine N速 01

COFFEE PLACES

C OFF E E

P LA C E s

Once upon a time in Ethiopia, there was a staid goat-herder named Kaldi who herded equally staid goats. One evening, the goat-herder was surprised todisco-ver that his goats had failed to return to their stable. He went out into the night to look for them. His surprise was significantly intensified when he finally came upon his herd: his goats were gathered toge ther and appeared to be dancing vigo- rously in the moonli-ght. Perplexed, the goat herder discovered that theywere munching on the red berries of a dark leaved shrub. He concluded that this was the cause for their energetic movements. By this time, the goat herder was quite hungry himself, and a fair bit sleepy. Perhaps because this, he decided to throw caution to the wind, and joined his goats in eating the

16

mysterious fruit. Sometime later, a neighbourhood mo-nk came upon this unique group composed of goat herder and goats dancing about with unabashed glee. Coming to the same conclusion as the goat herder, the monk decided to bring back some of the berries to the monastery. Being more scientifically minded then Kaldi or his goats, he conducted various experiments on the berry before Trying various preparation methods, he partic- ularly enjoyed one combination where he would boil the roasted berries, leaving behind a stea- ming brew. After a few sips, the monk found that he could now pray long into the night with- out getting drowsy. So he spread word about this wonderful drink across Et- hiopia, and across the world.

PAGE N速 17

A r o u n d

t he

W ORLD

Coffee shop lights - Gergous light panel in the ceiling above at Festival Hall - London South Bank Royal

LONDON SOUTH BANK ROYAL

amber magazine N® 01

New

COFFEE PLACES

Y o r k ’ s

Bes t

No matter where you’re from, you likely have a Starbucks within walking distance from your house. While you’re in NYC, forget about feeding the corporate giant. There are better brews with more interesting atmospheres to explore in this fast-moving, coffee-chugging city.

Here at OTP, we are very concerned with bringing you the rawest, realest most high-on-caffeine review of New York’s finest coffee shops. As such, all of our reviews were written while patronizing the coffee shop under review. Let’s get you cracked-out on coffee too. Here are New York’s Lucky Seven!

Think Coffee 248 Mercer Street There are two locations of ‘Snice, one in Park Slope and the other in the West Village. The Park Slope location is nice but the West Village spot kicks ass (its bigger, badder and you don’t have to go through a baby stroller obstacle course to get to the register)It almost didn’t make our list for this reason but as its

B Cup Cafe 212 Avenue

18

A great spot to peruse for NYU college freshmen (they’re the ones that are surrounded with beverages and look like they haven’t slept in weeks), this coffee shop also incorporates a large bar in its center. Internet is spotty and electrical outlets are hard to come by. The food is over-priced and mostly vegetari-

an. They stay open pretty late (until 11:30pm) but are insanely busy consistently throughout the day. All of this sounds pretty bad but the atmosphere is something worth checking out. For starters, New York Univercity students are hot as hell. For finishers, true to its name, the place really feels like a think tank. Try

Gorilla Coffee

excellent in all other aspects, we forgave it begrudgingly due to its great coffee, food and atmosphere. The space breathes and is filled with rustic wooden tables. Their salads deserve a Noble Peace Prize. Your food comes up fast. Get a good book, an autumn salad and a cup of coffee and joy will follow.

The East Village is the queen of coffee shops and this place captures the neighborhood vibe well, complete with free wi fi, comfy couch, hiding area in the back for anti-social writers and baked goods of the healthy (and guilty) varieties. Their coffee is average (but served in mini-carafes which makes it cuter than average) but their sandwiches

rock. OTP sampled the hummus sandwich on a whole wheat baguette and with its hummus, olives, tomatoes and hard boiled egg, it won our hearts. The décor is middle-eastern chic and the tunes are mostly Elton John. Underneath their heavy accents, the staff are friendly and courteous.

B Cup attracts a lot of locals so try to blend in.

97 5th Avenue

PAGE N® 19

C a f es

NYC LUCKY SEVEN

2 0 1 1

There are two locations of ‘Snice, one in Park Slope and the other in the West Village. The Park Slope location is nice but the West Village spot kicks ass (its bigger, badder and you don’t have to go through a baby stroller obstacle course to get to the register)It almost didn’t make our list for this reason but as its

Snice 45 8th Avenue

excellent in all other aspects, we forgave it begrudgingly due to its great coffee, food and atmosphere. The space breathes and is filled with rustic wooden tables. Their salads deserve a Noble Peace Prize. Your food comes up fast but it tastes as though they spent eternity crafting it.

Get a good book, an autumn sal-

Think Coffee 248 Mercer Street

A great spot to peruse for NYU college freshmen (they’re the ones that are surrounded with beverages and look like they haven’t slept in weeks), this coffee shop also incorporates a large bar in its center. Internet is spotty and electrical outlets are hard to come by. The food is over-priced and mostly vegetari-

an. They stay open pretty late (until 11:30pm) but are insanely busy consistently throughout the day. All of this sounds pretty bad but the atmosphere is something worth checking out. For starters, New York Univercity students are hot as hell. For finishers, true to its name, the place really feels like a think tank. Try

There are two locations of ‘Snice, one in Park Slope and the other in the West Village. The Park Slope location is nice but the West Village spot kicks ass (its bigger, badder and you don’t have to go through a baby stroller obstacle course to get to the register)It almost didn’t make our list for this reason but as its

B Cup Cafe 212 Avenue B

Snice 45 8th Avenue The East Village is the queen of coffee shops and this place captures the neighborhood vibe well, complete with free wi fi, comfy couch, hiding area in the back for anti-social writers and baked goods of the healthy (and guilty) varieties. Their coffee is average (but served in mini-carafes which makes it cuter than average) but their sandwiches

excellent in all other aspects, we forgave it begrudgingly due to its great coffee, food and atmosphere. The space breathes and is filled with rustic wooden tables. Their salads deserve a Noble Peace Prize. Your food comes up fast but it tastes as though they spent eternity crafting it.

Get a good book, an autumn salrock. OTP sampled the hummus sandwich on a whole wheat baguette and with its hummus, olives, tomatoes and hard boiled egg, it won our hearts. The décor is middle-eastern chic and the tunes are mostly Elton John. Underneath their heavy accents, the staff are friendly and courteous.

B Cup attracts a lot of locals so try to blend in.

amber magazine N® 01

t he

THE BEST BEANS

W o r l d ’ s

Bes t

Finding the best coffee beans in the world can be a very difficult task, with the various types of coffee beans available in the market. Some of the noted coffee beans include Arabica, Colombian Medellin and Sumatra among others.There are different types of coffee beans. Due to the influx of its varieties, the reviews and suggestions from consumers have become helpful. Regardless of these feedbacks however, it is important to note that taste is a matter of individual preference.

There are those who prefer the stronger drinks, others the flavored ones. There are also those who prefer their coffee hot while others prefer it cold or chilled. There is sure to have one distinct taste of coffee that will delight your taste buds and match your personality. Along the shores of the beautiful Lake Victoria within Rift Valley in Kenya, coffee farmers nurture the best coffee beans producing coffee trees in the world. Graded as AA, these finest beans are usually sold during weekly auctions by Kenya’s esteemed Coffee Board. It is noted that one factor why coffee plants produce the best coffee beans is due to the regional climate. This results to the distinctive and aromatic flavor seen in coffee cherries. If you want gourmet coffee, it is best to purchase Arabica coffee. The edible beans of Arabica are reported to have the best aroma and most spirit.

Robusta, on the other hand, offers an Earthier olfactory taste. It has fewer flavors because it possesses more caffeine content. As compared to other types, Arabica coffee has superior flavor, being more aromatic and richer. These plants actually grow finest along higher altitude places.

They cannot grow and survive within low temperatures or frost. This makes Arabica beans harder to grow, requiring a lot of attention and care. It generally grows in very high altitudes such as 3,000 feet. The Colombian Medellin coffee is another type which is slightly acidic, richer and full bodied. Others note it as syrupy and sweet. Competing countries for the supply of quality coffee in the international market are Brazil, Colombia, Uganda and Mexico. Although Colombia produces about 15%, Brazil takes over 20% of the worldwide production. Moreover, a perfect blend of coffee from Indonesia, South and Central America are proven to be irresistible also. When it is medium roasted, the beans bring out a “nutty” sweetness. This is due to the fact that roasting makes the green beans lose its moisture, and it expands at 200oC. This will result to chemical reactions like color change and caramelization. The longer these coffee beans are roasted, the more oils are being extracted, and producing a bigger body. With the roasting process, these coffee beans haul out their vibrant flavors. This happens as its fat and carbohydrate content gets transformed into aromatic oils. The Sumatra coffee is another variant famous for its strong taste.

It is suggested to drink this in small servings only. Finding the best coffee doesn’t mean that you need to taste every type of coffee bean you come across with. Choosing the best coffee bean is not measured by the number of people who have found it appealing. Choosing the best coffee bean is dependent on your preference and taste.

20

PAGE N速 21

C o f f ee

ARABICA

Be a n s

Graded AA, Arabica coffee beans have superior flavor, being more aromatic and richer. Arabica beans are considered to be one of the best beans in the world.

amber magazine N速 01

22

PROVERBS

PAGE N® 23

The powers of a man’s mind are directly proportioned to the quantity of coffee he drinks.

Zorn Anders

swedish painter

ZORN ANDERS

amber magazine N® 01

COFFEE CULTURE

C OFF E E

C U LT U R E

Our first article in a series about coffee culture in Spotted by Locals cities. One of those cities where coffee is much more than just a drink: Vienna. Many coffee houses in Vienna date back to the 19th century, when there was no heating, and people used the coffee houses as a second living room. Most of those coffee houses look exactly like they did when they were opened. Our Spotter Alicja writes she was amazed that even after a large renovation Cafe Hawelka still had the exact same old furniture!

Some of the historical coffee houses our Spotters wrote about: Café Rüdigerhoff- by Doris Neubauer Café Zartl – by Daniela Lettner & Giambattista Pace Café Hawelka – by Alicja

24

Coffee houses in Vienna are famous for their relaxed atmosphere, and. Viennese go here to talk, relax and read the newspaper. The waiters won’t bother you if you just order one cup of coffee and stay for a few hours. In fact, getting the waiter’s attention is often quite a challenge.

“Take it easy, they will come” write our friends from Eurocheapo in a hilarious and very recognizable article. Apart from the “old-school” coffee houses, there are many “hipper” places you can get excellent coffee, like Rochus (by our Spotters Daniela Lettner & Giambattista Pace).

As for the black gold itself, there is a lot of choice in types. The most commonly made mistake, is confusing Cappuccino with Melange.

Page n® 25

V i E n n a

The “Einspänner”, is one of Vienna’s finest and is classically served in a glass.

VIENNA

amber magazine N® 01

COFFEE CULTURE

C OFF E E

C U LT U R E

In its golden age Vienna, capital of the large Austrian empire, was famous for its coffee houses that were frequently the meeting place for professional and intellectual classes from every corner of the empire.

Old Vienna Coffee House continues the custom within the elegant and inspiring atmosphere of the heritage listed Queen Victoria Building. In Old Vienna, we strive to satisfy your distinctive tastes. We trust you will enjoy the experience of hospitality, history and heritage of Old Vienna Coffee House. Austrian coffee houses were said to have sprung up as early as the 1680s, so it’s only fitting that the Old Vienna Coffee House makes a grand statement in the regal, heritage-listed Queen Victoria Building. The feel is definitely authentic and warm, established by the decor of wall lamps and hanging lights, wooden floorboards, classic furniture and colourful paintings. While settling in with a Vienna coffee or “freezoccino”

26

( a low-fat frozen cappuccino), your attention turns towards the large menu of cafe classics, including sandwiches, soups, salads, quiches, pastas, steaks, and of course, myriad Austrian specials like Vienna sausages, Vienna Schnitzel, and one of it’s signatures - the jacket potatoes.

Blending in with the architecture and ambiance of its illustrious home. Keeping with its Austrian namesake, mosaic-style painting by the late nineteenth century Viennese Symbolist Gustav Klimt decorate the walls, whilst Johann Strauss greets you on the face of the menu. The quality however doesn’t reside solely with the surroundings. Succulent treats such as Vienna Schnitzel (naturally), Vienna Sausages or the now famous Gypsy Burger will leave your taste buds as excited as your eyes. Pastas, sandwiches, burgers, foccacia or bagels will also fill you with delight. Make sure to not miss any of this in your next visit Vienna. It is much more than culture, it is history as well as lifestyle.

Page n® 27

VIENNA

V i E n n a

One of Vienna’s less shiny Coffee houses in the middle of the 2nd district. Nevertheless it’s part of Vienna’s coffee cultre. Make sure to roll the dice in case you pass one of those.

amber magazine nÂŽ 01 TOP COFFEE DRINKING NATIONS

t o P

t E n

C o f f E E

Ten Facts on the American coffee consumtion 1) Over 50% of Americans over 18 years of age drink coffee every day. This represents over 150 million daily drinkers. 30 million American adults drink specialty coffee beverages daily; which include a mocha, latte, espresso, cafĂŠ mocha, cappuccino, frozen/iced coffee beverages. 2) Men drink as much coffee as women; each consuming an average of 1.6 cups per day.

Women seem to be more concerned about the price than men. Among coffee drinkers, the average consumption in the United States is 3.2 cups of coffee per day. 3) 65% of all coffee is consumed during breakfast hours, 30% between meals, and the remaining 5% with other meals. 4) The United States imports in excess of $4 Billion worth of coffee per year. 5) Americans consume 400 million cups of coffee per day making the United States the leading consumer of coffee in the world. 6) On an average, 250 Cups of espresso and coffee drinks are sold per day at almost any espresso drive-thru business with a great visible location. (500 cups per day is extraordinary.) 7) The National Coffee Association and The Specialty Coffee Association of America conduct annual surveys regarding coffee consumption each year. The gathered data below can be extremely beneficial to anyone wishing to start a business or just have an insight on coffee consumption.

8) Independent coffee shops manage to sell 31% of espresso-based drinks, while the rest is brewed coffee. 9) The average coffee cup size is 9 ounces. 10) 30% of the population drinks coffee occasionally.

This is a coffee infographic of the top seven coffee consuming countries in the world ordered by annual capita, as of 2010. Until now there is no data as off 2011 available .

28

Page n速 29

d r i n k i n g

WORLDWIDE COFFEE CONSUMTION

n a t i o n S

OVER 8 KG PER PERSON Finnland No.1 with 12 kg per person Norway No.2 with 9.9 kg per person Iceland No.3 with 9.0 kg per person Denmark No.4 with 8.7 kg per person Netherland No.5 with 8.4 kg per person Sweden No.6 with 8.2 kg per person

BELOW 8 KG PER PERSwitzerland No.7 with 7.9 kg per person Belgium No.8 with 6.9 kg per person Luxemburg No.9 with 6.8 kg per person Aruba No.10 with 6.6 kg per person Canada No.11 with 6.5 kg per person Germany No.12 with 6.4 kg per person

amber magazine N® 01

PROVERBS

Coffee has two virtues: it is wet and warm.

Bruegel’s paintings have themes of the absurdity, wickedness and foolishness of mankind, and this painting is no exception. The picture was originally entitled The Blue Cloak or The Folly of the World which indicates he was not intending to produce a mere collection of proverbs but rather a study of human stupidity. Many of the people depicted show the characteristic blank features which Bruegel used to portray fools. His son, Pieter Brueghel the Younger, specialised in making copies of his father’s work, and painted up to twenty copies of Netherlandish Proverbs. Not all versions of the painting, by father or son, show exactly the same proverbs, also differing in other details.

Dutch Proverb

30

AMBER ISSUE N0.02: IN NOVEMBER 2011

CAFE QUEEN 2011

EIN TYPOGRAPHISCHES PROJEKT VON YVES ROY VALLASTER, UNTER DER LEITUNG UND BETREUUNG VON HERRN LUTZ KRAUSE, FACHHOCHSCHULE VORARLBERG

NEW YORK JAZZ CAFE 95TH AND SECOND STRRET NEW YORKS BEST CAFE 2011