I have heard the idea suggested here and there that coffee was either partially responsible for the Enlightenment. Basically, the theory goes that many gave up several helpings of beer a day, switched to coffee, and the resulting lack of dulled senses replaced by that caffeine edge allowed for or encouraged a flowering of great thinking.
I, of course, was not there, and could not say for sure. Did Michelangelo drink coffee? I don't know. He is Renaissance, but if you ask me, he and his peers got things going in the direction of the Englightenment. He is Italian, at least, so maybe he was a coffee guy. But I digress.
As I think about the possibility of coffee's role in European intellectual and societal development, I cannot help but see the similarities between Europe and today's China. Don't worry, I will not get ahead of myself here...I am just thinking out loud.
At least where I live, though, beer and other more stout forms of alcohol rule the day. I often wonder what could be accomplished if China's men stayed sober for one week. No, they are not all drunkards, but there is certainly a lot of drinking going on. If nothing else, they would gain their evenings for something a bit more productive.
Anyway, I think the current realization of coffee in China is mainly as a Western style to be immulated for image. Common speak: they drink coffee only to impress their friends. I have met a fair amount of folks, though, who actually enjoy the Nestle instant coffee packets, and though I would stop short of calling that much more than a coffee-flavored chemistry experiment, it is the starting point for coffee in China. That is just the truth.
Could the potential to gain a good image drinking coffee overcome the cultural bent toward alcohol? Could masses of Chinese people begin drinking coffee on a daily basis with friends and coworkers instead of drowning themselves in 140 proof alcohol? Could cafes become the venue for business instead of the after dinner conversation at restaurants? And if so, what might that bring about in China?
Established in 1921, [name removed] is the oldest coffee factory in Colombia, founded even before the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia.
Today, after 85 years of experience [name removed] continues with its innovative spirit and openness to change and improvements. We currently have a wide variety of roasted and ground coffee and instant coffee products. Moreover, we’re working to develop new products in order to diversify our current list and offer you, our customers, more coffee possibilities.
We look foward to working with china.
Posted by: Juan Molindez | 26 Jul 2007 at 08:41
Well, I am happy for your business success, but with a lot less than 85 years of online experience, many of us have learned how to respond the topic at hand instead of leaving random spam comments. I am glad you are interested in working in China, but you will need to listen and respond to the situation at hand a lot better than you have on this page to succeed.
Posted by: Cooper Strange | 26 Jul 2007 at 13:55