By: Vanessa
 |
Image by Sharon Loh:
http://www.spicysharon.com/2013/05/artisan-roast-coffee-
ttdi.html#.UxfLYX8s1w1
|
Having a cup of Joe in a small café tucked away in a corner of the busy streets is no longer unusual in a sprawling city such as Kuala Lumpur; coffee appreciation has become a growing trend hence, the rise of café culture.
According
to research by the University of Illinois, with the right amount of background
noise, a person is able to churn out creativity more easily and this is why
urbanites today take their work to a nearby cafe.
“I
find myself in an absolute relaxed state of mind. The coffee aroma, crowd
chatter, the sound of the people bustling in and out of the shop, it all just
keeps my mind active and I am more able to complete my work over here,”
answered Ryan, 22, who visits cafés on a weekly basis.
Researchers
stated that some background noise increases a person’s concentration, allowing
them to think outside the box.
Therefore,
visiting a café today does not only hold its conventional purpose of having a
cup of coffee over a good chat anymore.
So,
what’s buzzing in the café scene in Kuala Lumpur and why the big hype over
quaint coffee shops now mushrooming in every corner of not only the city, but
suburbs as well?
 |
Image
by Miranda Yeoh:
http://gumballmag.com/culture/rekindle/
|
It
has no longer become a mere morning wake-up call for most people, but it is a profession for some and a passion for
others.
This international influence has been caught up quickly by the locals hence,
spreading this trend like wildfire, especially among Generation Y.
Yi
Ling, a law student commented, “I like its cozy ambience and the humble feel of
a simple, homely environment where I can just unwind over a cup of cappuccino
after a long day at college.”
These
people truly enjoy being at a café; the quiet ambience, strong smell of coffee
and the serenity it provides.
“Aside
from the best hot chocolate, Artisan Roast gives off this old-fashioned vibe
which I love about cafés today,” said Ry-Ann, a student.
“The
music here at The Good Batch has a different indie music playlist which is
awesome!” said Sam, who works at a digital media advertising company.
Also,
Pickle and Fig serves simple sandwiches and healthy, flavorsome smoothies;
honest food.
A
student from IMU, Li Shen answered, “I like how they (P&F) make healthy
food taste good and the café’s spiffy setting.”
 |
Image
by Shannon Chow:
http://shannonchow.com/the-first-coffea-coffee-in-kl/
|
As
for coffee connoisseurs who truly appreciate the art of coffee making, they go
café-hopping to look for the best cup of coffee out there; most importantly,
cafés with baristas who have won previous years’ barista championship
competitions.
Gary,
a soon-to-be pharmacist commented on Coffea Coffee, “This café is not just
popular by word of mouth but it really deserves its recognition for their
quality coffee. It isn’t like the boring, conventional Starbucks or Coffee
Bean.”
Aside
from the customers’ point of view, baristas have a strong influential role on
cafés today as well.
They
are the ones responsible for administering the entirety of their cafés; from
carefully crafting their menus to ensuring good quality of both their food,
drinks and most essentially, their coffee.
In
addition, the design of a café’s interior is also of high importance as it
reflects the personality of a café, its individualistic character.
All
of these factors must be thoroughly contemplated especially in today’s
competitive, growing industry of cafés to differentiate themselves from the
rest.
Research:
How the Hum of a Coffee Shop Can Boost Creativity http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/06/21/how-the-hum-of-a-coffee-shop-can-boost-creativity/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0
No comments:
Post a Comment