Full of beans

Smridhi Chawla

A sip of an aromatic coffee can transport you to the world of your imagination – a flight of fancy no one will mind hopping onto. You can either be at the grand old Indian Coffee House or plush Café Coffee Day or Barista, the taste of the beverage will make you reminisce.

Today, the beverage apparently permeates the city life so much that the drink has emerged as a culture in itself. Chandigarh resident Sandeep Chauhan, who owns a café in Panchkula, says coffee is a favourite from the drinks’ menu for visitors. “For everyone, including students, professionals and housewives, catching up is now synonymous with coffee,” he says.

With increasing fondness for the beverage as first drink in the morning, coffee is increasingly becoming everyone’s cup of tea. “My to-do list for the day begins with cold coffee. When work pressure drains me out, coffee keeps me going through the day,” says Jayleen Vilkhu, assistant auditor, Ernst & Young.

Amita Bhatt is a housewife who visits a café nearby daily with a friend of hers. “For the price of a cappuccino and perhaps a piece of cake, I relax with my friend and it is totally worth it. My coffee time is an hour I cherish in the day,” she says.

Gossips, meetings, readings – the city cites a plethora of reasons to grab a cup. Of course, students have their own. City-based student Bhavneet Kalra is particularly fond of latte art and likes to post a picture of her cup on Instagram whenever he goes to have one – which is often.“Black coffee shots come in handy while studying, as they serve as an energy-booster,” says another student, Vaibhav Sharma.

Not to forget, catching up for a coffee usually serves as the best idea for the first date. “Whenever I ask a girl out, I invite her for coffee. Coffee can definitely make you feel better if your date doesn’t turn out to be good enough or make you feel even better if she does,” says city-based businessman Akshay Sachdeva. The warmth of coffee adds to the warmth in relationships. How? Let’s hear it from a couple. “My wife and I go to our favourite café whenever we want to spend some good time together, away from our work space and children,” says Sanjiv Narang, director, Hayes Institute of Hotel Management, Panchkula. Rush to your coffee place today. After all, a lot does happen over a cup of coffee.

Health benefits 

• Can improve energy level
• Can help burn fat
• Can lower the risk of Type II diabetes
• Can fight depression and make you happier
• Source of anti-oxidants 
• Can lower the risk of stroke 

Just a tale

Shah Rukh Khan’s office, Red Chillies Entertainment has its own Starbucks on the premises. The story goes that when Starbucks had set up its store in south Mumbai’s Fort area, SRK’s daughter Suhana had longed for a cup. He decided to have his own Starbucks closer home.