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Saturday 8 November 2008

Marc Tormo was born in Valencia in 1971. After finishing high school in Spain, he traveled India in the year 1992, and realized India would be eventually his “home”. However, he found himself too young at that time to settle right away in the country and decided he should go back home for now in order to acquire some professional knowledge.

Along with his family, mainly his sister who was already in the hospitality business, they developed a new coffee-shop concept that proved very successful. Benefiting from some professional Italian training, it was a great experience and it is during the next 3 years that Marc gained his current expertise in the coffee scene: knowledge about coffee beans quality, art of coffee roasting and grinding, style of serving, etc… Eventually, “it was the best training I could ever had in terms of entrepreneurship”, says Marc, since the whole venture also included issues related to employees, taxes, accounts, quality control, customer care, supply chain etc…

At one point Marc thought he had completed the training he was looking for, but the situation in Spain and his own inner aspiration were not matching, and he knew that Auroville, Pondicherry and India were calling…
He eventually came and settled in Auroville with his wife Matilde in 1997, and started considering again the hospitality business in the local context…: how to run a restaurant or a café in India was his first approach… What would be to establish a catering business with local people, local ingredients, and within the context of Auroville and India at large?

By the end of the nineties, Marc had worked in all the Auroville restaurants and cafeterias, hence coming to know exactly what the people like mostly and how they want it… This first step brought him to offer his expertise and be a consultant to assist people opening their own cafés outside Pondicherry and Auroville, like in Chennai, in Bangalore, in Kerala, as well as in North India…

Simultaneously, and in order to choose the best coffee available on the market, Marc considered going up to the business roots and he started showing interest in coffee plantations and cultivation, as India is a coffee producer country. Moreover, he went to realize that coffee could be grown organically, which he was not aware first, neither of the social issues related to coffee harvesting etc…
As a result Marc started traveling extensively to places like Kodaikanal, Kerala and Coorg where he discovered a few plantations very dedicated to organic coffee. He then happened to market those plantations products in the right way, offering since then and for the past five years consultancy and marketing to selected coffee growers.

His latest project to satisfy coffee lovers is “Le Café” in Pondicherry. “Le Café” is a prime building on Pondy seashore run by the Puduchery Development Tourism Corporation that didn’t want to privatize the place, and yet was aware that the place could no longer be managed the way it was… While the building has been fully renovated by INTACH, Marc has been in charge of upgrading both products and services and “Le Café” is now regarded as a prime selected tourist spot in Pondicherry, where one can taste a real espresso coffee while enjoying the sea breeze…
In Auroville itself, above the Solar Kitchen “La Terrace” has been recently fully renovated as well, like for “Le Café”: new building, new menu, and new people to run the place, as it is now managed by the Solar Kitchen team.

As for the future, Marc sees his involvement more into the roasting coffee business, from choosing the beans on selected organic growing places, to packaging and distribution: “India is now ready for a real coffee experience”, says Marc, “with a strong and delicate flavor, with social and ecological issues attached to it, with a good packaging…; even the middle class is now ready to pay a little bit more for an exclusive product, whereas ten years back it was not possible…”…
Even though the present market is still a very niche one, Marc is confident in the next five to eight years it will become a substantial market, not only in India, but worldwide as well: the organic coffee market is indeed developing every year, with a current approx 25% growth annually…
Marc sees this perspective as not only selling a premium product, but instead offering a whole concept behind, since a product can serve as well as a medium to express one’s concerns, personal taste, commitments…
That’s what motivates Marc currently for developing exclusive coffee brands that, apart to the public at large, will be proposed also to selected outlets that would guaranty the various coffees would be offered in the best possible environment, thanks to proper equipment and services… Should those be missing, then Marc would offer a training to ensure best possible exposure of the products. This may concern hotels, hotel chains, and entrepreneurs willing to open their own coffee shops since franchises might be tempting, but although good in many aspects, still they remain eventually very impersonal… And Marc would rather be helping people willing to do something different by themselves, at all levels, be it villagers who wish to open a small coffee-shop in local villages, or owners of 5 stars hotels planning to offer something new and thrilling to their clientele…

Marc is confident he can process and sell 10 to 12 tons per year to start with… Aiming at 40 to 50 tons by 2012, with a proper 500 sq meters model factory set up in the Auroville Industrial Zone…
We look forward to see Marc’s exclusive coffee beans and powders more and more on Indian shelves and cafés…!

Sunday 14 September 2008

Coffee Ideas! attents to Kappi Shastra, a training program by the Coffee Board Quality Division. July 2008





It was a one week workshop on the Art of Making Coffee. We learned how to grade coffee, roast and blend. Also we did intersting cupping sessions and a little coffee competition. The personnel of the Quality Division were very friendly. I recomend this workshop for entrepeneurs that are thinking to start up a coffee business.

Food & Art sessions

Food Festivals during Global Days


Coffee Ideas! is promoting organic, local food through food festivals during Global celebrations like Earth Day or Live Earth Concerts 07/07/07.

Coffee Ideas! participates in Global Events

SOCIAL WORLD FORUM MUMBAI 2004

Friday 20 June 2008

Eco coffee Facts


5 REASONS TO BUY/DRINK ORGANIC COFFEE by Coffeeideas!

Believe it or not, 1.4 billion cups of coffee are drunk everyday on planet Earth. Have a look how is the impact in the environment.

1. Coffee is the second largest agricultural crop in the world, after cotton. It is the third most heavily sprayed crop in the world; Cotton and tobacco are first and second.

2. Three-fourths of the coffee grown in the world and the soil its planted in, is sprayed with some of the most dangerous chemicals in the world, and some have been banned from for their toxicity to people. Some of these are benoyml, chlordane, cabrflurane, DDT, endulfan, paraquat,and zineb.

3. One pound of coffee consists of 4000 hand-picked beans. One hundred coffee beans for one cup of coffee. This represents one coffee tree per one pound of roasted coffee.

4. If you drink two cups a day, you'll consume about 130 liters this year, which represents the harvest of 18 coffee trees.

5. If you drink conventional, non-organic coffee, the 18 trees which supply your morning brew this year will be treated with about 5 kg of chemical fertilizers and 200 ml of pesticides. Most of those chemicals will be washed down hillsides in the streams that carry away the 20 kg of pulp stripped from your beans.
GENESIS OF INDIAN COFFEE

It all began in 1600, when Saint Baba Budan, an Arab Mystic, returned from Mecca with seven seeds of the wonder bean, Coffee. He planted them in the Chandragiri Hills of Karnataka, whose conducive climate and altitude proved ideal for coffee cultivation.
Perfected into plantation crop

The East India Company with its relentless spirit of exploration for harnessing commercial avenues in India, discovered a gold mine in coffee cultivation and developed it into a viable plantation crop.

By the end of 19th century, the green hills of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala were covered with thriving coffee plantations. However, Karnataka State, the home of Indian Coffee remains the largest producer of finest varieties of coffee even today.

Thursday 19 June 2008

Coffee Ideas! Single Estate Pepper


Coffee Ideas
Marc's Pepper (100g) Rs.150.00 Buy Now
Marc's peppers are grown naturally in Coorg, under the shade of jungle trees. Coffee plantations are the ideal habitat for pepper cultivation in India. Pepper vines are creepers that grow straight on timber trees like Silver Oak. This traditional variety of pepper is very rare, having a unique lemon- floral aroma and a mild spicy edge . The size of the peppercorns are almost double the size of ordinary peppercorns.

Have a look at the process of drying the pepper under the sun. This was an amazing experience!

















Jaivik Greens Coffee roasted by Coffee Ideas!





Coffee Ideas! is launching its first Single Estate Coffee under the name of Marc's coffee
.


Coffee Ideas! is working in collaboration with Jaivik Greens Organic Coffee Farm.

The Plantation is located in Coorg, at 1400 mts ASL. The main crop is arabica Selection 9 inter cropped with Robusta coffee, vanilla, pepper, citrus trees.

The Coffee berries are hand picked when ripe, then pulped, washed and carefully fermented.
Sun dried to remove the moisture up to the desirable levels. Curing and grading is made in Coorg.


The coffee is packed in jute bags by grade and sent to Coffee Ideas! roasting center in Auroville, Tamil Nadu.

Coffee Ideas! roast the coffee with a Probat roaster. Some of the coffee is sold in beans to cafes, restaurants and hotels in 1 kg alluminium pouch with a one way valve. The aroma of the coffee is preserved for 6 months. Other coffee is sold in powder in 250gr and 500 gr in kraft paper bags for the local market








From Left to Right:

Tippu owner of Jaivik Greens
Marc founder of Coffee Ideas!
Ernest founder of Alma de cafe, Spain


Cafe La Terrace, Auroville










Café La Terrace is located on the top roof of the Solar Kitchen, Auroville.

It was re-opened on the 9th of September, 2007, after a period of renovation and change of management. The new team is managed in collaboration with the Solar Kitchen and Coffee Ideas!

Social Hub








Cafés have been social platforms since centuries where people could gather the collective
intelligence of their communities.


It can be said that cafes were the first information hubs before the invention of the world wide web. That is why the first internet outlets were located in cafes and this synergy has become rapidly a global trend.

“At café la Terrace people come to browse into the cyberspace, to socialize and share experiences with others while sipping great organic coffees and healthy food”

Nutrition

There is a lot of thinking before we design our menus and cook the recipes. The idea is to prepare delicious recipes using quality produce that are not only healthy for our body but to the environment as well while producing them. Special care is taken to outsource products supplied by Auroville farms or other nearby organic sources keeping the food miles as low as possible.

“Eat local, feel global“








Our Team

“Feeling part of the Auroville adventure in a creative way through our work”

Most of our team is formed by Aurovilians, Newcomers, Long term guest and Students from different nationalities and social backgrounds. Sharing our common values align us to work together harmoniously in a caring and welcoming atmosphere.

Do you want to joint the team, send an application to: laterrace@auroville.org.in



Articulo escrito por Maria Usuariz, publicado por el diario de Pamplona

POR FIN……………………..un café integral

Por fin se abrió La Terrace.
Por fin Auroville vuelve a disponer de un espacio multi.
Un lugar flexible donde la gente pueda reunirse, compartir su tiempo y experiencias; conocer nuevas perspectivas; y lo mejor de todo, degustar un maravilloso café y una sabrosa comida.

Hay diversos puntos a destacar y redescubrir en este nuevo concepto de cafetería que animaron a Marc Tormo (un valenciano de 36 años) a lanzarse de lleno en este proyecto que él mismo ya comenzó nueve años atrás.

La Terrace es un servicio para la comunidad de Auroville. Se quiere servir una comida lo más sana posible, cultivada, producida y procesada dentro de Auroville.
¨Del campo, al comedor¨ así podríamos resumir esta idea que en el mundo anglosajón se denomina farm & fork (granja & tenedor). Procurar que la comida viaje lo menos posible, considerando de esta manera nuestro entorno, respetándolo y cuidándolo.

Las ensaladas son festivales de formas, texturas y colores sazonadas con salsas aromatizadas con albahaca, eneldo y especias.

Las tortilla de patatas con broccoli y pimientos servida con “pa amb tomaquet” vuela de las manos junto con las pastas frescas y los crepes de champiñones.

Para acompañar estas delicias culinarias y apagar la sed los zumos naturales de papaya, sandia, leche de coco y naranja ofrecen un refrescante complemento .

Y para acabar este viaje gastronómico con un gusto dulzón los pasteles integrales de banana y nueces, chocolate y jengibre actúan como perfectos anfitriones para el producto estrella de La Terrace....el café

New image for Le cafe, a Coffee Ideas! project





Le Café at the beach offers a unique Pondicherry experience. Coffee and Culture have being always played and important role in our society. The Pondicherry Tourism Development Council ( PTDC) in collaboration with Coffee Ideas! and INTACH, have been working with the renovation and re-organization of le Café and opened it doors on the 28th of November 2008.

LE CAFE new spirit aims at preserving the Heritage of the building, selling tourist tours, offering information about Tourism and Cultural activities and serving a wide range of international and local beverages and food, being the coffee the core product.


Le Café a bridge between the past and the present Historical background

The Le Café building on the Goubert Salai is one of the oldest buildings of Pondicherry. It is now about 200 years old, even though it was disfigured beyond recognition by a number of recent extensions in the 1990s.

During the French period, this building was Pondicherry's harbour office. It was the first site the Europeans saw as they approached Pondicherry by sea. The harbour captain and his staff worked here. It was also the oldest post office of the city.

For the French, the small structure on the sea front on Goubert Salai may remain an anecdote, but surely not for many fishermen living in Kuruchikuppam. Their ancestors, the "Macouas" (a French deformation of Makuvan), had waited at this site the whole day for some work in one of the hundred "chelingues" of the port of Pondicherry.

It is often quoted as being built in the "beginning" of the 19th Century, because most people think that it was founded around 1827, when Governor Desbassyns de Richemont opened the "Cours Chabrol", known today as "Goubert Salai". But it is now clear that the harbour office is older than that because the French archives in Aix en Provence (CAOM) have another story to tell. When the Cours Chabrol was opened, the same "bureau du port" existed already, "needing a few repairs". And, in 1817, when the French came back to power after the British occupation of Pondicherry, they found a building, which they had to repaint and whose proportions were quite similar to those of today. So the "bureau du port" was never destroyed or rebuilt by the French during the 19th Century.

We know quite well how the site existed in the 18th Century since we find its description in M. Jean Deloche's "Old Pondicherry revisited": There were two buildings known as custom house and harbour office, separated by the "Porte Marine" in 1765. But they were quite different from our "Le Café". In 1793, the British conquered the city once more after a violent bombing. We may assume that the two buildings near the "Porte Marine" were destroyed at that moment, because they were very close to the fortification's walls. As the British needed a harbour office, they had to build a new one. So the "Le Café" is most probably the only witness of the British period of Pondicherry and dates either from the last decade of the 18th Century or the first one of the 19th Century.

We don't know much about the early years of the “Le Café”; but from its plans, we can make out that the two rooms inside were built first. Later, in 1817, the French added two rows of arcades outside: one in the North and one in the East.

When Governor Desbassyn de Richmont visited the site in 1827, he found it in such a bad shape that he decided to rebuild the eastern row of arcades and to create a new one in the South, so as to harmonise the building with the newly opened "Cours Chabrol." It remained unchanged from 1827 to the late 1940s. At that time, the government decided to give the harbour office a modern look: some doors and windows were shuttered, the huge word "Pondichéry" was painted on the eastern wall, "Port" on the western wall. The building began to change only when the port was shifted from "Cours Chabrol" in the late 1960s.

For Pondicherry, this building is a bridge between the past and the present: Now it has been given a new lease of life by the Government by restoring it. If all the uncared heritage buildings can be similarly restored our city will become truly beautiful...
--------------------------------------------
Adapted from an article by RAPHAEL MALANGIN, INTACH

MENU


South Indian Organic coffees

Espresso: the essence of coffee made with organic Indian coffee.
Espresso Americano: coffee mug with steaming mild coffee.
Café au lait: French favorite coffee drink. (Mild milk coffee served in a coffee mug)
Cappuccino: Italian famous coffee drink. (Very creamy milk coffee with cocoa powder)
Caffe Latte: large coffee mug with strong coffee and creamy milk
Café Cortado: small coffee with steamed milk, Spanish favorite coffee recipe
Moccaccino: espresso, chocolate syrup, frothed milk and cocoa powder:
Latte Macchiatto: a 3 colored milk coffee served in a glass.
Caffe Affogato: espresso coffee with vanilla ice cream:
Cold Coffee: chilled espresso coffee and milk shake served with chocolate syrup and cocoa powder
Caffè Frappé : a coffee shake with out milk.


Organic Teas, Ayurvedic Herbals and Tissanes

Breakfast tea: organic Ceylon black tea with a complete body and invigorating fragrance, served with a cloud of milk or slice of lemon.
Earl Grey Tea: organic Ceylon tea aromatized with Bergamot. A classic tea either in the morning or afternoon.
Masala Chai: organic Black tea brewed with aromatic hot masala milk.
Black tea: organic Nilgiris tea. Served with a cloud of milk or a slice of lemon.
Green Tea: organic Nilgiris green tea with a delicate aroma and taste.
Tisanes (caffeine free) : a choice of cinnamon, mint, ginger, lemon, chamomile or saffron.
Ayurvedic Herbals : different blend of herbs and spices following Ayurvedic principles Vatha ( invigorating ), Pitha ( energizing) and Kapha ( relaxing) . Preferably served without milk.
Lemon Iced tea: organic Nilgiris Tea with pure lime juice, very refreshing.
Kambucha Iced tea: Organic Nilgiris Tea prepared in a ancient Chinese method.

Beverages

Fresh juices: ( pineapple, sweet lime, grape, orange)
Lassi: ( plain, sweet, banana, fruits):
Lemonade:
Lime soda
Hibiscus soda: soda with hibiscus syrup
Power juice: cold water with hibiscus flower syrup with lime juice
Radha juice: water with Radha’s flower syrup with lime juice
Pineapple champ:
Hot Chocolate: homemade chocolate preparation, steaming and invigorating.
Cold Chocolate: : homemade chocolate preparation, kids favoutite.
Milk shakes : of your choice (Vanilla, Banana, Chocolate, Coffee).

Snacks & Pastries
Samosa: 4 cocktail crispy samosa served.
Vadai: 2 vadai served with tomato and mint chutney.
French Fries
Vegetable Puff
Egg Puff:
Chicken Puff:
French Croissant
Almond Crosissant:
Cheese Croissant
Pain au Chocolat:
Pain au Pomme:

Cakes
Madelaine: flavoured with cinnamon and lemon zest
Apple tartlet: apple compote with nuts served in individual tartlets.
Cheese Cake: creamy and soft falvoured with lenon and orange zest.
Dark Chocolate Brownie: moist and light.
Eggless Jaggery cake: a vegan tasty cake
Egg less Citrus surprise: a vegan light cake
Chocolate truffles: 4 chocolate truffles:

Chilled Desserts
Kulfi of the day: ask for today’s flavor.
Vanilla Sky: vanilla ice cream with leeches in syrup
Coffee Iceberg: coffee ice cream topped with crunchy nuts and chocolate sauce
Strawberry Fields: strawberry ice cream with fresh strawberries from Ooty.
Dead by Brownie: warm brownie with vanilla ice cream, chocolate chips and nuts.
Irish chilled coffee: espresso coffee flavored with Whisky and topped with ice cream:
Copa Macedonia: exotic fruit salad with black current ice cream and strawberry sauce
Mousse of the Day: ask for today’s flavor.

MORNING DELIGHTS
(from 6 am to 12 pm)

South Indian (veg): 4 mini idlis, 2 mini vadia, sambar and 2 chutneys :
Continental (veg): fresh orange juice, fruit salad, toast, baked beans, butter and jam
Omelet & Toast: choose your favorite filling (mushroom, bacon, cheese, masala, fresh herbs, plain)

* Included regular coffee or tea

Curd & Fruits: homemade curd, muesli, and selection of fresh fruits (papaya, grapes, apple)
Fruit Salad:

SPECIALITIES
(From 12am onwards)

Lasagna of the day: ask for today’s choice.
Gratin of the day: ask for today’s choice.
Grilled chicken supreme with mustard sauce, French fries and salad
Marinated fish grilled with lemon butter sauce, French fries and salad
Grilled prawns with garlic and parley, French fries and salad
French Quiche, salad and French fries: 80
Pizza slice, salad and French fries
Vegan Soup of the day with garlic bread



Salads
Tossed Salad: seasonal vegetables tossed in vinaigrette sauce, served with garlic bread.
Caprese Salad: tomato, mozzarella, oregano and olive oil dressing served with bread sticks.
Egg Salad: seasonal vegetables with boiled egg tossed in vinaigrette sauce, served with bread sticks.
Tuna salad: lettuce, tomato, sweet corn, boiled egg and tuna fish with mayonnaise.
Chicken Salad: grilled chicken breast tossed with crispy vegetables with mayonnaise.

Three-tier Club Sandwich: made with brown bread loaf served with French fries and salad

Vegan: tomato, cucumber, spring onion, carrot, lettuce, sprouts and pesto spread:
Vegetarian: Cheddar cheese with tomato, cucumber, spring onion, carrot, lettuce:
Mushroom: mushroom cooked Spanish style with or without cheese:
Tuna: tuna fish with mayonnaise, cheese, tomato, cucumber, spring onion, carrot, lettuce:
Chicken: grilled chicken supreme with mayonnaise, cucumber, spring onion, carrot, lettuce

Grilled French Baguette served with French fries and salad

Butter & Cheese: melted cheddar cheese and butter (veg)
Tomato & basil: tomatoes, basil spread and black olives (vegan)
Zucchini & Mushroom: sauté mushrooms, grilled zucchini in olive oil.(vegan)

Coffee Ideas! first coffee in the market.


It will be sold in Auroville from July onwards in 2 sizes ( 250gr and 500gr).

Marc’s Coffee

Has a sweet and intense aroma with a mellow body, well balanced with a subtle hint of spices. It has been roasted in a German roaster following traditional methods in order to bring the best flavors and taste. To preserve the quality for longer duration, place this coffee pouch in to an airtight container. This pack is 100% degradable.
At Coffee Ideas! We have, a passion for coffee and, a passion for people and it is our privilege to offer you this unique coffee experience. Linking consumers and producers is our mission and Marc’s coffee is the first example. Marc Tormo

Single Estate Coffee - 100% Pure Washed Arabica . Shade Grown

At Jaivik Greens we perceive the Estate as a living organism so we practice holistic organic methods in growing our coffee plants under the shade of trees like rosewood, Jack fruit and Silver oak. Pepper, cinnamon, vanilla and citrus trees are intercropped with the coffee plants thus preserving biodiversity. A wide variety of exotic birds co-exist in the farm, like the Hornbill or Paradise Flycatcher. To achieve maximum quality in the cup, our coffee is hand picked, washed and sundried carefully. Tippu (Jaivik G.)

Coffee & Health?

Epidemiological evidence suggests, that coffee consumption in moderation has the potential to reduce the risk of Parkinson,s , gallstones, cirrhosis of the liver and type 2 diabetes. If you drink two cups of coffee you will not only increase your level of alertness, but also helps your short term memory. Coffee helps you to energize yourself to study and concentrate. A strong cup of coffee can help relieve migraine. (Coffee Board of India)


For more details, suggestions or feedback kindly contact at:
Coffee Ideas!. Madhuca – Auroville 605101. T.N, India.
Email: coffeeideas@auroville.org.in / coffeeideas@gmail.com/ marcoffeeideas@blogger.com
Blog: www.marcoffeeideas.blogspot.com