Briefly tell us who you are and what you do in the coffee supply chain..
My name is Harun M. Thiongo, but in the coffee industry, they call me "Coffee_Sta." Coffee_Sta is an upcoming coffee platform meant to educate citizens and coffee lovers about coffee. Besides that, I supply coffee beans.
What's your 'over a drink' story? - What's a favorite memory, big decision, or simple moment of connection that happened over a cup of coffee for you?
I remember this particular time when I was working in a coffee shop abroad. A customer came and opened up about family issues she was going through, and I was in a position to give her a solution. After that conversation, she offered to buy me a cup of coffee, a cortado, and honestly, that cortado felt different from what I was making that day.
Beyond the job title, what made you fall in love with coffee?
I do have an "aha" moment. It was when I was working in Dubai. I fell in love with coffee when customers would come and take videos of me doing latte art and pour-overs. I thought, "This is a big thing," and from those scenarios, I started being passionate about coffee.
If you could share a cup of coffee with anyone in the world, living or historical, who would it be and why?
I would like to share my golden moment cup of coffee with Mr. Yasir (one of the directors of CJ's) who gave me a chance to work at CJ's when I knew nothing about coffee. I would like to thank him for lighting the fire of coffee in me.
What's the one thing you do outside of work that brings you the same kind of joy and focus as working with coffee?
This is a good one. I enjoy being in front of a camera or working with cameras since I am a graduate of media arts. But coffee came calling, and at some point, I decided to combine the two.
What's a coffee trend you're seeing that genuinely excites you, and one you'd be happy to see disappear?
I would be happy to see commercial coffee disappear and have us start embracing specialty coffee. And, of course, I am happy to see new brewing gadgets like the Palagon coffee equipment and so on.
From your perspective, what's a common misconception people have about your specific role in the coffee chain?
As a barista, my family and friends think that I am just a tea boy in high-end hotels, LOL. They still wonder how I pay bills just by making coffee.
If you had to recommend just one coffee to someone who wants to understand the unique flavour of Kenyan coffee, what would it be and why?
I would brew with a V60, because, with the right measurements, you can be in a position to extract flavors that will represent Kenyan coffee globally.
What’s the most challenging or surprising part of your job that people wouldn’t normally think about?
As the Head Barista, training new baristas is a win, but once you train them and they disappear after getting the skills, it's a little bit disappointing. I want to see them get the momentum and become firm in the industry. In short, they get half-baked and jump into the industry thinking they have everything.
For a home enthusiast, what is the single most important piece of advice you can give to instantly improve their daily brew?
Always be updated on new trends and always be open to new methods of brewing. In short, don't get comfortable with the little knowledge you have about coffee.
Where do you see the Kenyan coffee industry in the next 5 years, and what role do you hope to play in its future?
Actually, in less than 5 years, I see Kenya having more specialty coffee shops than commercial coffee shops. I will be happy to have educated Kenyans on the benefits of drinking the right coffee and spreading the gospel of coffee through my social media handles.
What's the one piece of equipment you can't live without, either on the farm, in the roastery, or behind the bar?
This is a tricky one, but, any day any time, I need my hand coffee grinder with me.
If you had to describe your favorite coffee in three words, what would they be?
Golden, luxurious beverage.
What's a common brewing mistake you see people make at home, and what's the simplest way to fix it?
I see people ordering ground coffee, when instead they should have whole roasted beans and grind for themselves to attain the best flavors.
What's a flavour or aroma in coffee that you absolutely love and what's one you just can't stand?
I go crazy for a fruity flavor from coffee.
If someone is visiting your city/region for the first time, what's a coffee shop (besides your own) you would send them to and why?
Lately I've been having coffee from Stream Coffee, and let me tell you, you will never regret having a V60 from them.
Follow Harun on his incredible coffee platform @coffee_sta
