Episode 70 : Madras Filter Coffee

It was a hard day's work where I drafted a document, checked my emails and chatted with a few friends. The hardest part was using different modes of transport to get to the shop where I left my Enfield for service and the odd repair work.

The Metropolitan Transport Corporation, Share-Autos and walk, walk, walk.

By 9pm, I was famished. Before my bike could tell me the same, I turned into Montieth Road.

To have some vegetable sandwiches from the vendors outside Alsa Mall. And relive the days when ten rupees were enough to satisfy a famished human being. And burn the skin of my tongue every time it chanced upon a layer of green chili paste!

Except that it costs twelve now.

And I had to have coffee. So I walked into the Cafe Coffee Day outlet in the mall and asked for a coffee to take away.

While Attendant One started working on my coffee, Attendant Two walked up to me as I was looking at their wares on display.

'Would you like to buy something?' he asked.

'No thanks, I am just looking'. I seem to have finally mastered the art of not falling for such lines!

'A t-shirt, sir?'

'I already have enough of these', I smiled.

A moment later, 'A bag, sir?'

I pointed to the bag slung over my shoulder. 'I already have one', and another smile.

'A cap, sir?' He did not want to give up.

Neither did I. 'I have a helmet; I don't need a cap.' Yet another smile.

And before he could point at the coffee mugs and say anything, I added, 'I have mugs too!'

'Coffee, sir?' he persisted, pointing to their range of branded coffee containers.

'No, these are not my type.'

Attendant One began to laugh. Attendant Two finally conceded defeat and walked away.

I turned to Attendant One and enquired about their coffee that were sold in brown packages. 'Like the brown paper we use at school' I added for good measure.

Turned out those were not sold here, but elsewhere at specially designated counters.

'Those are of lower quality', he said. 'The ones here have the flavour, while those have the body. More like filter coffee.'

'And that is what I like!' I exclaimed. 'And that is the reason I don't visit your outlets often. Your coffees are weak; I get the kind I like at home.'

'Or in small tumblers at Saravana Bhavan for ten rupees', I added when he began protesting.

'So you like Madras filter coffee?' he asked. When I nodded, he offered to make my coffee that way.

Oh boy!

'You should have them on your menu', I said. 'You will have a lot of takers for it'.

I should know. Archer always complains the coffee at Cafe Coffee Day is not strong enough.

He offered a justification that I couldn't understand. Perhaps I wasn't paying attention?

In a few minutes, the order was paid for and I started to go out.

'If this is good, I shall come more often', I promised without thinking.

'I am sure you will. Good night, sir.'

As I sat on the steps leading out of the mall and sipped my coffee, I realised I drop by this area only once in a month or so.

Which means I will probably never keep up my promise.

But I have a plan. I intend to get the address of the head honchos of the marketing department and convince them to include Madras Filter Coffee in their list of offerings.

It just doesn't make sense to sell coffee in Madras and not include the kind of coffee it is known for!