James & James: Five Elixirs
James & James stories and elixirs inspired by the writing of James Baldwin and The Book of James.
When James Hoffmann decided to hand February over to guest creators I thought ‘nah James, a bad idea’. How wrong could I be. But happily proven wrong with the first video, James & James: Five Elixirs.
Gilly Brewing Co, a coffee shop, a cocktail bar? Neither, Gilly Brewing Co are story tellers, creators of coffee-based elixirs.
Each season they create five elixirs. The winter season 2020 five elixirs based on James, James Baldwin novelist, playwright, essayist, poet, activist and The Book of James.
Stunning cinematography, a moving story, the readings, I was moved to tears watching.
Pretentious, but pretentious in a good way not a bad way.
The James & James Winter 2020 recipes can be found on the Gilly Brewing Co website and available to download as an e-book.
I have though a criticism, anyone can use their recipes, but if a coffee shop or cocktail bar wishes to required to obtain a licence. When I have shared what others have shown me, for example Yuzu signature drink which I was shown at The Barn Hackescher Markt I make the point, do not pass off as your own creation, credit the creators.
Speciality coffee is pushing the boundaries, it is sharing, a philosophy James Hoffman has always been keen to encourage. An example would be leading baristas invited to 90 Plus estate in Ethiopia to work with their super-pickers, to create and share, one of who was Stefanos Domatiotis. Or James Hoffmann inviting guest creators.
Watching brought back to me a visit to The Third Room in Larnaca, two brothers, a boutique hotel, a coffee shop that at night becomes a cocktail bar.
The coffee not quite up to scratch, I think the coffee beans used, James would have been able to hit the nail on the head. Sourcing locally commendable and to be encouraged, but not at the expense of quality. I promised to source coffee supplies. Maybe James would care to send them samples.
The barista apologised, he was not really a barista, he had sought help from local coffee shops, Paul’s Coffee Roasters, Koffea, Nick’s Coffee Bike, was a cocktail maestro. He then offered to make me the most amazing cold brew coffee cocktail. But it was not only the cocktail, all the ingredients and concoctions he had created, often from what they had grown, they own a vineyard and a distillery up in the mountains. All he lacked was quality coffee beans. With his level of sensory skills, this guy is going to brew amazing coffee. I see a future world champion Coffee in Good Spirits in the making.
Also came to mind The Alchemist, a novel by Brazilian writer Paulo Coelho. We are seeing alchemy in action, heat and fire used to turn coffee beans into an elixir. Gilly founders base their art on literature, let us see the two use The Alchemist for their next inspiration.
I would love to see a season of elixirs based on The Alchemist, coupled with readings from The Alchemist.
Coffee tells a story. Coffee has never been a mere beverage. It travelled into the Middle East from Yemen in mid-15th century, carried by Sufis as part of their religious devotions, not a drink for taste or to quench thirst, a psychoactive substance for use in religious ceremonies to bring closer to God.
Coffee spread into coffee houses, was subject to legal treatise and opinion, fatwas were issued. Coffee then spread across Europe.
With Gilly Brewing Co we are seeing another chapter open, alchemists practicing their arts.
A special thank you to James Hoffmann whose generosity made this video possible.
For more coffee stories please check out two podcasts: Filter Stories and Adventures in Coffee.
