Woman Today Asia (April 1–15, 2007)
By Lin Mukhi

'Coffee is not a commodity... it is a society,' says Chit Juan. Coffee as a society? What does that mean?

Coffee is a society

IF WE look at the story of Figaro Coffee Company, we will understand what it means for coffee to be a society. From a group of friends who loved to drink coffee together came his large chain of coffee shops serving great coffee in a gracious ambience. Today, Figaro Coffee Company is known for its quality products and fine service as well as its active advocacy for saving the Philippine barako.

            Friends getting together. Farmers finding hope. Putting Philippines on the coffee map. And now, a textbook for beverage management students and those interested to work in the coffee business. Coffee is indeed a society.

            An Introduction to Coffee by Pacha Juan (insert) and Ma. Regina Francisco is the first coffee textbook to be published in the country. It was launched last February 17 at Figaro Shangri-La.

            According to Anvil Publishing, "Introduction to Coffee covers different aspects of this very popular beverage—from its discovery, its cultivation and finally to the art an science of perfecting this magical brew. It also includes different recipes and concoctions, from classic espresso to fancy iced-coffee drinks, plus interesting coffee trivia for all coffee lovers out there. The book is a perfect course book for students in beverage management courses and a reference for people who want to work in the coffee business. It also includes discussion guides and activities which teachers will find useful in their beverage management classes.

            Pacita Juan shares her optimism in the Introduction: "I hope that with this book, young (and old) will be inspired to pursue a career in the coffee business. It is one of the few industries where demand is higher than supply, where sustainability is a plus, where consumption is always increasing alongside the population rate, and where one deals with a precious crop that is not perishable.

            Pacita "Chit" U. Juan is CEO and chief strategic officer ofFigaro Coffee Company. She has written two award- winning books on coffee: KAPE: A Philippine Coffee Cookbook (2002) and BARAKO: The Big Bean (2005). She is also the executive director of the Figaro Foundation Corporation.

            A vibrant personality. Chit was a guest speaker at the 2007 International Women's Day celebration at the Accenture Manila Delivery Center. She inspired the audience with her encouragement for all women to pursue their interests with passion and capitalize on their strengths. It was an empowering day for the participants. We went home feeling a bond as fab, fearless females, which was the conference theme.

            Indeed, Chit Juan shows how coffee is a society.

Lin Mukhi is the author of 'Smart Moves in the Workplace and 'Smart Moves for Working Women, 'available at Powerbooks Greenbelt 4 and National Book Store outlets. She is a practitioner and consultant on Organization and People Development. Lin is also an outstanding research awardee of the Philippine Association of Psychologists. Send email to angelina_mukhi@hotmail.com. Visit also smartmoves.i.ph