New Delhi, May 10 -- A fortnight ago, I popped in at the India International Coffee Festival in Bengaluru. I am an occasional filter coffee drinker, but conversations with coffee folks have been as fascinating as tea.

Two years ago, India was the host country for the World Coffee Conference & Expo, and the coffee board decided to make that a larger celebration with a part of it open to the public. Bengaluru, thanks to its vicinity to the coffee belt of Coorg and Chikmagalur, played the host. People flocked to the coffee festival and more left aware of this beverage. This year's festival, from 25-27 April, was on a smaller scale, but very well put together. The Chamara Vajra, part of the Palace Grounds, made for a great venue. The event w...