With growing number of coffee bars in the state, department of land resource launched a five-day barista training at its directorate office here Tuesday to equip trainees/entrepreneurs from across the state with professional and relevant barista skills to run coffee bars.
LRD being the nodal department for coffee development has looked the whole ambit of the crop from “field to cup” although initially it was considered as failed crop.
Speaking at the launching programme, LRD commissioner and secretary Vikeyie Kenya said that it was the first barista training to be conducted in the state.
He expressed confidence that in a few years’ time, Nagaland could become coffee capital in the country.
Vikeyie urged the trainees to be sincere, promote Naga coffee and assured that service of the department officials in all the district could be sought if required, while setting up the coffee bars.
In his keynote address, director LRD Renben Lotha recalled how coffee plantation at the initial stage did not succeed, however the department conducted surveys, researches and in 2014 decided to revive coffee in the state sensing the huge potential of the crop.
It also decided to generate coffee-based employment, promote new plantation and mitigate the widespread practice of jhumming.
LRD has been promoting Naga coffee at Kisama during Hornbill Festival since 2015 but as the festival was limited only to 10 days, the department decided to make Naga coffee available year-round and the Nagaland coffee bar came into existence in 2020 in the directorate manned by professional baristas, he said.
Renben Lotha also shared that subsequently, it expanded in all the districts and LRD district offices.
In order to equip the educated unemployed, the department chose to train more entrepreneurs to man their own private coffee bars.
The director said certificates would depend on the assessment report after completion of the training.
In his concluding remark, joint director Vanchamo Ngullie pointed out that Naga coffee was tagged as one of the best coffees in the world because of its taste and aroma.
Batista trainers Tokaito K Achumi, Nzanthung Ngullie and Vito Swu would be conducting the five-day training which would cover the history and origin of coffee bean, 10 barista skills, different parts and types of espresso machines, manual brewing method and grinders, milk frothing techniques and basic latte art, personal grooming and hygiene and health benefits of coffee among many others.