Entrepreneur Gauravv Saxena, who has spent nearly a decade living in Africa, shares a deep connection with coffee and the experiences he has had around it. As International Coffee Day is observed on October 1, Gauravv opens up about his love for the beverage, his preference for bold espresso and the coffee memories he associates with his years in Africa. From Ethiopia and Kenya to Uganda, he says his experiences have given him the opportunity to experience some of the finest coffee firsthand.

Talking about whether he considers himself a coffee person, Gauravv says, “Am I a coffee person? Absolutely, without a doubt coffee beats just about everything else! For me, it’s not just a drink; it’s a daily ritual, a passion, and an absolute essential. Having spent a solid decade living in Africa, I had the privilege of experiencing the absolute gold standard of coffee firsthand.”

When it comes to choosing between hot and cold coffee, espresso remains his clear favourite. “Espresso shots take the crown here, bold, intense, and straight to the point,” he shares.

Describing his perfect cup of coffee, Gauravv says, “A rich, dark espresso shot brewed from world-class African beans. Having spent a good ten years in Africa, you know firsthand that countries like Ethiopia and Kenya produce some of the finest coffee in the world, with Uganda holding a special place for having some of the absolute best coffee out there.”

For someone with a demanding schedule, coffee also becomes a way to quickly regain focus. Speaking about his coffee ritual during hectic content shoots and packed schedules, he says, “During a demanding content shoot or a packed schedule, an espresso shot is the ultimate quick reset button to lock in focus and keep the momentum going.”

If given the opportunity to sit down for coffee with a Bollywood celebrity, Gauravv would choose Salman Khan. Sharing what he would like to discuss with the actor, he says, “Sitting down for a coffee with Salman Khan would be incredible. Over a strong espresso, the conversation would dive deep into his journey, talking about navigating heartbreak, weathering the storms of life, and remaining standing as an absolute icon in this world through sheer resilience.”

For Gauravv, coffee is also closely tied to memories and places. Asked about a coffee moment he would like to recreate, he says, “Recreating a quiet, sunlit morning coffee moment somewhere in the scenic highlands of East Africa, surrounded by the very origins of some of the best coffee beans on the planet, would be hard to beat.”