KOREA FOUNDATION

INTERVIEW

Bringing Coffee from ASEAN Together Yi Dam, Baram Coffee

In Korea, there is a growing number of coffee enthusiasts that love to visit famous cafes and specialty coffee shops. This trend in producing and relishing flavorful and aromatic coffee is also becoming popular in ASEAN countries. We had a chance to talk to Yi Dam, Chief Barista of Baram Coffee, who uses coffee beans produced in nine ASEAN countries(excluding Singapore) to create a unique blend.

Hello! Please introduce yourself to the readers of the ASEAN Culture House Monthly.

I’m Yi Dam, and I am roasting and brewing coffee at Baram Coffee, where our goal is to form a bridge between coffee and culture. Coffee is a drink deeply embedded in the modern lifestyle. We aim to bring inspiration to people’s lives by making better coffee.

In 2019, during the Special ASEAN Summit in Korea, you made “ASEAN 10 Coffee”by blending ten different varieties of coffee beans, each from Korea and nine ASEAN countries. How did this idea first come about, and what were people’s reactions?

Blending together beans produced in ASEAN countries was something I’ve always wanted to do, and it was during the Special ASEAN Summit that I finally had an opportunity to do just that. I started out by mixing small amounts of distinct coffee beans, and gradually found the most delicious ratio. Interestingly, the more I mixed beans with a strong character, the tastier the coffee turned out. Those who sampled it also loved it. During the “ASEAN10 Coffee”promotion tour in Gwanghwamun, the Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs at the time also dropped by, and was particularly fond of the coffee himself.

Do ASEAN countries enjoy a wide variety of coffee as we do in Korea?

Exceptional cafes and professional coffee roasters are popping up in cities throughout ASEAN. Instead of having one specific type of coffee, ASEAN countries are devising their own individual styles that best suit their own palates and reflect their respective culinary traditions. In Viet Nam, càphêsữa đáis, a strong coffee with condensed milk, is commonly enjoyed, while in Malaysia and Singapore, patrons visit open air coffee shops, called kopi tiam, where they sip their coffees accompanied by small snacks, like toast or eggs. People in ASEAN countries tend to drink coffee with lots of condensed milk and sugar.

Do you have any final words for the readers of ASEAN Culture House Monthly?

Korea has one of the highest coffee consumption levels in the world, but many Koreans don’t know much about where and how it is processed. I recommend everyone taking a few moments to learn where their daily coffee was produced, as well as what variety you are drinking. It will definitely enrich your coffee experience. Please try some coffee from an ASEAN country if you ever encounter it in Korea.