Martin's Coffee and Cinema: "Coffee Bloom" and German Landscapes
I'm Machin, a staff member who quite likes cold brew coffee made with light roast beans!
This is the seventh installment of our column focusing on coffee in movies, and this time we'll be looking at a German film...
The film we'll be introducing is the 2012 German movie, "A Coffee in Berlin."
The black-and-white visuals and jazz BGM create a unique atmosphere, leaving a subtle yet lasting impression, and it's a story that makes you ponder many things long after you've finished watching it.
As the title suggests, "A Coffee in Berlin" features coffee as a very important element, and we'll be discussing that.
You can find the column on the sixth installment, "The Bucket List," here: Machin's Coffee and Movies: "The Bucket List" and Animal Coffee
The synopsis of "A Coffee in Berlin" is...
Set in Berlin, Niko, a young man who dropped out of university two years ago and lives a life devoid of the energy to do anything but think, begins an unlucky day where he repeatedly misses out on coffee, starting with failing to drink coffee at his girlfriend's apartment one morning.
He argues with a counselor during a driving aptitude test and gets his license suspended, and when he tries to withdraw money, his ATM card gets swallowed by the machine.
At his apartment, his neighbor suddenly shows up and he's forced to listen to her misfortunes and complaints. In the city, he coincidentally meets a girl he used to bully, and hears about her unknown past.
Furthermore, his parents find out he dropped out of university and cut off his support. At a bar he wanders into with the money they gave him when they parted ways, he gets entangled with an old man who survived Nazi Germany.
Niko experiences a series of unfortunate events and encounters various people. By touching upon the worries and sufferings of others, Niko, who had been living meaningless days, slowly but surely begins to change...
...is the general idea.
Although the title is "A Coffee in Berlin," the content is not a journey to find coffee, but rather a complex portrayal of human relationships.
The story, which progresses slowly with black-and-white visuals, might feel monotonous with no major events, but the film carries a very profound message. And watching Niko, who struggles to get coffee, gradually makes you want coffee too, which is its magical charm!
Although this film has a rather somber atmosphere, Niko's struggle to get coffee is somehow humorous, and I think the scenes where he craves coffee serve as a slight comedic relief, a brief pause in the mood.
Honestly, the message conveyed through coffee is too profound for me to fully grasp... but perhaps it's an allegory for the life goals Niko can't find? Or does it signify Niko reconnecting with the society he had shut himself off from? Pondering such things after watching the film is, I believe, one way to appreciate it.
Due to recent trends, espresso and latte are also widely consumed, and the variety of coffee drunk at cafes has diversified, but drip coffee still holds its position as "coffee."
Incidentally, what Niko was looking for in "A Coffee in Berlin" and what he finally drank in the last scene was black drip coffee.
Next, cafes. For Germans, cafes are very important places for communication.
There was a survey conducted by the German Coffee Association asking why people drink coffee. The most common reason was "to wake up," which I think is a universal reason.
What's interesting is the second most common answer: many people answered that they drink coffee "for social reasons."
In Germany, coffee is a communication tool. Many people gather in cafes to chat, or meet people they only see there...
For Germans, coffee is what creates connections between people, and cafes are social venues where they enjoy such connections.
Looking at it this way, Niko, the protagonist of "A Coffee in Berlin," consistently misses out on coffee in situations where Germans would be troubled without it, such as in the morning or during breaks. It's clear he's simply having a run of bad luck.
"A Coffee in Berlin" is a film with a unique atmosphere that makes you ponder many things. What will you think after watching it? While it might not appeal to everyone, I highly recommend it!
By the way, the first thing I thought after watching it was, "I want coffee."
Synopsis of "A Coffee in Berlin"
"A Coffee in Berlin" (original title: Oh Boy) is a 2012 German film, the debut feature film by director Jan-Ole Gerster, which won numerous awards both domestically and internationally.
The synopsis of "A Coffee in Berlin" is...
Set in Berlin, Niko, a young man who dropped out of university two years ago and lives a life devoid of the energy to do anything but think, begins an unlucky day where he repeatedly misses out on coffee, starting with failing to drink coffee at his girlfriend's apartment one morning.
He argues with a counselor during a driving aptitude test and gets his license suspended, and when he tries to withdraw money, his ATM card gets swallowed by the machine.
At his apartment, his neighbor suddenly shows up and he's forced to listen to her misfortunes and complaints. In the city, he coincidentally meets a girl he used to bully, and hears about her unknown past.
Furthermore, his parents find out he dropped out of university and cut off his support. At a bar he wanders into with the money they gave him when they parted ways, he gets entangled with an old man who survived Nazi Germany.
Niko experiences a series of unfortunate events and encounters various people. By touching upon the worries and sufferings of others, Niko, who had been living meaningless days, slowly but surely begins to change...
...is the general idea.
Although the title is "A Coffee in Berlin," the content is not a journey to find coffee, but rather a complex portrayal of human relationships.
The story, which progresses slowly with black-and-white visuals, might feel monotonous with no major events, but the film carries a very profound message. And watching Niko, who struggles to get coffee, gradually makes you want coffee too, which is its magical charm!
Coffee in "A Coffee in Berlin"
Throughout the film, there's a recurring pattern: whenever the protagonist, *Niko, tries to drink coffee, he's unable to for some reason*. He goes to a cafe but doesn't have enough money, or tries to order at a restaurant only to be told "the machine is broken." When Niko tries to drink catering coffee, it's just run out. Just when he thinks he's finally ordered coffee, his father changes his order without permission, saying "you won't be able to sleep." He goes to a bar late at night and asks for coffee but is told "the machine has already been shut down." He even tries to get coffee from a vending machine, but it's out of order... Finally, at the very end of the story, Niko is able to drink coffee, but by then, he is somehow different from the Niko in the first half who was merely seeking coffee. How he has changed and how you perceive it is up to each viewer, so enjoy finding out for yourself!
Although this film has a rather somber atmosphere, Niko's struggle to get coffee is somehow humorous, and I think the scenes where he craves coffee serve as a slight comedic relief, a brief pause in the mood.
Honestly, the message conveyed through coffee is too profound for me to fully grasp... but perhaps it's an allegory for the life goals Niko can't find? Or does it signify Niko reconnecting with the society he had shut himself off from? Pondering such things after watching the film is, I believe, one way to appreciate it.
Coffee Culture in Germany
In this film, we see the protagonist seeking coffee in various situations. In a cafe with a large espresso machine, in a bustling restaurant, and even in a bar late at night. The reason such scenes can be depicted so often is that Germany is one of the world's leading coffee-consuming countries.German Coffee Consumption
When most people think of German beverages, they probably imagine beer, but in fact, Germany is one of the world's leading coffee-consuming countries. According to the German Coffee Association, the annual per capita consumption in 2017 was 162 liters, which is almost double that of Japan. It can be said that coffee is consumed so much in Germany largely because it has become an integral part of daily life for Germans. About 80% of the population starts their day by drinking coffee with breakfast every morning, and for them, coffee is indispensable for short breaks and socializing with friends. For Germans, the mainstream coffee is not espresso, as it is in other European countries like France or Italy, but rather drip coffee, similar to what is consumed in Japan.
Due to recent trends, espresso and latte are also widely consumed, and the variety of coffee drunk at cafes has diversified, but drip coffee still holds its position as "coffee."
Incidentally, what Niko was looking for in "A Coffee in Berlin" and what he finally drank in the last scene was black drip coffee.
German Coffee Scene
The places where Germans cannot do without coffee extend to various settings: homes, workplaces, and cafes. First, at home. As mentioned earlier, coffee is indispensable for Germans in the morning. When preparing coffee, a fully automatic coffee maker is typically used, and it can be said to be a necessity for many German households. Coffee is brewed in numerous homes at the start of each day. Next, at work or school. There's a good phrase that illustrates how important coffee is in these settings. That is "Kaffeepause" (coffee break). In German, it means "coffee break" and refers to a short break during work or school lessons. During these frequent Kaffeepausen, people typically enjoy coffee and sweets, so in Germany, break time naturally becomes coffee break time. They take a break with coffee, gaining a little relaxation and energy.
Next, cafes. For Germans, cafes are very important places for communication.
There was a survey conducted by the German Coffee Association asking why people drink coffee. The most common reason was "to wake up," which I think is a universal reason.
What's interesting is the second most common answer: many people answered that they drink coffee "for social reasons."
In Germany, coffee is a communication tool. Many people gather in cafes to chat, or meet people they only see there...
For Germans, coffee is what creates connections between people, and cafes are social venues where they enjoy such connections.
Looking at it this way, Niko, the protagonist of "A Coffee in Berlin," consistently misses out on coffee in situations where Germans would be troubled without it, such as in the morning or during breaks. It's clear he's simply having a run of bad luck.
"A Coffee in Berlin" is a film with a unique atmosphere that makes you ponder many things. What will you think after watching it? While it might not appeal to everyone, I highly recommend it!
By the way, the first thing I thought after watching it was, "I want coffee."