Connection ring, construction motif, growth painting | Mohammad Mohammadkhani | TEDxOmidSalon

Namlamous' Journey in the Coffee Industry

• Namlamous attended the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) courses in the United Arab Emirates, despite the lack of familiarity with the barista profession at the time.
• Namlamous underwent a year of saving and preparation to attend the SCAA courses, discovering that the cost of the exam and materials exceeded the course fee.
• To manage expenses, Namlamous walked 10 kilometers daily during the course.
• The speaker describes their intense focus and excitement during a significant period in their life, spending less than 10-20 hours of sleep in a week.
• They mention attending the first-ever National Barista Competition in the United Arab Emirates and being struck by the unique personalities and characters of the baristas there.
• The speaker expresses their desire to represent their profession with a distinct appearance, including tattoos and piercings, which they believe sets them apart from others.
• After returning from their travels, the speaker hopes their appearance, including their mustache and the Freemason symbol on their kettle, will make a lasting impression.
• They reveal that they got a tattoo of a double-headed eagle, inspired by the symbol of the Achaemenid Empire, as a reminder of their struggles with rheumatoid arthritis in their left hand.

Exploring Traditional Iranian Coffeehouses

• The YouTuber embarked on a journey across Iran to study and research traditional Iranian coffeehouses and personalities from whom they could draw inspiration.
• The YouTuber was inspired by two individuals, Uncle Farshid and Agha Morteza Darvish, who owned cafes in Tehran's bazaar.
• He wanted to revisit and document old coffee shops in Iran, and found a photo from 2011 that sparked his interest.
• His small workspace, which he refers to as a personal laboratory, allowed him to immerse himself in his passion for coffee, away from distractions.

Latte Art and Competitions

• He was fascinated by latte art and believed it could be a tool to introduce people to the concept of a barista.
• During a visit to Cafe Rais Pol Rumi, he challenged Mr. Aslani, the owner, to create latte art.
• Mr. Aslani impressed him with a small heart design, inspiring the YouTuber to surpass that achievement.
• The YouTuber's competitive spirit drove him to practice and improve his latte art skills, leading to the development of his signature designs.
• He acknowledges the value of his childhood art education and strives to make the most of it in his adult life.
• Latte art is seen as a way to showcase creativity and connect with customers in the coffee industry.
• Etching or penmanship techniques require a lot of concentration, especially free pouring and creating designs with the pitcher itself.
• The speaker tried to travel around Iran and organize events in cafes to introduce people to the concepts of coffee through latte art.

Challenges and Support

• The speaker values gratitude and believes that preserving roots is essential for growth and stability.
• A friend introduced the speaker to the concept of coaching 13-14 years ago, which helped him grow and develop in his career.
• The friend's feedback on the speaker's cappuccino and espresso motivated him to expand his knowledge and skills in coffee.
• The speaker's friend inspired him to step outside of Iran and attend his first coffee exhibition, where he met renowned experts and took courses.

Leila Ghanbari and the Iranian Coffee Community

• In 2014, the first official coffee event focused on baristas and latte art was held, and Leila Ghanbari, a friend and influential figure in the coffee industry, became the US champion.
• The video discusses the journey of a person who was trying to promote the coffee and barista community in Iran.
• The person was inspired by an American coffee champion named Leila Ghanbari, who despite having Iranian features, was born and raised in the United States.
• The person reached out to coffee experts in Iran, but they denied the existence of Leila Ghanbari and insisted that she was American.
• The person was discouraged and was considering emigrating from Iran due to the lack of support for their efforts.
• Despite the challenges, the person remained determined to make a difference in their field and continued their efforts.
• In 2014, Leila Ghanbari aimed to include Iran in the World Coffee Association for the World Championships.
• Despite initial estimates suggesting it would take Iran 10 years to reach the level of the top 5 coffee-consuming countries, Leila Ghanbari's efforts led to Iran's participation in the World Championships in the US in 2014, where she became the US champion.
• Inspired by Leila Ghanbari's success, the speaker participated in a competition in 2014 with Italian judges, aiming to represent Iran in the World Championships in Rimini, Italy.
• The speaker's participation and the competition gained significant attention on social media and various platforms, showcasing Iran's passion for coffee and raising awareness globally.

Personal Journey and Achievements

• The speaker faced a crisis at the age of 19 and had to take responsibility for their life.
• They chose to study tourism and hospitality management without a clear plan for the future.
• Despite their father's initial disapproval, they decided to become a barista.
• Seven years later, they became the first non-Italian to teach a course at an Italian coffee academy.
• They introduced Italian baristas to new dimensions of Iranian coffee culture and signature Iranian items.
• They created a course featuring 10 items inspired by Iranian spices and aromatic flowers.
• The speaker discusses the importance of pairing drinks with appropriate snacks and using traditional Iranian ingredients like نقل بادام, نقل پسته, and نقل گلاب in their beverage presentations.

Iranian Coffee on the World Stage

• In 2014, Leila Ghanbari and Ali Ghanbari helped the Iranian food and beverage community achieve a significant milestone by obtaining the prestigious membership in the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA), making Iran the first country in the Middle East to receive this recognition.
• Since 2015, Iran has been officially hosting national coffee competitions under the SCA's supervision and sending representatives to international competitions as cultural ambassadors.
• The speaker reflects on their journey, which began in a small office and a modest workshop in Tehran, where coffee enthusiasts gathered to share their passion.
• Today, many of those individuals play leadership roles in the coffee industry, contributing to the growth and success of the third-wave coffee scene in Iran.
• Within two years of discovering a coffee magazine, the speaker achieved their goal of seeing Iran featured on the cover of Barista Magazine, showcasing تخت جمشید (Persepolis) as a symbol of their passion and dedication to coffee culture.

Promoting Iranian Coffee Culture

• The speaker discusses their experiences in the coffee industry and their travels around the world to learn more about coffee.
• They mention an article written by Sarah Allen, the former editor of Roast Magazine, about the exciting developments in Iran's coffee scene.
• The speaker highlights their participation in several World Barista Championships and their efforts to promote coffee culture in Iran by organizing barista training sessions across the country.
• They describe their passion for coffee and their desire to share their experiences with others, leading them to establish a coffee production facility in 2016.
• The speaker mentions the creation of an Iranian coffee product called Persian Coffee, which incorporates traditional spice combinations passed down through generations.
• They emphasize the importance of preserving cultural heritage and combining modern and classic approaches in their work.
• The speaker showcases various successful examples of blending tradition and innovation, such as the fusion of traditional Persian flavors with modern coffee preparations and the creation of unique products like saffron and pistachio hot drinks.
• They conclude by encouraging others to embrace their cultural heritage and find new ways to present it to the world.

Authentic Iranian Products

• The video showcases authentic Iranian products, such as dates.
• It presents these products in a modern and innovative way.
• The creator expresses gratitude for the opportunity to share these products and hopes viewers will find them useful.