The Mascots

Professor Mocha

Bean Belt

Hello, everyone. I’m Professor Mocha. Now, I understand if my credentials leave you a bit sceptical. It’s not every day that one meets an educated coffee bean. Perhaps it would be best if I give you a little background about myself so you would feel more comfortable regarding my ability to speak authoritatively about this subject.

I have a Ph. D. in Agricultural Microbiology from l'Université de Café, a distinguished institution in the heart of the Bean Belt. Due to certain personal circumstances which I’m sure you’ll be able to decipher, I’ve always had a bit of an affinity for plants, especially those that produce coffee beans. That’s not to say that I always knew I wanted to study plants. Quite the contrary -- I considered many potential career paths in my early years, before I settled on what has proven to be one of my life’s greatest passions. In any case, I created quite a reputation for myself academically while studying at l'Université de Café. I don’t mean to brag, but everyone thought I was rather clever, and soon I had many people asking me to tutor them. It was while tutoring that I began to realise that teaching could not only be fun but rewarding as well.

During my last year at the university and the first few years thereafter, I published several research papers, each one breaking new ground. I began by writing general essays about farming methods and ways in which these methods could be improved. However, after a particularly enlightening trip to a coffee farm in southern Indonesia, I wrote a poignant piece about the development of a coffee bean. It was somewhat autobiographical. From that point on, my research interests narrowed to growing coffee: where did it grow, how was it grown, and under what conditions did it grow? What was it like, how did it get that way, and how could it be made to be better? My papers were circulated in selected segments of the scientific community, and though I never became world famous, I was respected and acknowledged enough for my own satisfaction. It was at this point in my career that I decided to return to the university – not as a student, but as a teacher.

Since that time, I have spent many years indeed passing on the knowledge that I gained during my research and travels. I like to think that I make an impact on my students, and that they leave my classes with new interests and understanding. I’m something of a traveller to this day, moving from university to university as opportunities present themselves. That’s how I came to be involved with this team – a chance meeting in an unlikely place at an entirely unexpected time. It’s been a completely new and unique experience (this may surprise you, but there aren’t many coffee beans who have access to the Internet). I must say that the team has been wonderful to work with.

Thank you for stopping by. This site has a lot to offer and I sincerely hope you’ll enjoy your stay!

Top