Caffeinated

Part valentine to coffee and the rituals surrounding it, part informative documentary about the chain of international businesses involved in getting coffee from its source (beans grown in various parts of the world) to your corner café, filmmakers Hanh Nguyen and Vishal Solanki's Caffeinated tells an interesting tale—once it gets past product puffery. The first half features a series of interviews with coffee lovers, baristas, coffee bar owners, and franchise executives, who all decry the dullness of big-brand, grocery store coffee in the 20th century prior to the era of gourmet blends. Things changed when consumers began to realize how special a good cup of coffee can be, especially when linked to a warm personal experience alone or with a friend. Having established cultural and historical context, the film then looks at the roaster's art, illustrating the delicate process for roasting different kinds of beans and unlocking subtle flavors. Much of the latter half of Caffeinated concerns bean growers in different nations who face the perennial problem of being fairly paid for their crop (also complicating matters is resistance among growers to trying new farming methods, as it can take costly years to discover whether something is successful). Finally, the film features a chapter on Nicaraguan female coffee growers who represent a welcome uptick in women-owned businesses. Although somewhat scattershot, this is likely to appeal to connoisseurs of a good cuppa joe. A strong optional purchase. Aud: C, P. (T. Keogh)