Latest news with #NicolásArtusi
Time Out
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Nicolás Artusi, the Launch of Atlas of Coffee and the Journey Around the World in 80 Cups
Journalist, author, coffee sommelier, and the voice behind Menú del Día, the streaming show on Glup by Time Out, Nicolás Artusi has just released Atlas of Coffee, his new book about that beverage that is now part of his DNA. In this conversation, we talk about how his obsession with telling the world's story through coffee was born, the dream of building a coffee library, the boom of specialty coffee shops, and why, even after so many years, a cup of coffee can still surprise him. How did the idea of creating the Atlas of Coffee come about? What motivated you to travel (even if only with your pen) through 80 coffee-producing countries? Atlas of Coffee is the fulfillment of an old dream, which was to found a coffee library. When I started 15 years ago with my persona as a coffee sommelier, the landscape of coffee lovers that we live today wasn't even on the horizon. Nor were there many publications; there were practically no books in Spanish and very few books in English about coffee. Almost as an act of youthful arrogance, I said, "Well, if there isn't a coffee library, why don't I write it myself?" Together with Planeta Publishing, we have now published five coffee books — a history book, an essay, and the last three coffee books focused directly on exploring genres and formats. The first of this collection was a manual, the second a dictionary, and the third, an atlas. What motivated me to travel through these 80 countries was the spirit of exploration. Those of us who are coffee fans know a lot about Colombian or Brazilian beans, but practically nothing about the beans from Vanuatu or Sierra Leone. So it seemed very interesting and even suggestive to me to be able to travel through writing and learn a lot about those countries in relation to their coffee production, taking coffee as a symbol or emblem to tell other stories. Atlas of Coffee is the fulfillment of an old dream — to found a coffee library After so many years writing about coffee, do you feel it still surprises you, or do you have it completely mapped out? The beautiful thing about this experience is that it still surprises me. Curiosity is infinite, and it's very wonderful when someone discovers, at any moment in life — whether early years or in maturity — that there is something they really love and from that something, they can gain vertical knowledge, almost like drilling an oil well. While writing this book, I encountered countless stories from lesser-known countries, especially from sub-Saharan Africa or the smaller countries in Southeast Asia related to coffee. Here at my writing desk next to the computer, I have a globe, so it gave me great satisfaction to first locate the countries on the map, then see them in context, imagine their stories, and above all, discover how coffee has shaped much of the era and the formation of many countries worldwide. Some of them even have their economy and culture based around coffee. So it was a journey of discovery, and I hope readers can share that sensation of traveling — in my case through writing, and in theirs through reading this book. It's very wonderful when someone discovers, at any moment in life — early or mature years — something they love deeply and from that, gains vertical knowledge What do you think about the boom of specialty coffee shops in Argentina? Are we drinking better coffee or is it more of a trend? I think it's a very positive phenomenon, not only because it puts Argentina's big cities like Buenos Aires, Mar del Plata, Córdoba, Mendoza, and Rosario on the global coffee map, but also because it allows us city dwellers to drink better coffee. And drinking better coffee is not only in specialty coffee shops — where the raw material is handled with great care and much attention is happily given to the barista's hand and art — but also because it raises the overall standard. A few years ago, I was a judge in a contest evaluating the best coffee in old or notable bars. One thing I confirmed was a generational shift and that as a reaction to the specialty coffee boom and the public's greater knowledge about coffee qualities, the bars that traditionally cared little about coffee — substituting that with atmosphere or the history of the place — began to pay attention, helping improve what we drink. So I believe it's all positive, and ultimately it's about the most valuable thing: improving the experience. Is there an Argentine coffee that represents you, like your signature? Literally, my signature is on a coffee, which is Cafetino's coffee. Cafetino is a small specialty coffee company that initially focused on reusable capsules and then developed a full specialty coffee system. I have been roasting limited batches of coffee with them for several years, aiming to offer a unique experience, so far focused on Latin America. The first one we roasted together was a coffee from Bolivia, then one from Peru, and now we're focused on some exotic beans from Colombia. I say it has my signature because it literally does — my signature is on the package. It's a capsule collection, and although I never wanted, don't want, and probably won't want to have a coffee brand or my own coffee shop, it's a nice way to get close to the bean and product and also to share with my readers something I really like. Literally, my signature is on a coffee — Cafetino's coffee Among so much travel, research, and tasting, did you come across any country where coffee is very different from what we're used to here? Fortunately, coffee, beyond being the world's second commodity, a universal drink, and according to some rankings, the second most consumed drink worldwide after water — although some say that drink is tea — strongly reflects the culture of the people where it grows and is cultivated. I remember on trips through the Caribbean or walking in Costa Rica, seeing how coffee plants grow wild by the roadside, and many coffee farmers simply pick the fruit informally and almost improvisationally. Also, in the big cities of Australia — a specialty coffee epicenter — you can see the seed, the DNA of small coffee shops that have become the epitome of cosmopolitan and modern life. So there's something I really like about coffee: its ability to maintain its particular attribute and universal heritage, but also to represent with great certainty small extracts, almost like a ristretto-sized version, of the culture of the place where it is grown. You have three decades of print journalism behind you. Is that chapter closed or a door you never fully close? No, I never fully close it. In fact, I've been writing my Sunday column for La Nación for 13 years, and it's still published in print, which is a true rebellion against the digital mandate. I'm a fan of print, and I hope — although I see it as difficult — it can make a comeback in its splendor, like vinyl did. I'd love to write more on different paper media, no longer necessarily as part of a newsroom like I was for 14 years at Clarín, but I've written and continue writing for various magazines. For me, there's an incomparable pleasure connected not to smell, but to the tactile feeling of leafing through a magazine or newspaper and focusing not only on the content with my eyes but also with my fingers and even smell. Because the smell of fresh ink is as suggestive and incomparable as the aroma of coffee. You've written fiction and even wrote a very Buenos Aires–style novel. What place does fiction hold in your life as an author now? Are you tempted to return to that field? Yes, I will return. In fact, I plan to publish a second novel, probably next year, which is set in a different era than my first novel, which was set in the 1990s in Buenos Aires. For me, writing fiction was very liberating, especially after dedicating so much time to nonfiction writing, which is very dictated and organized around facts. It was 'a true joy,' as the Spaniards say, to have the possibility to invent. Something my work as a journalist or researcher always forbade me. Once I embraced the idea that everything happening on the page would be born from my imagination, I fell in love with the process and was very happy with both my writing and the reception of Busco Similar, my first novel. I'm now stimulated enough to start writing a second novel and even explore other fiction genres, like drawing or comics. Next year, I plan to publish a second novel Let's do a quick-fire round Notable bar or specialty coffee shop? Notable bar that serves specialty coffee. It seems like a contradiction or oxymoron, but I assure you it exists. Chacarita or Palermo? Palermo, because it's where I live. I think it's not only the most populous but probably the most beautiful neighborhood in Buenos Aires. Subway or bike? I learned to ride a bike at 40, overcoming a deep, ancestral fear, so definitely now that I know how, I ride a bike. Espresso or filter? I'm a big espresso fan despite the boom, trend, and craze for filtered coffee, because I think the intensity with which coffee is extracted keeps in the cup a very synthetic and powerful version of all the good that coffee has to offer. Paper book or ebook? I'm amphibious because I use ebooks whenever I need to read a book not yet published here or impossible to get for cost reasons. But, like with newspapers or magazines, I think tactile sense is essential to reading beyond just vision. AM radio, podcast, or streaming? Now streaming, which I'm discovering thanks to Menú del Día, the daily 6 pm show that I think is a good synthesis because it combines the best of TV, radio, and podcast. Marathon writing session or chatting with friends at a bar? I'm a conversation lover, which I think is an art, and nothing stimulates me more than meeting friends and getting carried away talking. Since writing is very solitary and I happily have many friends and love talking, I'd always rather come out of my shell and meet them. Worst coffee you ever had? (No names, but tell us) And the best? The worst was coffee on a bus traveling from Buenos Aires to Villa Gesell. The best is the ristretto I have here on the table now, very short and super strong, in a white porcelain cup a friend brought me from a trip to Sweden, which I think synthesizes different eras and the chance to get a delicious energy shock that clears drowsiness and unstiffens the brain in less than 15 minutes.
Time Out
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Time Out Buenos Aires has its own streaming channel: meet Glup! by Time Out
When we talk about Buenos Aires, we talk about Time Out, your foolproof compass to make the most of the city. You already read us every day on the web—and now you can also see (and hear) us—on @SomosGlup, the new streaming channel of Time Out Buenos Aires with four live shows, Monday to Friday from 5 to 7 PM. An unmissable plan for those who live the city with passion. Led by Julieta Nair Calvo, Nicolás Artusi, Julieta Novarro, and Sofía Pachano, the programming covers the best of Buenos Aires' cultural, gastronomic, and travel agenda. QUÉ PASA, MENÚ DEL DÍA, TOMÁ NOTA! and YENDO! are broadcast live on Glup!'s YouTube channel, and also air on KZO (channel 30) and MIX TV (channel 85) on Flow. The launch? Just as it deserved: at Microteatro in Buenos Aires, with cocktails, tapas, and good music. A kickoff surrounded by colleagues, friends of the house, and lots of energy to start strong.
Time Out
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
GLUP! by TIME OUT: the streaming channel that will shape your agenda
For just over a year, Time Out Buenos Aires has become the undisputed guide for those who love going out, eating well, and discovering the best the city has to offer. Now, we are doubling down with the launch of GLUP! by Time Out, a streaming channel that brings our curation to an audiovisual format. Starting June 3rd, GLUP! will be on air with four shows from 5 to 7 PM, combining the best of the Time Out style with the freshness of live broadcasting. With Julieta Nair Calvo, Nicolás Artusi, Julieta Novarro and Sofía Pachano leading each show, the goal is to set the pulse of Buenos Aires' cultural, gastronomic, and travel agenda. QUÉ PASA, MENÚ DEL DÍA, TOMÁ NOTA!, and YENDO! will be broadcast live on GLUP! by Time Out's YouTube channel, and will also be available on KZO (channel 30) and MIX TV (channel 85) on Flow. To learn more about what's coming, we talked with the hosts. Why did they say yes to the project? What excites them about the format? What is each show about? All this — and more — in this exclusive interview. Why did you say yes to the project? NICOLÁS ARTUSI – I've always been interested in being part of the beginnings of a major platform, a new communication medium, an editorial venture that promises things for the future. In this case, GLUP! is framed within the context of an international brand that I value and venerate — I would dare say — like Time Out. Also, the show MENÚ DEL DÍA responds to a multiverse of interests very close to my current passions: eating, drinking, traveling, and appreciating city life. After the pandemic, with the initial exodus to other destinations, the idea took hold that the city doesn't offer great qualities for living. I am a city fanatic, a convinced one. Much of Time Out's journalistic and cultural mission is to revalue urban life both as consumption and culture. So, I am sure GLUP! will be able to synthesize all of that through the audiovisual experience, just as Time Out has done with the editorial experience for so many years. SOFÍA PACHANO – I said yes to the project because honestly, I've been a Time Out consumer for many years: when I traveled to New York and the paper magazine still existed, I'd grab it. So when I got the proposal to do YENDO!, I didn't hesitate to accept. JULIETA NOVARRO – I've been recommending series, movies, and theater plays that interest me for a long time, and having a space specifically to curate people's weekends, I love it. Among all the options, telling people — and telling ourselves that we also have to choose — briefly and quickly what's good to do is, to me, a solution and a needed service. In TOMÁ NOTA! we will consider different generations and the mood people will bring to their weekends to offer varied proposals: sometimes we want to run out of the house, sometimes we want to stay in. I think we'll always try to encourage people to go out and discover this city that has so much to offer. JULIETA NAIR CALVO – I always enjoy trying new things. I found the idea of hosting QUÉ PASA interesting. It's different from what we've been seeing in streaming; it's also aimed at a specific audience with interests similar to mine. GLUP! has freshness, energy, and great people — impossible to say no! You're all debuting in this format, how does it feel? JULIETA NOVARRO – Yes, I'm debuting. The feelings are very nice because I think any format where you can do what you love has its appeal. You have to find the right balance in streaming, like when you're cooking, and that will be discovered over time. I'm not anxious for it to happen right away. I do know the show is something I would watch, and doing something I'd like others to do and watch is already a plus. Also, being accompanied by people more used to working on social media gives me a lot of security. JULIETA NAIR CALVO – Me too, it's my first time streaming. I'm nervous but I fully trust the team, and that gives me peace of mind. SOFÍA PACHANO – I've never done streaming, so it's a challenge. But since I come from live TV, which is more relaxed, I think it'll go well and it will come naturally to me. NICOLÁS ARTUSI – I don't really consider it a debut because I did podcasts for many years and with my friends at Posta FM, we were pioneers of podcasts in Argentina more than 10 years ago. I've done many years of radio and TV, and I've been writing for over 30 years. So streaming is a blend of all that — it draws on radio, TV, podcasts, and writing. From that big "Russian salad" that is streaming, something good will come out. For me, it's very interesting to push the limits of the format to see how far TV and radio elements can go. Also, I'm a fan of breaking genres to explore and hybridize them, so we'll see how hybrid streaming can be and where its limits lie. I'm very excited to explore this new format. What challenges does GLUP! bring? JULIETA NAIR CALVO – Hosting, primarily, and doing it in a new medium for me. It's quite an adventure and a challenge! Also, returning to work after having my second baby, who is now 4 months old (fingers crossed!). NICOLÁS ARTUSI – The main challenge is to fit an impressive amount of information about a city like Buenos Aires into one hour daily. Compressing in 60 minutes that endless, inexhaustible flow of material the city offers. I'm very interested in exploring the city without crossing General Paz and will focus on that. Also, another challenge is to stimulate conversation. Streaming platforms are based on an art, because I think conversation is an ancient art as old as talking — and stimulating it and exchanging it with my colleagues and guests will be the daily challenge. Especially making the viewers feel part of the coffee table, invited and never excluded to share their opinions and experiences. The challenges are many but very interesting and stimulating, especially given the "mother dough" we will work with — which is the beautiful part of life. JULIETA NOVARRO – First, the format: I've never worked on a streaming channel, and that's the challenge itself. There's something about time, especially in this project, which isn't like those three-hour streaming shows where they just talk a lot; here, you really have to be concise, sharp, get to the point, and be quick. So, I have to be clear and impactful to tell you the best in few words. The challenge is basically to talk less! SOFÍA PACHANO – The challenge is to make it an informative show that's good for people, one hour long, but fun too. And, of course, get along well with my co-hosts so that the audience enjoys it. What is each show about? Tell me, but no spoilers… SOFÍA PACHANO – YENDO! is a travel show about everything a trip involves. We'll have different segments, from food-related topics, travel tips, guests from the travel world — from influencers to actors who love traveling a lot. I think it's good to talk about experiences and encourage people to travel because it really opens your mind. JULIETA NAIR CALVO – In QUÉ PASA we'll cover everything happening in Buenos Aires: where to go, what not to miss, places for couples, friends, or kids, festivals, movies, theater, bars — everything! JULIETA NOVARRO – TOMÁ NOTA! is about recommendations: what the city has to offer in every sense. The goal is that you don't have to think about what to do — just watch the show and know which event you want to attend, which play or art exhibit to visit, which movie you can't miss, where to eat, according to tastes and what's current. That immediacy and urgency is what we want to convey so you don't miss out. The topics are many: senses, food, entertainment, art… It's about outings that might be unexpected or free. Buenos Aires is a prolific city, especially culturally and gastronomically. We'll curate the best so you go straight to it. NICOLÁS ARTUSI – MENÚ DEL DÍA will explore three major aspects of pleasurable daily life: eating, drinking, and traveling. I'll be accompanied by Mena Duarte and Alan Gold, who bring a lot to the table with their gastronomic production and review experience. The show will cover these three topics — Time Out's strong points. We rely on our own experience, plus the journalistic and editorial support of Time Out's staff, who have vast expertise to act as curators — separating the wheat from the chaff, finding what matters. It will be shaped by Time Out's editorial style — lists, rankings, debates, oppositions, surveys. So it'll be an informative, conversational space with the core idea of curation. Just as mate is our ritual and socializer, MENÚ DEL DÍA will be the ritual and socializer on the GLUP! channel. What will each of you bring to your respective shows? NICOLÁS ARTUSI – Hopefully, I can bring a fresh perspective from the outside because I am a journalist—not a restaurant owner, nor a food producer, nor a reviewer, nor an expert in anything except coffee. I also hope to contribute something from my experience: I have literally been hosting radio programs for decades, especially two shows that left a strong mark in listeners' memories and are very close in theme to this one. On one hand, Brunch, the Sunday morning breakfast-lunch show on Metro, and its successor Café del Día, programs I hosted for 15 years. And please pay attention, El Programa de las Culturas del Mundo (The World Cultures Program), which also aired on Metro radio in the late afternoons and evenings, which I did for 12 years. In a way, those two shows intersect and relate to the experience of Menú del Día, even one of them, Café del Día, almost by name. That experience, which gave me so much conversation and countless hours on the radio talking about these topics we love, I hope to bring to this new experience, Menú del Día on GLUP! On Brunch, my co-host, Conejo Martelli, and I had an internal motto guiding our Sunday editorial decisions: 'Hard information on soft topics.' Hopefully, we can replicate that here and have that everyday conversation at 6 PM—at the time when people start thinking about what to eat, drink, and where to travel. SOFÍA PACHANO – I will bring my travel experience. I have loved traveling since I was a kid, and it's definitely part of my life. I can't imagine life without traveling, so I think I'll bring all that passion to the show to see if I can share it with the audience. And for those who can't get out and travel, at least they can travel with us through the program. JULIETA NOVARRO – Since I'm a big consumer of cinema, theater, series, streaming platforms, restaurants, exhibitions… I'm on the other side of consumption. There's nothing better than recommending something you yourself would consume. That's the key: I love talking about things I enjoy, and I feel very forced if I have to recommend something I don't find appealing. Given the many options out there and being able to choose what we like best, I think that honesty in communication is what I can bring, because I don't usually recommend things that don't attract me or that I don't like. From my place as a producer, cultural manager, actress, and host, having studied so many different things—from photography to film directing and playwriting—I can compile the best plans and give them to you in a one-hour show. JULIETA NAIR CALVO – Aside from the obvious, that I'll bring all my artistic contribution from these years, my experiences, and everything I am, I feel I can be a good bridge between the people watching the show and their interests, and the guys who will be accompanying me, who are geniuses with a ton of information. Many times when I talk with them, I say, 'Wow, I didn't know that or this,' and surely many viewers won't know either. So I can be a good mirror for the audience. And when the show starts, maybe I'll discover I'm good at other things too! When?
