Despite coming from a humble background, Bikash Bhandary achieved a level of success that he had never imagined. In a short period, he reached the peak of success. And it created a spike in the hype around him.
Let us leave Nepal aside. Bhandary, sought after by restaurants and cafes in highly developed countries like Europe, the US, and Australia, has received numerous job offers with lucrative salaries. That would have paved the way for him to get a permanent residency in the country of his choice along with whatever he wanted.
Yet, he deemed all those offers secondary. He wanted to come home and dedicate himself to the mission of promoting and branding Nepali coffee in the global market.
Despite having the opportunities to earn a lucrative income and live a prosperous life, what was it that brought him back to his homeland? While Europe, the US, and Australia may be the dreams of many Nepali youths, what motivated him to return and contribute to his own country’s progress?
Rewinding the clock
Bikash Bhandary, 31, was raised in an average middle-class family in Sindhupalchok. Understanding that hard work was essential for improving his living standards, he made decisions that have led him to his current position.
Today, Bhandary is internationally recognised as a coffee barista trainer. Having travelled to 28 countries worldwide, he shares the knowledge he has acquired with others and is dedicated to expanding and branding Nepali coffee.
His journey in coffee started around 2008 when he came to Kathmandu from Sindupalchowk. Upon his arrival, he quickly landed a job as a barista at the renowned Himalayan Java cafe, where he dedicated himself to crafting coffee with precision and passion. Through this effort and dedication, he rapidly rose to the position of manager at Himalayan Java Cafe.
While employed at Himalayan Java, he seized the opportunity to attend a coffee expo in the Netherlands in 2016, marking his first participation in an international coffee event.
“Upon arrival, I realised that it was my destiny,” says Bhandary, adding, “Whatever is destined to occur in life, invariably does.”
Turning point
“I feel as though coffee was and is my calling,” he says.
Arriving in the Netherlands marked the turning point in his life. The coffee expo introduced him to the world of coffee, where he witnessed the fascination of foreigners for this beverage. He observed the remarkable coffee culture, where people drank coffee from the moment they woke up until they went to bed. It was there that he had the opportunity to immerse himself in the coffee culture of foreigners.
“Coffee is not merely a beverage as it embodies a rich culture,” says Bhandary. “It was only after experiencing it firsthand that I realised how deeply ingrained it is in their lifestyle.”
Upon recognising the vastness of the coffee world, he contemplated pursuing a career in coffee. “From that moment on, I fell in love with coffee,” he remarks, “And subsequently decided to pursue it as my career.”
Reflecting on the state of coffee culture in Nepal at the time, he notes the efforts of Himalayan Java in developing the coffee scene.
Learning the art
Bikash Bhandary went abroad to pursue a career in the coffee industry. He embarked on a journey of studying coffee, a subject not widely taught in Nepal at the time. There was no education available on coffee even under the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) of India.
“So, I decided to pursue my studies abroad to gain knowledge about coffee,” he says.
Since 2016, he has travelled to countries such as Italy, South Korea, Switzerland, Germany, Canada, Australia, Austria, China, Hong Kong, and Singapore to pursue various coffee-related courses under the Specialist Coffee Association (SCA). It was during these ventures that he completed his studies in coffee barista techniques, “Once I delved into my studies, I gained a deeper understanding of coffee and its cultural significance.”
After completing coffee courses, he travelled to Australia in 2019 to sign up for the professional level and trainer course accredited by the Specialty Coffee Association.
However, it proved challenging to pursue the SCA-recognised professional trainer course, not to mention expensive—coming to around 5,000 euros. Furthermore, getting shortlisted for the exam of a course recognised by the SCA was not a simple task. Passing the exam required exceptional effort too.
Currently, the only SCA-recognised coffee trainers in Nepal are Dr Raj Kumar Banjara and Nima Tenzing Sherpa, in addition to Bhandary. That is why there is a lot of demand for him in the Nepali market as well.
Driven by his passion for coffee and unwavering determination, Bhandary eventually passed the test, earning the title of international barista trainer, enabling him to work and provide training anywhere in the world.
After that, his demand began to grow both in the country and abroad. In Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), he received an offer to earn Rs 400,000 a month. A similar offer also arrived from Australia. Many European countries also presented offers. “But nothing appealed to me,” he says, “I could lead a comfortable life in any country, but those offers didn’t hold significance for me.”
Bikash Bhandary returned to Nepal in 2020 after completing a course related to coffee. His desire had always been to return to Nepal, teach others what he learned and make a difference. He inherited this principle from his father. “My father, being a teacher himself, always emphasised the importance of passing on knowledge,” he recalls, “That notion stayed with me since childhood, and it’s what brought me back to Nepal.”
Thus, Arabica Coffee was born
Initially, upon his return to Nepal, he embarked on a business venture by opening a café. As a first step, in 2020, they introduced Arabica Coffee Company in Darbarmarg.
He commenced his entrepreneurial journey from the café. Having learned coffee-making techniques abroad, he combined the flavours of Arabica coffee with the Himalayan coffee found in Nepal. “What sets us apart is our dedication to serving Nepali speciality coffee sourced from the Himalayas, which is renowned as some of the finest in the world.”
He also commenced training coffee baristas alongside the expansion of Arabica Cafe, teaching what he learned.
Gradually, coffee aficionados were drawn to this unique taste. Arabica Café captured the hearts of coffee enthusiasts.
Today, within three years, Arabica Coffee has expanded to nine locations in the Kathmandu Valley, with four owned outlets and five franchises. As the number of coffee enthusiasts grows, Arabica coffee (café) continues to spread. “We are considering further expansion through franchising,” he says.
In the meantime, he has provided coffee training to nearly 2,000 individuals. Presently, he operates the Arabica Coffee Barista School in Naya Baneshwar which was established some six months ago.
“Previously, I had to travel abroad to pursue this course because, at that time, there were no SCA-accredited trainers in Nepal. Studying abroad incurred significant expenses. Now, we offer equivalent training in Nepal at a fraction of the cost.”
Here, they teach about coffee through written materials, lectures, and practical exercises, following the curriculum standards of the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA). “The certificate from SCA originates from America and holds worldwide recognition.”
They offer coffee barista training at the international level, adhering to SCA standards. Utilising the same curriculum, they deliver instruction to create over 50 flavours of coffee such as latte and cappuccino. With his efforts, he also promotes coffee culture in Nepal as he sees the opportunities.
In addition to operating his cafe, he also provides consultancy services for those opening cafes. “If someone is interested in launching a cafe, I offer guidance,” he explains.
International branding
Sooner or later, he intends to introduce Nepali coffee to the global market and establish it as a brand. Even now, he is visiting different countries for coffee expos. There, foreigners are tasting Nepali coffee.
To accomplish this, he is presently focusing on developing the branding and workforce in the sector, primarily through Arabica coffee cultivation.
“Nepal produces high-quality coffee, particularly the Arabica variety known as Specialty Coffee.” He believes that Nepal is ideally suited for coffee production due to the pristine air and water of the mountains. According to the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA), Nepali coffee scores 80 out of 100 points.
He emphasises that if the exceptional quality of Nepali coffee is acknowledged and exported, the country stands to benefit significantly. “Nepali coffee enjoys high demand in the international market due to its cultivation in favourable climates at high altitudes in the Himalayas,” Bhandary adds, “but we have yet to meet the demand.”
“Even though Nepali special coffee is available, there is no production,” he says, “Coffee has not yet been prioritised by the government in farming.” Hence, he explains, 75 per cent of Nepal’s coffee is currently imported from India.
What Bikash Bhandary has achieved today at the age of 31 is truly enticing. He has reached new heights, chasing coffee. Coffee gave him a unique identity, confidence and self-esteem. Now in Nepal, he has a special name in the coffee sector.
“Politicians were introduced by politics, artists were introduced by their talents,” he says, “Likewise, coffee has introduced me within the sector. Coffee continues to take new heights.”
