Puti Chang and Imlikhumba Sangtam, co-owners of Cozy Corner Café. (Morung Photo)
Moses Hongang Chang
Tuensang | February 24
“Am I really in Tuensang?” an amused Kumar Ramnikant, IAS Deputy Commissioner of Tuensang expressed after launching the Cozy Corner Café in Tuensang town. The DC Tuensang was clearly impressed and pleasantly surprised by what the new café had to offer.
“In cities we go to such places with my family to spend our family time. Luckily, now we have that pleasure here. I am planning to bring my family here every weekend,” DC Tuensang remarked after opening the café on February 22.
The café is located below Akum Imlong School, Tuensang town. It is open 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. (Morung Photo)
Coffee and café culture in Tuensang is still a new thing with people here very much into the habit of drinking tea or pika cha which normally convenes around the fireplace even for any mundane daily activities.
Far away from the buzzing cities, Tuensang town has never experienced the taste of a coffee café. In all these years, even the most recently opened restaurants could not make the wish of coffee lovers come true.
The launching of Cozy Corner Café or C3 brought delight to a few but excited coffee communities. The café is owned and managed by two entrepreneurs, Puti Chang and Imlikhumba Sangtam.
DC Tuensang Kumar Ramnikant, IAS with others at the newly launched Cozy Corner Café in Tuensang town. (Morung Photo)
Making dream come true
Co-owner and barista of the café, Puti narrated how it all began. “I worked as a barista at Coffee Jar in Pune for a year and since my return here I always wanted to open a coffee shop but with no money and less opportunities, it remained a dream for many years.”
“Thankfully, I got selected as an entrepreneur last year by the Department of Land Resource, Tuensang and was sent for barista training. After which they provided a coffee making machine and financial assistance. With their help my interest was reignited and finally I could realize my dream of opening a coffee shop,” Puti shared.
Cream puff, pastries, muffin, donuts etc are also served at Cozy Corner Café. (Morung Photo)
“This is just a start but it could be the beginning of so many other avenues which are still yet to reach here,” he added.
Puti and Imlikhumba who are cousins also studied together in Pune and shared a collective idea of opening a coffee shop and this opportunity opened a venue for them.
The duo started the work in August 2021. After almost six months, it finally completed on February 21. The initial plan was to open the café on January 26, however, due to delay in getting woods and other building materials, it took a longer time, they informed.
“It was a long thought plan. I did my studies in Pune and Delhi and although there are so many good places to hangout but it is also very expensive. So, we thought of making a shop with bamboos since it is easily available here. We were also looking for a good spot and luckily, a relative of mine was willing to give one of his spaces,” acknowledged Imlikhumba.
The ambience has a nice touch of traditional approach. (Morung Photo)
“Let us start something new. That was what I had on my mind. I was longing for such a place for friends to hangout and even for others working here can come and relax after their working hour,” Imlikhumba said.
He also expressed hope that new innovative ideas will come out. “I am looking forward for our people to think beyond normal restaurants. Of course, coffees are served in other restaurants too but this coffee café is one of its first kinds here in the town,” he added.
Happy customers
With the list on the coffee menu relatively new for many people here, the café is thronged with ‘first timers’ trying out the new beverages. (Morung Photo)
With the list on the coffee menu relatively new for many people here, the café is thronged with ‘first timers’ trying out the new beverages.
There are many reasons to drink coffee in a café, mostly convenience and quality. It can also be a place to take short recess from work for the working people, a place for in between meetings, and a good place to hangout especially for working people.
Mitchell Zhimomi, an Assistant Public Prosecutor posted here in Tuensang said she loved the café. “I always longed for such a place to hang out after a long tiring day of work and I am thankful to them for that. The food and coffee here are good too. The ambience is good with a nice touch of traditional approach. Such kind of things would only be beneficial for the people of Tuensang. It is also a good sign that they are promoting locally grown coffee,” she observed.
Sipping her up of Mocha another customer, Asen said, “Back in 2010 during my college days in Pune, I would often visit coffee shops with friends to hangout but after returning home I have rarely had a decent cup of coffee. Of course, I do whenever I visit Dimapur or Kohima but we cannot travel that long just for a cup of coffee. I am glad that we now have a coffee café here.”
The café was dedicated by Ronglikhum, Youth Pastor, Sangtam Baptist Church, Tuensang dedicated the café and DC Tuensang Kumar Ramnikant, IAS launched it with a cake cutting ceremony. ADC, SDO (C), EACs, officials from the Department of Land Resource, Tuensang, and other well-wishers were present during the inaugural.
Serving home grown coffee beans
Cozy Corner Café uses Coffea Arabica (coffee beans) grown in Tuensang itself. (Morung Photo)
Cozy Corner Café uses Coffea Arabica which is grown in Tuensang itself.
The café is located below Akum Imlong School, Tuensang town. It is open 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and offers beverages such as Latte, Mocha, Americano, Cappuccino, Espresso, Irish coffee etc. Cream puff, pastries, muffin, donuts etc are also served.
It plans to install a snooker table for the enthusiast in the coming months.
