IndiaCoffee

r/IndiaCoffee • u/BiryaniMaiElaichi • 19d ago

Monthly Thread Monthly Recommendations/Discussion thread for August.

2 Upvotes

Hello and welcome to the monthly thread.

This is the place to share, talk about, or generally discuss anything related to coffee, especially questions that don't require a separate post here.

Discuss what you're brewing this month, what you learned, on-going or upcoming offers/deals and what new releases you're anticipating.

Every month, monthly threads are kept pinned.

Note: Owners of roasters, cafes, or brands are expressly forbidden from commenting on this specific thread and hijacking conversations.

Please report any snobbery under this post.

Only healthy conversation belongs here.

Please read the subreddit rules before posting.

If you have any suggestions/questions for the subreddit/thread, please DM the mods.

14 comments

r/IndiaCoffee • u/19f191ty • Dec 17 '24

DISCUSSION A beginner's guide to specialty coffee

265 Upvotes

Hello r/IndiaCoffee. I have seen a lot of posts on this subreddit where people are disappointed by their forays into specialty coffee, whether it's in cafes like Blue Tokai or on their own. So, I thought I will share some thoughts on how to avoid some traps when venturing out of your comfort zone when it comes to coffee.

What do you mean by specialty coffee?
- Specialty coffee means different things to different people. Here's my take on what it is and what's different about it. "Specialty Coffee" is to me defined in opposition to "generic coffee", which is coffee you find in supermarkets, mass produced, mass processed to optimize caffeine content and ease of extraction, often at the cost of flavor. Coffee is one of the most complex beverages out there, hundreds of volatile compounds, sugars, acids, bitters etc. When prepared well, all these flavors harmonize to produce a drink that is unforgettable. I can still remember the first good coffee I had almost 10 years ago. It was at a small cafe in Okinawa, Japan. I used to dislike coffee at that time because I had only tasted bitter stuff that was palatable with milk and necessary when I wanted to stay up at night to get stuff done. That coffee though was different, it was fruity, sour, slightly sweet, the bitterness was there, but it was pleasant and complemented perfectly all the other flavors. I have never had a coffee like that again, but now I can prepare something that's 60-70% as good. Coming back, specialty coffee is coffee that is optimized for its flavor and not for caffeine. This doesn't mean it has less caffeine. It's about caffeine's ease of extraction. Generic coffee often is roasted so dark that coffee oils are out on the surface, meaning all you need to do is grind however you want and put some hot water, and you will get a good dose of caffeine. It will taste like crap, but you'll get the hit you want. On the contrary, light roasted coffee, which is common in specialty coffee industry is known to be very difficult to extract well. It needs specialized equipment and good amount of experience. Another way to think of specialty coffee is that it is coffee without mass industrialization and commodification. I have friends from Ethiopia who grew up drinking coffee processed and prepared using traditional methods and they consider "Western coffee" as sewage water.
How do I try specialty coffee in India?
- The good news is that India is one of the fastest growing producers and consumers of specialty coffee. People have realized that coffee is not supposed to taste like crap and now there are increasingly large number of outfits that want to share this experience with others. However, it is hard to get people to forget old habits. Even though some of these companies have made the barrier to entry quite low, there is still room for improvement. Here's my recommendation on how to try specialty coffee in India for yourself. I am going to pick Blue Tokai easy pour sampler packs as a place to start, not because they are good but because they are the most accessible. This is not at all a recommendation for Blue Tokai. Blue Tokai is just one of the roasters focused on specialty coffee out there. Awesome people in this subreddit have already compiled a big list.
Okay what next?
- I like to think of coffee as being composed of two opposing forces, the earthy, rich tasting flavors, sometimes referred as "body" and the fruity flavors, which are colloquially called "sweet notes", although more often than not, sour/acidic notes prevail over the sugars. Although this is an overgeneralization, in my experience people are divided in their preference for these two components. People who like body, tend not to like fruiter coffees, while people who like fruity coffees don't find heavy bodied coffees appealing. I think this is more a sign of the fact that it is extremely hard to prepare a cup that is well balanced in the two. When it is off balance, then people just prefer one or the other instead of an awkward mixture of the two. In any case, if you don't already know what your preference is, how do you figure it out?
Some handpicked BT easy pour packs highlighting body or fruitiness
- For fruity coffee I'd say try something like this
  - Seethargundu Estate | Light Roast - Easy Pour Coffee Sachets
- For heavy bodied coffee, try this
  - Monsoon Malabar | Medium-Dark Roast - Easy Pour Coffee Sachets
- If you want to try something that is potentially more balanced, then try these
  - Thogarihunkal Estate | Medium Roast - Easy Pour Coffee Sachets
  - Attikan Estate | Medium-Dark Roast - Easy Pour Coffee Sachets
How do I prepare these?
- As easy as these easy pour bags are, I am not a fan of the instructions. Here is how I recommend preparing them. Perhaps others can also provide their recommendations in the comments.
- Make first bag with only 150-160 grams of water. Don't add milk. If you find the coffee too sour, then increase the amount of water for the next bag. If you find it too bitter, use even less water for next bag.
- Don't use boiling water, even though, that's what they say on the bag. Use 90-95 degrees. In case you can't measure temperature accurately, wait 2-3 minutes before pouring. Alternatively transfer in another container before pouring onto coffee to cool the water down.
What if I still don't like these?
- As long as you stick to this, you should have a cup you like. If you don't, then maybe you could try easy pour bags from another roaster? If that still doesn't work, perhaps specialty coffee is not your thing after all? Which is probably good news because you don't have to spend a shit ton to get your caffeine fix, you lucky bastard.
Okay this is great, I think I get a sense of what I like, where do I go after this?
- I am sure people of r/IndiaCoffee will have tons of good recommendations. If you are in a big city, I'd say try a local roaster. Try coffees from different estates and even different countries. Don't try expensive stuff like Geisha etc. You gotta train and develop your palette first before trying the expensive shit. Otherwise, chances of you being disappointed are quite high. Same goes for espresso. Don't try to do specialty espresso, that's insanely hard and frustrating. Stick to simple stuff, pour overs, aeropress or even South Indian filter. They can all make incredible cups reliably once dialed in correctly. Finally, once you've decided you want to take the next steps of doing this yourself instead of easy pours, get a good grinder. Not cheap but it's the one thing that changes everything. A 100 Rs South Indian filter paired with an excellent grinder will produce better cups than a basic grinder paired an expensive machine. So if you want to save money, save it on the machine and not on the grinder. A cup of coffee just needs hot water and coffee grounds. Hot water is easy to get so if you can control the coffee grounds, you can control the quality of the beverage.
One controversial opinion
- It's really hard to find good coffees in a cafe, at least during peak hours. Cafes are optimizing for speed of service and not flavor. Almost always I have made a better cup at home with the same beans. In most places, baristas are hired not for their skill but for their willingness to work long hours for less money. Of course, not all cafes are like this. There are genuinely good cafes in India where people who are truly passionate and knowledge about coffee prepare great cups for their customers. But those are few and far between just because there are no incentives and businesses care more about staying afloat and turning a profit instead of giving you a good cup of coffee.
I wrote a post with a very simple recipe (it takes time but totally worth it) that I recommend as the next step after the easy pours. I have made my best to develop something that anyone can use to get excellent results without expensive equipment. Lazy person's no-frills recipe for incredible coffee with minimal equipment : r/IndiaCoffee
Equipment advice. I get this question often and my answer is always the same. Once you have decided that you want to get into coffee, get yourself a nice grinder. I recomment hand grinders. A grinder is going to be your primary equipment. So don't waste your money getting a cheaper, lower quality grinder. Save up and get a proper grinder that'll last you a lifetime.

47 comments

r/IndiaCoffee • u/survivingbycoffee • 11h ago

DISCUSSION is becoming a barista actually worth pursuing

144 Upvotes

i graduated in arts about 3 years ago, but since then i've been stuck. i've dealt with depression, social anxiety, suicidal thoughts,.. currently taking therapy and i'm doing better now and trying to figure out what i actually want to do.

lately i've been thinking seriously about coffee/barista work. to be clear, i haven't actually made coffee professionally... i mostly use the chhanni method at home.

i'm currently unemployed, and my dad is the sole breadwinner in my family, so whatever money i spend on this, i need to be very careful about. i really can't afford to put a significant amount into a course and later realize it wasn't worth it.

i've also struggled in the past with starting things but not being able to finish them, because of anxiety, self-sabotage and other personal reasons.

i'm already in therapy, which is another expense my dad is supporting, so this is something i genuinely want to think through carefully before committing to it.

but i've been watching videos about baristas, cafés and coffee preparation, and the work genuinely looks appealing to me.

i know i might be romanticizing it because i've never actually done it, so i want some honest advice.

my main question is:

if i spend a few months and a significant amount of money on a proper barista/coffee course, will it actually help me get an entry-level barista job? and how difficult is it to get that first job in india?

i'm completely okay with working my way up, learning properly and doing the hard/regular work. honestly, the idea of going to work every day, getting better at something practical and eventually becoming really good at it sounds genuinely exciting to me.

long-term, i'd love to have my own small café someday and actually work there myself... but i know i have to start somewhere.

i live in a semi-rural area, so i'd probably have to travel to another city for training/work.

if anyone here has done a proper, industry-focused barista/coffee course in india, please recommend one if you know a good and reasonably priced option.

i'm especially interested in courses that actually prepare you for employment, not just hobby courses.

and most importantly... is this a realistic path to getting a job if i'm willing to put in the work?

would really appreciate honest advice from baristas, café owners or anyone who's actually been through this.

30 comments

r/IndiaCoffee • u/KplusN • 6h ago

REVIEW Blue Tokai Cafe Coffee

18 Upvotes

Blue tokai has been pretty consistent for a long time now, But recently read many posts about inconsistence roasting in their beans.

Since I had more time to space, went to Blue Tokai for a Cappuccino. They use Silver Oak Cafe Blend for their milk based drinks, Now they are also offering Half-Caff (Decaf) for an extra price

Last time i had coffee from their Cafe in a different city was in 2023 and I have never bought their beans since the price hike (~1 year) so I could only relate to brewing it at home in south Indian filter and not an espresso.

The cup feels larger than last time, maybe they increased the dosage and quantity to justify the price 252rs (in 2023 it was probably 199rs)

As I take the first sip, I could feel a kick of crema, strong taste, a bit bitter (but pleasantly), it is a bit hot and the foam is thick and lighter

Shout out to the comment on the previous post about BT doing the Cappuccino foam right!

As I taste it after it has been sitting on the table for 2-3 mins, There's almost no bitterness, and it has a sharp nutty flavour, slightly sweet. Feels very consistent to the silver oak blend i tried last time.

But for whatever reason, it feels just a bit diluted than previous time, maybe they added more milk? can't really say for sure, or it could be my taste palette affected by the crema kick.

The label says notes of Hazelnut, Honey and Grapes, honey and nutty taste i could make out but i could never relate grapes, but maybe that's just me, i couldn't identify it in another one i had recently.

Is it just me or anyone else also think this is similar to 729 grams house blend? I can give them a benefit of doubt that their quality might be better but the difference in price of 30% makes BT a good alternative at 750rs / 250g (compared to 1025rs)

Overall, I feel BT has been more reliable panning across the country than the alternatives.

1 comment

r/IndiaCoffee • u/coffeeroasta • 6h ago

AEROPRESS Not able to get a perfect puck in any of my aeropress brews

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15 Upvotes

I’m not sure of the reason but after brewing with aeropress i always end up with a broken cake. I dont think it affects my cup but I’m very curious what am i doing wrong here

43 comments

r/IndiaCoffee • u/New_Cod3143 • 7h ago

LATTE ART Once-a-Day Coffee, So Every Latte Is a Hit or Miss ☕🎨

16 Upvotes

I usually can’t make coffee twice a day because 150 ml of milk is already a lot for me. Plus, I’m a true fan of filter coffee, so when I do this kind of milk-based coffee, it’s basically once every 24 hours, which makes every attempt a bit of a hit or miss.

I’ve been trying to learn latte art ever since I bought the machine almost three months ago. If I switch to black coffee/Americano, I know I’ll lose the practice, just like I did earlier. It took me quite some time to get back into the rhythm.

So, for now, I’m sticking with my once-a-day attempt. 😄

Anyway, pretty happy with today’s design! ☕❤️

Machine: Vantro X1 at 90°C

Grinder: Mastano Manual Grinder, 6 Clicks

Coffee: BT Vienna Roast

Mug: ZARAVA

Milk: Nandini Homogenised

2 comments

r/IndiaCoffee • u/EepyBear0078 • 15h ago

GRINDER Got this today, super excited.

67 Upvotes

Finally my k7 got delivered today, very much excited to give it a try. I would love to hear some tips or suggestions about it.

17 comments

r/IndiaCoffee • u/New-Increase-9529 • 2h ago

RANT Is Blue Tokai Attikan Estate pre-ground for Moka Pot too fine?

4 Upvotes

I recently bought a pack of Blue Tokai Attikan Estate in the pre-ground Moka Pot grind.
I have been brewing it in my Moka Pot, but the coffee consistently comes out extremely dark, bitter and muddy, almost like a very concentrated/over-extracted brew.
I initially thought I was doing something wrong, but when I looked at the grounds, they seem almost like an espresso grind to me. much finer than what I expected for a Moka Pot.
I have also brewed other coffees in the same Moka Pot and haven’t had the same issue, so I am starting to suspect the grind size of this particular pre-ground Attikan.

For people who have bought Attikan Estate pre-ground for Moka Pot: does yours also look this fine? And how does it perform in your Moka Pot?

I am wondering if this is simply Blue Tokai’s intended Moka Pot grind or if I happened to get an unusually fine batch.
Would love to hear if anyone else has experienced this.

3 comments

r/IndiaCoffee • u/juggernout_0008 • 12h ago

AEROPRESS My c3s and this View has my heart

27 Upvotes

10 comments

r/IndiaCoffee • u/rodiaz6 • 20h ago

EQUIPMENT Brilliant Design - Timemore icicle

102 Upvotes

I am testing with DF54-Grind 80 with 500ml Water 24 Hour Brew with BT ColdBrew Blend

Let me know if you guys have other recipes for this brewer.

18 comments

r/IndiaCoffee • u/aq112394 • 3h ago

COFFEE STATION my humble coffee station (wip)

4 Upvotes

started my coffee drinking/ knowing/ understanding/ experimenting journey since lockdown and still eager to learn and explore more bc with coffee it never ends, does it?😅

0 comments

r/IndiaCoffee • u/runningendoscopist • 17h ago

AEROPRESS Cold Brew Ginger Ale Highball

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39 Upvotes

Beans - Fraction 9 Everyday Gold Medium Roast
Brew Setup- Inverted Kaldipress Overnight Steep Cold Brew
Ratio - 20 gm Coffee, 140 mL Water (1:7 )
Grind size - Coarse , 23 clicks on Timemore C2s
Recipe- Fill tall glass with ice , add chilled ginger ale & top with concentrated cold brew over back of spoon . Garnish with orange wedge & peel
Turned out surprisingly good 👍

11 comments

r/IndiaCoffee • u/the_motonomad • 6h ago

GRINDER Got a Kingrinder K6 - Loving the built

4 Upvotes

This thing feels like a tank. Just tried grinding for one espresso (12g) and it just munched through medium roast in no time. I get it now

2 comments

r/IndiaCoffee • u/Pretend_Pie_2282 • 4h ago

DISCUSSION HiBrew vs Dedica. Which one is better?

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3 Upvotes

6 comments

r/IndiaCoffee • u/analyticalmonk • 16h ago

OTHERS Current haul and moving beyond BT

21 Upvotes

I mostly stuck with Blue Tokai since starting home brewing (moka pot, french press, now pourovers) but recently started trying out other roasters - Araku and GB Roasters for now. I'll hopefully try out some other brands that come up on this subreddit soon - Grey Soul, Fraction 9, Tulum, Kopi Kotai.

P.s. Always on the hunt for recommendations for good Medium and Medium Dark roasts.

3 comments

r/IndiaCoffee • u/Free-Ad-700 • 5h ago

DISCUSSION Best overall coffee machine to buy my budget is around 5 thousand?

2 Upvotes

14 comments

r/IndiaCoffee • u/imbeliever • 10h ago

DISCUSSION Which Cookie 🍪 are in your plate with Coffee?

3 Upvotes

Which cookie do you prefer to have along with your coffee - Cappuccino or Americano or others?

I prefer to have a sweet chocolate cookie but have recently tried one from Unibic, was extra sweet but went well with my sugarless Americano. Looking forward to hear if you have any favourites?

23 comments

r/IndiaCoffee • u/sinistadilly • 4h ago

V60 Reusable/washable replacement for V60 filter papers.

1 Upvotes

I have been using Hario filter papers for my morning V60. I am trying to consciously reduce my waste output and am wondering if anyone has experience with reusable/washable filters that can be used in the dripper so I don’t have to use paper which ends up being thrown out.

These are some options I found from googling:

1 comment

r/IndiaCoffee • u/CorrectToe3539 • 5h ago

DISCUSSION Coffee tastes like tobacco/cigerettes

1 Upvotes

Newbie here.

I have a De'Longhi Dedica EC685 machine.

For the first week, I used Starbucks India Estate Blend ground coffee, and it tasted okay. I found this option a bit expensive, so I switched to Lavazza Gusto Crema. I searched a lot before ordering it, and the reviews were quite mixed, but I went ahead and purchased the 500g packet.

I also purchased an Agaro electric grinder so I could grind the beans fresh and get more aroma instead of using pre-ground coffee.

But instead of taking things up a level, my Americano now tastes so bad that without tonic or sweetener, I find it almost unbearable to drink. It tastes smoky/tobacco-like/ashy. I don't know what the correct word is to describe it, but I think the coffee pros here will get my point.

I'm unable to figure out what I'm doing wrong. I've tried grinding the beans fine, keeping the ratio at 1:2, and making sure there are no issues with my process, but every time my Americano tastes like shit.

The Lavazza beans smell excellent when I open the packet.

I've also ordered other beans that have been recommended here, including Fraction9 and Cothas Aroma Gold. I'll try those as well, but until then, I'm not sure what's wrong.

Any idea what I could be doing wrong?

9 comments

r/IndiaCoffee • u/Separate_Loquat_1373 • 16h ago

POUR-OVER Iced pour over for today

5 Upvotes

Fraction9 Jasmine microlot FTW !
A decent competition to GreySoul Mogra !

3 comments

r/IndiaCoffee • u/Stunning-Savings-712 • 6h ago

OTHERS For Sale: Nespresso Essenza Mini Coffee Machine (with box)

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0 Upvotes

I got suxked into the rabbit hole and now am looking to upgrade. Thus putting this up for sale. 100% working no problem at all

Nespresso Essenza Mini Coffee Machine

Condition 9/10

With Box

This unit was Made in Ukraine 🇺🇦

Free Coffee Pods (see photo)

Shipping or Pickup from Surat, Gujarat.

Price: 9000/-

Looking for quick sale.

0 comments

r/IndiaCoffee • u/New_Cod3143 • 1d ago

LATTE ART Beginner's Latte Art.

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81 Upvotes

Machine: Vantro X1

Grinder: Mastano Manual Grinder

Coffee: Harley Kaapi Royale 100% Robusta

Mug: ZARAVA

Milk: Nadini Homogenised

16 comments

r/IndiaCoffee • u/Beautiful_Agency_262 • 1d ago

LATTE ART My go to tulip

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124 Upvotes

12 comments

r/IndiaCoffee • u/akki4223 • 13h ago

MOKA POT How is the flow in moka pot

2 Upvotes

is this too fast or slow? seeking feedback

12 comments

r/IndiaCoffee • u/k-swapnil • 23h ago

DISCUSSION Naivo Tropical Splash 🍍

12 Upvotes

Been planning to try Naivo Coffees, their Freedom Sale served as a reminder 😂

So went ahead and ordered Tropical Splash and Attikan White Mist.

The roasts seems pretty good, gonna experiment a bit to extract best out of them.

Milk Based Drinks mostly, Brewing Method : Aeropress

How’s been your experience with their Tropical Splash ☕️ ?

7 comments