If you grew up in the '90s, you likely witnessed the evolution of coffee beverages in India, from the classic filter coffee and cold coffee to the introduction of Italian brews like cappuccino, espresso, latte, and more. In recent years, trends have shifted to include exotic varieties such as kopi luwak, monkey-spit coffee, Vietnamese coffee, and Dalgona.
However, the coffee landscape is rapidly evolving, especially with the rise of locally sourced artisanal coffee. Today, specialty coffee drinks are becoming as complex as cocktails, and there might be a potential for these specialty brews to rival alcoholic beverages in popularity among younger generations who may prefer coffee over alcohol. Inspired by the bar mixology culture and techniques, specialty coffee beverages like Kaju Katli Flatwhite, Clarified Cappuccino, and more make the possibilities for specialty coffee beverages truly limitless.
"If you look at coffee as an ingredient, it is a very exotic, flavourful, and aromatic one, and there are many ways to present it apart from the traditional and borrowed techniques from the West. That inspires us to create newer expressions like Clarified Cappuccino and Mazagran," says Ashish D'Abreo, Co-Founder of Maverick & Farmer Coffee and a certified Arabica Q grader by the Coffee Quality Institute of America.
Interestingly, coffee has also made its way into bars. While we may be familiar with classics like Brandy Alexandra, Irish Coffee, or Espresso Martinis, the fusion of specialty coffee and craft cocktails is expanding, creating a new wave of innovative drinks. As people embrace coffee culture and become more adventurous with flavours, coffee-based cocktails are gaining traction too. These drinks combine the energising qualities of coffee with the complexity of alcohol, offering something for every palate. New creations like Cold Brew Negroni, Turkish Delight, Maple Coffee Old Fashioned, and Coffee Mint Julep are pushing the boundaries of beverage innovation.
That's not all. There are institutions and academies that are dedicated to teaching coffee-making in India. The trained baristas also play a big part in the innovation of the coffee-making segment with their creations.
"The focus at our academy is to combine India's stories or culinary and cultural influences to coffee making. We have some amazing ingredients like chocolate, coconut, and kokum, which are native to India, that add amazing taste to the coffee," says Binny Varghese, Founder of Barista Training Academy, New Delhi, and Co-Founder of Zura Coffee.
With that being said, in the coffee bars or cafes of cities like Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Chennai, the baristas are whipping up specialty coffee beverages like Cold Brew coffee with tender coconut, Mazagran, coffee with tonic, clarified cappuccino, Kaju Katli flat white, and more.
Kaju Katli Flatwhite
This version of coffee was first introduced by the Maverick & Farmer Coffee Company. This drink combines the mithai or Indian sweet Kaju katli's flavours with a shot of espresso. "The kaju katli flatwhite was created when we were working on a menu for Diwali last year as part of collaboration with a Mithai brand, and we realised that the sweet is nothing but cooked and thickened cashew and sugar with mild Indian spice. If it is reconstituted with water, it would become something like vegan cashew milk. Thus the liquid form of the sweet was mixed with a shot of espresso that balanced the rich texture and flavour of the mithai milk with the robust coffee's bitter and toasty notes. While that's how the drink came together, it was presented like the mithai with the silver warq for garnish, etc.," says Ashish D'Abreo.
Mazagran
Originating in Algeria, Mazagran is a refreshing, cold coffee beverage that has been introduced to many other cultures. Apparently it is the first of iced coffees and is usually served in a tall, thin glass. The drink's preparation varies greatly based on the region and can be sweetened to taste. For instance, espresso is typically used to make mazagran in Portugal; occasionally, lemon, mint, and even a little rum are added for flavour. This version stands out for having a sweet, zesty flavour profile that blends well with the strong coffee.
However, at the Maverick & Farmer Coffee Company, they have created their own version of Mazagran, which is refreshing and popular among their regular customers. "The creation of Mazagran at Maverick happened by chance. One day at a party, someone requested if a cocktail could be made with coffee. We had homemade ginger syrup and a few others that were mixed with a lemonade and some espresso to create our in-house Mazagran," says Ashish.
Clarified Cappuccino
"The clarification was something that was rarely heard of in India when we introduced clarified cappuccino about 3.5 years ago. We borrowed this technique from the cocktail-making industry or bar mixology, where alcohol or spirits flavoured with a concoction were used to store and increase the shelflife. Although it was a traditional technique, we used it to create the clarified cappuccino. We are currently using distillation as a technique to capture certain flavours of coffee.
Orange Espresso
Orange espresso is a unique beverage made by pouring a shot of espresso over a glass of orange juice and ice cubes. The blend creates a refreshing, complex flavour profile, combining the bold intensity of espresso with the sweet, citrussy brightness of orange juice. This drink offers a balance of rich coffee and zesty acidity, making it an adventurous option for coffee lovers. It’s one of many creative combinations enjoyed by those who like experimenting with new flavours in their coffee.
Petrichor In A Cup
Petrichor in a cup is a unique coffee beverage offered by Street Storyss, a vegetarian craft kitchen in Bengaluru, Karnataka. It combines the boldness of espresso with the zesty tang of orange and cranberry juice, enhanced by a touch of winter spices and rosemary. "Petrichor is inspired by the first rain showers of the season. It captures the scent of natural oils and ozone when rain hits the dry ground and the fresh, earthy aroma and essence of that moment," says Binny Varghese.
Cold Brew And Tonic Water
Cold brew and tonic water is a refreshing drink made by combining cold brew coffee concentrate with tonic water, served over ice. The smooth, less acidic nature of cold brew pairs well with the bitter, botanical notes of tonic water, creating a fizzy, invigorating beverage. Typically garnished with a slice of citrus like lemon or orange, this drink offers a balanced mix of flavours, making it perfect for a hot day.
Coffee Cherry Soda
This cold coffee beverage is available at Maverick & Farmer in Bengaluru. It is made from cascara extract, which is the dried skin of ripe coffee berries. The cascara extract is poured over ice, followed by sugar syrup, and topped with sparkling soda. This is a perfect drink on a hot summer day.
"We are always looking at creating interesting, exciting, engaging, and more involving presentations of coffee. There is a lot of research involved in understanding, procuring, and using different ingredients with coffee in a sustainable manner. Innovation is our way of doing business. And we aim to create beverages that are not only refreshing but also a great way to ease the up-and-coming newer generation of people to fall in love with coffee through more universal expressions," says Ashish D'Abreo.