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In recent years, India has witnessed a surge in the popularity of coffee, with artisanal coffee shops cropping up in urban centers, offering expertly brewed lattes, pour-overs, and cold brews. These cafes serve meticulously sourced beans and cater to a growing community of coffee connoisseurs.
Anish Bhansali an entrepreneur from Pune, says it’s all about the experience for him. “I usually drink a shot of espresso with steamed condensed milk. I love the Bon Bon coffee at Boojee cafe in Bandra. I drink coffee at home but it has a more functional value. But coffee is not meant to be just a function, it’s an experience. I would rather pay a premium for a great experience,” he shares.
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On most days finding an empty table in these upmarket coffee shops is a struggle. That’s telling of their popularity. Not all the people in the coffee shops though are there for the coffee. Over the years these coffee shops have become more of a meeting place where people catch up with friends, conduct professional meetings, read a book or even people watch.
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Despite the allure of these sophisticated coffee shops, a significant number of Indian coffee drinkers are choosing to brew their own coffee at home. These home brewers are embracing various brewing methods, from pour-overs to espresso machines, as they create their personalised coffee rituals.
The Home Brew
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For many Indian coffee lovers, brewing coffee at home goes beyond convenience—it's about craftsmanship, control, and the joy of experimentation. It is not a task, but an experience. It allows them to carefully select their beans, experiment with different brewing methods, and refine their techniques to produce a cup of coffee that suits their exact taste preferences.
Many home brewers are particular about the beans they source and pay great attention to it. “I really like Kenyan, Colombian and Ethiopian coffees but it also depends on what I am able to source. I prefer light roast coffees mainly. But for espresso I buy medium roast also. These days I avoid buying from India roasters. I mostly order from outside and ask people who are traveling back to India to bring with them. If I do have to buy from India, I buy from Blue Tokai,” says Harsh Gupta, a Digital Marketing Consultant, who is originally from Jaipur.
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"I feel the coffee I make at home is much better compared to cafes and the reason for that is the quality of beans I am able to source. Cafes mostly serve Indian beans. The roast is dark which makes it very acidic and bitter. Most of the good quality beans are exported and what we get is generally not the best. The roasters are not great in India, either. While beans matter, roasting is key to delivering a good final product. If I do have to drink at cafes, I stick to cold ones,” he explains.
Roasting Beans
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For many, the homebrewing is about the ability to control the brewing process from start to finish—choosing the beans, determining the grind size, experimenting with water temperature, and selecting the brew method that best suits their mood or the type of coffee they’re brewing.
By purchasing green coffee beans, they gain complete control over the roast profile, experimenting with different roasting times and temperatures to create a cup that highlights the beans' unique flavors. Roasting beans at home adds another layer of personalisation to the coffee-making process and allows enthusiasts to explore a wide range of coffee varieties.
The Cost Factor
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This do-it-yourself approach is not necessarily about saving money, though it can be more economical than regularly visiting a coffee shop. “Pour Over as DIY method is straightforward for people who drink black coffee. You can get key equipment for about Rs 700-800. You need one kettle; a one-time investment and you can choose not to buy a grinder to start with and just order pre ground beans. So, if we think about it, initial setup cost is Rs 5000 to 6000 may be, but effectively it is cheaper for someone who drinks coffee regularly,” says Harsh.
Roshni Masand, Founder, CuCoBox, a curated coffee box sources her coffees from various roasters across India. Her favourites include Tulum Coffee, Bloom Coffee Roasters and Curious Life Coffee. “I always enjoy home brewed coffee over cafes as it gives me more control in adjusting recipes and parameters. That being said, I do land up drinking a lot of espresso-based coffees at coffee shops,” she shares.
“Once you know the cost of making a single cup of coffee, you feel like cafes are charging way too much. We also realise the overheads in running a cafe are high. Occasionally, I’d be okay to shell out the money for an interesting cafe concept or the experience,” she adds.
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Bibhash Banerjee, a brand consultant from Mumbai likes the Arabica - medium to dark roast and says that the place and origins of the beans don’t matter to him. “I buy beans and grind them myself. At the moment, I buy from brands such as Bombay Island Coffee Co, Subko Coffee, Starbucks, specifically Sumatra,” he says.
While he thinks most mass coffee brand chains are well below average and don’t compare to the coffee he makes at home, there are exceptions. "Starbucks Reserve (a specialty wing of the popular coffee chain) is great. Brands such as Subko and Aqeeq, make really good coffee too. I don’t drink my coffee with milk, so I am comparing the black coffee I make at home v/s what I buy at cafes,” he exlplains. Speaking of the difference in pricing he says that the average price is roughly the same. "I gauge the ‘value’ on the quality of beans, brew and skill of the baristas. Absolute cost is not the right way to gauge this. If I’m paying Rs.200 or Rs.300 for a cup of coffee, I expect to taste a great cup of coffee.”
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Coffee Brewing Methods
Home brewers in India are embracing a variety of brewing methods that allow for precision and customisation. “For my every day coffee, I use the Drip Filter or the Nespresso machine. I also frequently use a Moka pot a Fresh Press and sometimes use a Chemex,” says Bibhash. Here is what some of these terms mean and what some of these equipments do.
Pour Over: The pour-over method has become a favourite among home brewers because of its simplicity and the control it offers over the extraction process. The Hario V60, a popular pour-over device, is known for its unique conical shape and spiral ridges, which promote even coffee extraction. With the right grind size and water pouring technique, coffee drinkers can produce a clean and flavourful brew. The brewing process here becomes almost meditative, as coffee enthusiasts can take their time to enjoy the ritual of making their cup.
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Chemex: The Chemex, another pour-over device, is praised for its sleek design and ability to produce a clean, crisp cup of coffee. Its thick paper filters remove much of the oils and sediment from the brew, resulting in a light, bright flavor profile. Coffee drinkers who enjoy a refined, aromatic cup often gravitate towards the Chemex, appreciating the clarity of flavours it brings out in the beans.
Drip Filter: A more traditional method in India, the drip filter is especially popular in South Indian households. This method involves adding hot water to a chamber filled with finely ground coffee, allowing the coffee to slowly drip into the lower chamber, creating a strong, flavorful brew. Coffee lovers often purchase high-quality beans, grind them at home, and use this method to enjoy a bold, robust flavour.
Espresso Flair Pro 2: For those who enjoy a rich and intense espresso shot, the Flair Pro 2 manual espresso maker is a perfect choice. This portable machine allows home brewers to recreate the quality of a café-grade espresso shot without needing an expensive automatic espresso machine. With complete control over pressure and temperature, coffee enthusiasts can experiment with different beans and extraction techniques to achieve the perfect shot of espresso.
Nespresso Machine: While many home brewers prefer fresh beans, some find convenience in using Nespresso machines, which use pre-packed pods to brew coffee quickly and consistently. These machines are ideal for those who crave a high-quality cup without the need for a lot of equipment or time.
Moka Pot: The Moka pot, a stovetop coffee maker, is another method popular with home brewers who enjoy a rich, espresso-like coffee without the need for an espresso machine. This classic Italian method produces a strong, bold cup by passing boiling water pressurised by steam through ground coffee. It’s an efficient way to brew, producing a full-bodied coffee with an intensity that appeals to those who enjoy a strong cup.
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French Press: For those who prefer a more hands-on approach, the French Press offers a full-bodied, rich coffee by steeping coarsely ground coffee in hot water before pressing the grounds down. The French Press retains the coffee's natural oils, delivering a heavier, more robust flavor. It's a straightforward method that requires minimal equipment.
The Appeal of Home Brew
So why are so many Indian coffee lovers choosing to brew at home, despite the availability of artisanal coffee shops? For many, it comes down to the joy of crafting something personal. The process of brewing coffee at home offers a sense of mastery and connection to the beverage, making each cup feel like a personal achievement. It allows them to savor the nuances of the beans, experiment with flavors, and create a ritual that suits their lifestyle and preferences.
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For architect Prachi Parekh, her love for coffee started in coffee shops and moved to the homemade cup. "My husband and I fell in love with coffee when we spent time in coffee shops during our travels and when we stayed in London for some time. We are both architects and would enjoy the vibe and casualness of coffee shops. As our love for coffee grew and after buying our machines, we seek out coffee shops to enjoy a different flavour or brewing technique of coffee but we are feel increasingly dissatisfied with the coffee available in most cafés. We still have coffee shop lists for each place we travel to - often for simply checking out the design of different spaces, having something to eat along with getting a caffeine fix,” she says.
“We have also seen a rise in price for the beans we buy. India is till cheaper than most other countries with have visited but it is bordering on becoming a luxury for the middle class to try out good quality coffee. After trying a lot of different coffees over the last 6-7 years, we have narrowed in on the monsoon Malabar from Hebbey Coffee. For us, this specific coffee gives us the best mouthfeel, body, flavour and richness as compared to others we have tried.”
In the end, while the allure of fancy coffee shops continues to grow, there’s something deeply satisfying about brewing a cup of coffee at home. For many Indian coffee drinkers, it’s not just about the coffee itself— it’s about the journey of making it.
