Baba’s Beans is not shy to experiment with coffee, and this is what makes them stand out.
The passion for a well-brewed cuppa started back in 2013 when friends-from-college, Sadhvi Ashwani and Mrinal Sharma, now 29, took a trip to Coorg. But the journey onward, to opening a coffee bar wasn’t obvious. The duo, one a philosophy major and the other a commerce graduate, had a nose for coffee and kept at it. They visited the homes of farmers kind enough to educate them about the crop; they collaborated with chefs, pairing coffees with menus; they even did a course at the Coffee Board of India.
The duo’s latest venture, at ALOFT in Aerocity, Baba’s Beans is here to break every pre-existing notion of coffee: the brew isn’t exclusive to those who know their mocha from a macchiato; it doesn’t have to be in a mug, a shot cup, or a tumbler. And most importantly, coffee isn’t just fuel that minimises sleep and maximises productivity.
The name, Baba’s Beans, is a hat-tip to Baba Budan, the 17th century Sufi saint from the subcontinent who smuggled in the bean from Mocha, in Yemen to Chikmaglur, in Karnataka in 1616 AD; they talk about how coffee really drove the Enlightenment; and about how the Tontine Coffeehouse was the birthplace of the New York Stock Exchange.
The vibe: Enter ALOFT, and they’re to the immediate left. It’s one of those open nooks, like stores in an airport, which dilutes Baba Bean’s personality a little bit. Their older outlet at The Ambassador Hotel sees a distinctly older crowd. They’re expecting a younger audience here.
Do try: Everything on their lab menu. The Berry Brew is a lightly sweet and fresh cold brew, with an infusion of four berries, coffee being the most prominent, with undertones of strawberry, blueberry, and blackcurrant. It’s a healthier version of the coffee-tonic. The Coconut Capuccino beings in a gentle nuttiness to the cup, a welcome change from the sugary hazelnut syrups of big coffee chains. The Blackbird is bound to be a hit this winter, served in a brandy snifter, this espresso-based drink is infused with ginger, clove, lemon, honey, and mint. Is there anything that coffee can’t do?
Skip: Their regular menu, if you’re tired of looking up the difference between a doppio, ristretto, and lungo. The staff will help, but you can find this anywhere else in the multitude of coffee places that’ve sprung up in the last handful of years, all also made from the same handful of estates of Kerala and Karnataka.
Go with: With a book, or work for long hours. Meet a friend or two in transit at the IGI airport. Not for big groups.
Space bar: 600 sq ft approximately; 20 covers
How much: ₹1,000 for two
Reach: A 10-minute walk from the Delhi Aerocity metro station on the Airport Line on Delhi Metro.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Life & Style> Food – Review / by Vangmayi Parakala / July 31st, 2019
