It’s a pleasant Monday morning and we are driving on a quiet road in Jayanagar looking for Alchemy Coffee Roasters. Just as we are enjoying the greenery of the park adjacent to the road, we see bright lights shining through teal windows at the first turn of 36th Cross, and we spot the huge signboard of Alchemy Coffee Roasters just above the windows.
Coffee fix
As we had heard so many good things about Alchemy, we are all charged up for some amazing coffee. But we feel something is amiss when we enter the premises. Unlike a regular coffee shop that smells of coffee, Alchemy doesn’t smell like one. For a place that claims to be a coffee roastery, this is a bit odd. But the interesting interiors — a large wooden table for big groups, a huge coffee display cabinet, vintage coffee crushers and tungsten bulbs that hang low from the ceiling — sort of make up for this lack of sensory bliss.
We settle down in one corner of the restaurant to get a complete view, and it seems like some thought has been put into it. We look at the menu expecting the same, but the coffee menu does not have too many options. We order the Salted Caramel Latte, Bon Bon Coffee, Latte Di Mandorla from hot coffees and a Filter Coffee Frappe from the cold coffees.
All the four coffees are served together — plus points for that, but definitely not for the long wait before they were served. From the four, we think the Salted Caramel Latte is the best. Topped with whipped cream and caramel sauce — this drink, with a hint of salt, is perfect! Bon Bon Coffee is a shot of strong coffee. It is ideal for those who want to wake up with a bang. The Filter Coffee Frappe is just regular cold coffee, available at any other coffee shop.
Going vegan
The most disappointing is the Latte Di Mandorla. A blend of almond milk with coffee, this is too watery and has no flavour. The food menu has enough options from small plates, large plates, deli delights and pasta bowls to pizzas and desserts. We order the Signature Mexican Platter (bean and cheese quesadillas, cumin rice, tomato salsa, cheese melt), Coorg Pepper Roast Chicken and Smoked Mushroom and Thyme Cream pasta. The quesadillas are quite delectable thanks to the cheesy vegetable filling.
We also recommend the roast chicken because of the perfect marination and the smokey, peppery sauce it is accompanied with. But we would suggest you give the pasta a miss as it is far from impressive. Though there is a strong thyme flavour , we think the cafe can be more generous with the mushrooms. The experience of dining at Alchemy is on par with any regular coffee shop but we feel that the service can get better.
Rs 1,000 for two. At Jayanagar
ayeshatabassum@newindianexpress.com
@aishatax