A new coffee roasting company based out of Chennai has been on the brew for several months now. And we recently got to sit down for a tasting with the partners behind Arrostire (to roast in Italian) for a peek of what is in store.
On order by subscription, the outfit is run by chef and restaurant owner Mathangi Kumar, 30 (of That Madras Place and Patina), IT consultant and coffee connoisseur Viggnesh V, 29 (a coffee consultant for The Farm and The Summer House Eatery) and digital entrepreneur David Ashwathaman, 30.
We are given a memorable lesson on how to ‘slurp’ our coffee by Viggnesh who tells us, he developed a love for caffeine as early as age four, when he would watch his grandfather grind his own beans at home. An apt story to start with, given that a vintage grinder is the visual on their logo. “We specialise in premium roasts done in compact one kg batches for more defined flavours. Currently, our beans are sourced from estates in Chikmagalur, Coorg and Perumalai,” says Viggnesh, who handles all of the roasting himself.
The menu has Cold brew blends and Espresso blends made with 100 per cent Arabica or 100 per cent premium Arabica. Of course, there is a South Indian Filter Coffee (chicory-free) that is available in four varied blends.
We sample the ‘Crema’ of the Espresso series, served hot using a pour-over. It is bold and dark, with sweet notes that make it a good choice to kick off the day with. ‘Alchemy’ from the South Indian Filter Coffee section has notes of nutmeg and caramel. While our final taste, ‘The Valley’ from their Cold Brew series, has mellow hints of melon with a beautiful aftertaste.
Now might be a good time to clarify that all of these artisanal crafted coffees will require more tools (depending on your brew of choice) than a stovetop and a boiling vessel to prepare. Why, you ask? Well, as we came to experience, over an afternoon of heady aromas and grinding beans — there is nothing instant about good coffee.
On order by subscription. Sold by the kg. INR 500 to INR 1,400.
sonali@newindianexpress.com | @brightasunshine
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