As the world celebrates International Irish Coffee Day on January 25, we raise a toast to our favourite picks from the city, and showcase our own filter kaapi that’s still waiting for its big global moment
PICS COURTESY/The Homemade Cafe, Irish house, @perchinbombay
Stay sober
This youngsters’ favourite adda knows how to pour a mean Irish coffee without the heady after effects. This concoction comes with Irish cream and a warm cookie for your sweet tooth.
AT The Homemade Café, near Oshiwara Police Station, Andheri West.
LOG ON TO @thehomemadecafemumbai
CALL 7045894299
Six more shots
Pick from the Volcanic Brew featuring single origin Salvador coffee, or sample the more modern Irish Matcha. This coffee and wine bar whips up six kinds of Irish coffee, all featuring premium blended Irish whiskey.
AT Perch Wine & Coffee Bar, Union Park, Carter Road, Bandra West.
LOG ON TO @perchinbombay
CALL 9321375915
Simply Irish
You’d usually spot Mumbaikars downing pitchers of beer at this Irish watering hole. This week, we suggest calling for their signature Irish coffee. Irish whiskey, espresso, and whipped cream; as easy as that.
AT Irish House, Level 1, Phoenix Marketcity, Kurla West.
LOG ON TO @theirishhouseindia
CALL 8879660043
Grandma’s choice
Whiskey purists can look away; this café brings a non-alcoholic whiskey syrup to the traditional cocktail for a safe and sober brunch-time mocktail.
AT Grandmama’s Café, Dadar, Chembur, BKC, and Andheri.
LOG ON TO grandmamascafe.com
CALL 8591075473
Tee or coffee?
Wear your love for a hot cuppa joe proudly with this graphic T-shirt, just like our in-house coffeeholic does.
LOG ON TO bewakoof.com
Filter kaapi calling
Filter coffee at Cafe Mysore. Pic Courtesy/Bosskie Chanda
We’ve never heard a Mumbaikar say “a good Irish coffee could fix me right now” after a long day. The humble filter kaapi deserves a salute this week. Head to these local-approved haunts for your next cup
The Kaapi and Co
We’ve heard locals in the far suburbs swear by this new-age brewery that serves iced filter kaapi alongside the traditional filter coffee.
AT 100 Feet Road, near St Francis School, Navghar, Vasai West.
Hotel Vishwabharati
Drop by this vegetarian family restaurant right outside Mulund railway station’s west exit for a quick meal on the go, followed by their filter kaapi, of course.
AT Jeevan Niwas, MG Road, Mulund West.
Aahara
This new South Indian restaurant wins our vote for making space for non-dairy coffee lovers. The kaapi here comes in an oat milk option that tastes just as good, if not better.
AT Shreeji Tower, Mandapeshwar Road, Pai Nagar, Borivli West.
Ramnath snacks
If you’re in Colaba, head to this modest eatery for their batata wadas and sip it down with a cup of strong filter coffee.
Ask the experts
Hear it from two of the most loved and OG filter coffee hangouts in Kings Circle
Top brass
(From left) Devavrat, Jagdish and Jaiprakash Kamath. PIcs Courtesy/Devavrat Kamath
We have been proponents of brass filters since we opened our doors in the 1940s. You’ll spot our old trusted filters on display at the café (above). We continue to use newer brass filters because they retain heat well.
A good coffee is always courtesy of finely ground beans. My suggestion to Mumbaikars is to slow down, and let the concoction trickle down in its own sweet time. No hurried mixes, please. Don’t refrigerate the concoction. A good filter coffee makes its way from the filter, to the cup directly.
Devavrat Kamath, co-owner, Café Madras
Great leveller
It’s high time we had an international day for filter kaapi. If a relatively small country like Ireland, which doesn’t even grow its own coffee, can shoot to fame with its concoction, there’s nothing stopping us. At Café Mysore, we have seen the drink become a great equaliser. From the Ambanis to the less-privileged homeless patrons who walk in from time to time, everyone is equal for the few minutes when they’re sipping away on our coffee. For me, the key to a good cup is the water temperature and milk. The water must be piping hot, and poured in batches into the filter. I suggest ditching packaged milk, and sourcing it right from the farm if possible.
Naresh Nayak, co-owner, Cafe Mysore
At Munira Lodge, Apollo Bunder, Colaba
Who made the first Irish Coffee?
The drink dates back to a stormy night in Foynes, Ireland in the 1940s. A barman at the Foynes port was tasked with preparing a strong drink for a group of weary passengers. His mix of coffee, Irish whiskey, and a dollop of whipped cream became the famous Irish Coffee
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