Subko coffee. Deconstructed.

Subko specialty coffee roasters and bakehouse

Address: Ground Floor, Mary Lodge, 21A, Chapel Rd, Ranwar, Bandra West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400050

Contact: +919004700654

Closed on Mondays

Part of the experience with Subko coffee is the lazy walk through the little lane in sleepy Bandra. It alleviates the setting. Ambling leisurely; and there it is. In a nice tranquil corner. Chic. Elegant. Intimate. Borderline exotic.

The moment you enter the astutely furnished outlet, THAT aroma hits you. It is in the air. The sweet merrymaking fragrance of coffee along with the delectable butter muffled flour makes you smile. I was smitten, hands down. I took my time, loafing around, appreciating in my mind the fine details that have gone into the decor design.

Talking about optics, the inception of Subko (A play of words. It signifies FROM THE SUBCONTINENT. FOR ALL. And it embodies this thought to the absolute percentage) specialty coffee roasters and bakehouse preceded the nation-wide lock-down. Three days into the opening, the lock-down was announced, and I can only imagine what the team went through during those initial 20-25 days. Being in Mumbai helps as Mumbai never sleeps and this was evident when I visited. The roastery was buzzing with activity as avid coffee lovers were making the most of what this place has to offer.

My choice of food and coffee during my visit was the unique and quite incredible cask barrel aged cold brew, served on the rocks (As suggested by the energetic and charming team leader/owner, Rahul. He was painstakingly engaging every single customer and his passion for his craft was very visible. Kudos to him), the delectable cold brew chocolate hazelnut tart, a regular flat white (at times, milk, in the right proportion uplifts my coffee experience) and 250 grams of their Ampthill downs medium-dark roast pour over brew; which I am yet to try.

The cask barrel aged cold brew was really an eye opener and hit the spot. It is a lightly acidic variant of coffee. The tasting notes are a combination of smoky, citrus and fruity, quite a delight. The flat white was alright, just the right amount of milk for my liking. The barrel aged cold brew makes for an interesting summer and/or a refreshing mid-day drink. It is a pity I did not try the gorgeous looking stuff from the bakehouse menu, but I was wise and lucky enough to have picked up two portions of their legendary cold brew chocolate hazelnut brew. The tart pastry is made using jowhar flour (available abundantly throughout the subcontinent) and the tart filling is made using a cold brew sourced from Kerala. The hazelnuts are sourced from Turkey. It is a unique take on the average tart, and it is out-rightly scrumptious and wholesome.

I am already looking forward to visit the place soon again and get my hands onto their other interesting stuff such as the piccolo (a coffee variant), their Kashmiri walnut chocolate chip cookies, mosambi (sweet lime) tea cake with seasonal compote and the cute looking Subko nuffin (Nashta muffin). Neat. Also, the sourdough and their BG (bina gluten) loaf look stunning and I am picking it up during my next visit. I am yet to try their Ampthill downs medium dark roast, but I am sure it will be every bit worth the adulation. I was told that the notes are chocolate and walnuts, perfect for a pour over. Bring it on.

Subko is a fresh, contemporary take on a basic commodity and it impresses while doing so. The team is doing a fantastic job and the place is tailor made for the quintessential millennial. Nonetheless, it will be appreciated and loved by all coffee lovers, age no bar.

One little thing worth mentioning is the pricing. Subko has luxury pricing and maybe it will not tick the ‘value for money’ box for some. Having said that, I feel the price points are somewhat justified if you look at what is being offered. It is top notch and quite exquisite. The whole experience. Avant Garde. From the Subcontinent. For all.

Subko specialty coffee roasters and bakehouse.

Open for delivery and take away. (And hopefully, soon, for dine in)

Location link: https://g.page/subkocoffeeroasters?share