Javaphile (n.)
Ok so I really want to love this place bc it's so damn close to my building and it's mad cute and the workers are super nice. But... the coffee is just ok. I think the coffee quality itself is pretty good but there's something lacking in the final product that makes it feel meh. tbh it comes down to the hot drinks not being hot enough and the cold drinks aren't cold enough. Anyway, there are three Javaphile locations in Bombay and I go to the one in Lokhandwala.
First off, the vibes are on point. It's white on white on white decor with black machinery and counters. Out front is a covered patio with half a dozen tables under a beautiful, light awning. There are tons of huge planters that give it a cozy, hidden vibe even though it's on a major road and has shops on either side. When you're at one of these tables, you def feel like you're hidden away so 10/10 on decor. Inside is a bit smaller, with their counter taking up the bulk of the space but that's understandable considering their espresso machine alone is like, gigantic. Like all coffee shops in India, they also have a pretty substantial food menu in addition to the pastries and small bites that are behind the glass case. So far I've only had the snacky stuff and none of the kitchen food but I liked their palmier and their flaky pain au chocolate. They're tasty but they don't necessarily taste super fresh.
Their brewing process is pretty legit. The coffee is ground to order in a burr grinder which is * chefs kiss * (unless you get like, cold brew that's obviously already pre-brewed). Day One I got a Vietnamese iced coffee and I watched the barista grind the beans fresh, use a schmancy temp controlled kettle to do a pour over into a carafe where she shook it up like a cocktail with all the other ingredients. I liked it enough that it I got it again on a different day but bottom line, there's not enough ice in this drink. When you add that to the fact it's a hot af summer, the final drink is not as refreshing as I would like. I have never felt more American than complaining about ice 🤷
On a diff day, I got the honey spiced latte. It obviously has honey along with some classic spices like cardamom , cinnamon and maybe nutmeg? It was very beautifully poured with sugar on the side so it's not a diabetes bomb unless you want it to be. The flavor itself was delicious but it just wasn't hot enough. Ugh. I don't know if the milk wasn't heated up separately bc it was just warm which meant I had to drink it fast and couldn't savor it. 3.5/5. I guess I could've asked them to nuke it?
The last thing tried I was the creme cold brew. Pretty straightfoward and also just ok. This was probably my least fave bc it felt the most "I can make this at home" like. Not enough ice and regular ass Amul cream but a solid cream to coffee ratio.
They've got a bunch of options for manual brews, ranging from the usual aeropress and chemex to things I haven't heard of (that isn't saying much bc I'm not a coffee expert) like a Kalita wave drip, syphon, and origami Japan. I'm not big on black coffee but I'm gonna try one of these some day to know what it's about. I also definitely want to try one of their breakfast items like the buttermilk tiramisu pancakes (!!) or akuri on toast.
Overall 3.8/5 bc it's a great spot where I can post up with my laptop and it's literally half a block from the flat.
