Just a decade ago, a request for 'coffee' in much of India outside the south would typically get you an instant brew, rich in milk and sugar, or a robust, often chicory-laced filter kaapi. For the rest of India, it was Nescafe, a spoonful dissolved in hot water, followed by substantial additions of milk and sugar, served as a quick, functional caffeine boost in the morning.

Neither segment initially prioritised bean origin or intricate brewing methods; the emphasis was on familiarity, efficiency and a consistent, robust flavour profile that, particularly with instant coffee, often acted as a base for a sweet, milky beverage. The concept of 'black coffee' or discerning 'notes' was absent from these prevailing consumption patterns.

Today, when you walk into a cafe in Bengaluru or Mumbai, passionate patrons are inquiring about single-origin Arabicas from specific estates like Attikan or Baarbara, debating whether a V60 pour-over is better than an AeroPress, and even opting for cold brews to discern subtle notes of berries or chocolate.

The most promising shift in consumption patterns and products happens when a consumer asks –why this bean? why this roast? why this brewing method? And this curiosity has been met by a new class of specialty coffee brands that have made education and transparency their core mission.

The journey of the Indian coffee drinker is a mirror to the story of modern India itself, a story of rising curiosity, a demand for quality and of course more dispensable income and newfound confidence in celebrating its own produce.

How do you perceive this shift in changing palettes? How do you drink your morning coffee? Let us know in the comments!