A Guide to the Jaipur Coffee Scene

Jaipur, the capital of Indian state Rajasthan, is known for its striking gardens and palaces—but it’s also home to a growing coffee scene, with shops offering up locally grown + roasted varieties.

BY MICHAELA TOMCHEK
BARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE

Photos by Michaela Tomchek

The dry desert region of Rajasthan is tucked in the northwest shoulder of India, and its name translates to mean “Land of the Kings.” It is here where the Thar Desert stretches across the land, making the air hot and dry, with the landscape collecting sand dunes in the western-most city of Jaisalmer. Each city is denoted by a specific color here—each a treasure chest protecting gems of Indian history from various kingdoms.

The capital city of Rajasthan is Jaipur, also known as the “Pink City”—a reference to the terracotta-pink buildings that the area is known for. A gateway to the desert, Jaipur is a bustling metropolis with many palaces and forts carefully preserved throughout, and it’s also in close proximity to Ranthambore National Park, home to Bengal tigers in the east.

Beyond its natural and architectural wonders, Jaipur is the center of a growing café scene, with many shops serving excellent coffee, matcha, and cuisine. Head over to Jaipur for a truly remarkable coffee experience, and be sure to check out my four favorite spots.

Curious Life Coffee Roasters

After visiting the stunning Amber Fort and Jal Mahal palaces, a great place to stop for coffee is Curious Life Coffee Roasters. Operating in Jaipur since 2014, this coffee shop-roastery is legendary, having helped pave the way for specialty coffee in the region.

After retiring from the Indian army due to a spinal injury, Curious Life founder and owner Neeraj Sheoran was pulled to follow his passion for coffee. He equipped himself with a 5kg Ozturkbay roaster from Turkey, a used La Marzocco Linea Classic, and a Mahlkonig EK 43, all with the goal of bringing excellent coffee to locals and visitors alike. Neeraj’s dedication over the years has proven to be successful, and now Curious Life is endlessly busy, staffed by some brilliant baristas. 

The first Curious Life storefront opened in 2015 under the name Curious Life Blue, and a second location, Curious Life Red, opened in December of 2018. Updated espresso machines soon took over, as well as a new roaster, an S15 Loring. Most of the coffee at Curious Life comes from India, but the shop also sources from various African countries such as Kenya and Rwanda—something quite unique for an Indian roaster. They also supply many wholesale clients in the area and are eager to share their coffee with an ever-expanding community.

When you enter the Red location, you’ll be greeted by an immense patio and a comfortable, cool interior that provides sanctuary from the heat. The menu is expansive with plenty of coffee options, such as a “Coffee-Cran,” espresso gently poured on top of a glass of cranberry juice. With an array of breakfast, lunch, and dinner options, the food at Curious Life is also quite tasty. Indulge in an almond croissant and a tofu paprika sandwich made with their house-baked bread.

Alchemist Coffee Company

With locations in Jaipur and neighboring city Ajmer, Alchemist Coffee Company began as a micro-roastery in 2018 when founders Mohit and Gaurav Choudhary noticed a lack of specialty coffee in India and ventured out to change that. In September of 2019, they made their first sale to a café in the nearby city of Udaipur. Mohit and Gaurav were eager to drink high-quality coffee and share that passion with other enthusiasts. “We were obsessed with good coffee and couldn’t find many options in our city or state,” says Mohit. 

Mohit and Gaurav note that specialty coffee really took off in Jaipur back in 2015, with two other roasters starting up before Alchemist. “People in Jaipur are naturally inclined to ask for origin and tasting notes in a coffee,” says Rohit. He adds that in many cases, though, cafés in the region tend to be more focused on the architecture and design of the café than the quality of the coffee.

Alchemist has a calm and peaceful vibe, making it a great place to sip and sit for a while. Notably, all of their beans are sourced from India. “We have three partner farms, all based in Karnataka from whom we have been sourcing single-origin washed, honey, and naturals,” says Rohit. He also shares that their producers help them find the ideal roast profile for each coffee.

At Alchemist, there is a variety of excellent offerings to choose from: You can order an expertly brewed pourover with various options for beans. Try a few to get a taste of coffee from different farms, or go for an espresso-based beverage like the refreshing Coconut Water Long Black: espresso pulled over chilled coconut water. In addition to their coffee, Alchemist also has a wonderful food menu, including breakfast options like scrambled eggs, French toast, and baked goods.

Roastery Coffee

Deep in the chic C-Scheme neighborhood of Jaipur is the beautiful and exquisite Roastery Coffee. The company was founded in 2017 by Nishant Sinha to showcase the exceptional coffee grown in India. The coffee was first sourced and roasted in Hyderabad, but there are now shops in Kolkata, Noida, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Agra, and many more cities, including Helsinki, Finland. Each location serves lovingly roasted coffee, sourced strategically from all throughout India.

There are two Roastery Coffee locations in Jaipur, and the one in C-Scheme has some stunning decor, following the design of the “Pink City” with its salmon-colored exterior, unique patio, and steps that lead to a small fountain that fills with rainwater. This space is a unique maze of wonder.

The food menu at Roastery Coffee is also noteworthy, with a long list of options that make it an ideal spot at all hours of the day. Many omelette variations are offered for breakfast, along with unique offerings like their dark chocolate quinoa bowl. The dinner menu is also vast, with a variety of salads, sandwiches, and tasty flatbreads available.

And, of course, the coffee. Each drink at Roastery Coffee is crafted with immense attention to detail, and there are many lovely beverages to choose from. Various filter coffee options are available, along with cold brew to help you cool off from the heat. Try the Lychee Coffee: a shot of espresso mixed with delicate lychee juice and sweet carbonated water.

Midori

Also located in the C-Scheme neighborhood, Midori is fairly new to Jaipur, only operating since early this year—but already, it’s begun to make a name for itself with its peaceful ambience, beautiful design, and exceptional coffee and matcha.

Midori was opened by dynamic duo Genius Jain and Pushti Bhatia, who set out to create a calming, zen atmosphere for the surrounding community. Inscribed on the outside of the building is a fitting message: “This isn’t just another café. It’s where time takes its time. And quiet knows when to arrive.”

You must visit Midori not just once, but a few times—because the menu is a novel, with so many options to choose from. Go simple with pure ceremonial matcha or indulge in the Mango Matcha Latte or the more decadent Biscoff Matcha Latte. Wow. There are also various espresso-based beverages you must try, with beans sourced from India; Midori has it all.

And be sure to come hungry, because Midori’s food menu is also divine, complete with breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and dessert. Bagels, pasta, smoothies, ramen, and rich cheesecake will meet any craving you have. A visit to Midori is a truly magical way to end a café tour of Jaipur.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Michaela Tomchek finds coffee an important part of life and the world. She is an appreciator of the crop, the producer, and the many cafés throughout the world serving beautiful beverages. Currently, she writes about coffee, hoping to spread her joy across the globe. 

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