Exploring the Vibrant Specialty-Coffee World of Goa, India

Though it’s India’s smallest state, Goa is home to an abundance of culture, exemplified in the region’s specialty-coffee and food scenes.

BY MICHAELA TOMCHEK
BARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE

Photos by Michaela Tomchek unless otherwise noted

India is comprised of many states, all expansive with different cultures and languages. Goa, located on the southwestern coast of the South Asian country, is the smallest—but no less abundant in culture and excitement. In fact, the Indian state is known as the “party capital” of the country, as it’s one of few Indian states where gambling is legal. It’s also home to a multitude of beaches that extend along the whole state, with over a hundred of them open for swimming or water sports, depending on the season.

Something else quite extraordinary about Goa is the number of vibrant small businesses that serve tourists and locals alike. The coffee community has spread across the state quickly over the past several years, with coffee shops across the different neighborhoods of Goa offering up locally-grown varieties from exceptional farms in India. Today, we’ll take a look at five standout establishments representing the specialty-coffee culture of the region.

Coffee Culture – Assagao

A great first stop for coffee in Goa is at Coffee Culture, nestled in the village of Assagao, away from the bustling streets and not too far from the beach, with neighboring cashew trees swaying in the breeze. The coffee shop and roastery are located inside of boutique hotel The Unseen, the world’s first “coffee-forward hotel,” where specialty coffee is a primary focus. The entire lobby of the hotel serves as the seating area for Coffee Culture. 

Notably, the café offers a coffee omakase experience—a chance to enjoy specialty Indian coffee through a barista-curated experience. For particularly warm days, the shop’s 24-hour slow-drip cold brew is an ideal choice, or, if you can’t decide, you can also order a coffee flight, complete with espresso, a V60 pourover, and a small latte. And, if you’re feeling particularly adventurous, there’s even a bar just outside offering salsa dancing and cocktail classes.

Indiroom

Another must-try spot in Goa is Indiroom, which is tucked away inside of the restaurant Pincode Bungalow.  The café opened its doors alongside its sister restaurant in February of 2026, and upon entering, it’s clear how much work, preparation, and passion went into the space. With its chic and comfortable interior, Indiroom is a beautiful space to learn about and taste Indian specialty coffee, which is roasted by New Delhi’s Caarabi Coffee.

The menu offers a variety of your classic espresso-based drinks and slow bar options. Beans come from both India and a few select international countries. They also offer some coffee mocktails, matcha, and cacao drinks, and cuisine can be ordered from the adjacent restaurant to complete your experience: the perfect escape for lovers of coffee and food.

Grind Bar

In the bustling neighborhood of Anjuna is Grind Bar: a small, cozy shop that doubles as a listening room and café. Operating since 2021, the café offers a great spread of drinks, including espresso-based beverages pulled from their La Marzocco machine. The shop even makes their own cashew milk, which tastes excellent in an iced latte, and juices and smoothies are also available if you’re craving something more filling.

When it comes to food at Grind Bar, the PB&J made with fresh fig and strawberry jam or the indulgent Babka French Toast are notable offerings. The shop also offers DJ classes for anyone interested in learning how to spin, offering a fun and creative way to spend an afternoon in Goa.

nada – Anjuna and Panjim

A fan favorite for coffee lovers in Goa, nada has two locations: one in Anjuna, and the other in the capital of Goa, Panjim—both with their own distinctive charm. The name “nada” comes from the Sanskrit word for “sound” or “vibration.” Explains the shop’s founder, Aakarsh Choubey: “For us, craft extends beyond the cup—the space you’re in, the cup you drink your coffee in, the music. We want to create a language where coffee, ceramics, and design come together in an interesting way.”

nada’s first location in Panjim first opened back in 2023. Soon, the café began roasting their own beans and baking exceptional sourdough, and the success led Aakarsh to open another shop in Anjuna. 

The quiet streets of old Panjim are home to the original nada, where the ceramics studio began and wafts of baking bread fill the air. The house the café is found in feels historic, offering many nooks to sit and drink your coffee. nada roasts their own beans, sourcing from only around Chikmagalur.

“We strongly believe in coffee from India and are constantly finding interesting ways to represent it. Our narrative is built around modern Indian coffee,” says Aakarsh, explaining that he works with a few estates directly thanks to strong relationships built over the years. “Indian coffee is having its own quiet moment, moving from being just (a) commodity export to something people here are genuinely curious about and proud of.”

The nada storefront in Anjuna has a completely different ambience, with the shop situated in a vast field with grazing cows roaming in the distance. This location is a completely open-air café, with warm staff and an array of drink options. This location also has more to offer food-wise, with a variety of egg dishes, sandwiches served on their specialty sourdough, and almond croissants baked in-house.

Overall, both locations of nada exemplify the progression of Indian coffee towards an educational specialty experience, marked by innovation and community engagement. The Goa specialty-coffee community is small but friendly, and customers are curious about where their coffee is coming from, craving a more interactive experience when it comes to their coffee.

“It’s still early days, but that’s also what makes it exciting; there’s room to actually shape the culture, not just fit into one that’s already set,” says Aarkash.

alag.

A must-visit in Goa is alag., nestled in the hip Siolim neighborhood of Goa, just down the road from the famous St. Anthony Church. This quiet and sweet spot is the ideal place for a peaceful neighborhood coffee. Just two years ago, the café first opened its doors, offering delicious coffee, exceptional house-baked cookies, and lovingly prepared sandwiches to locals and tourists alike.

“alag. began with a simple intent: to offer care and warmth through our hospitality,” says co-founder Uddipan Sarmah, who is from Northeast India. “The name itself means ‘unique.’ We never set out to be for everyone, and we don’t pretend to be. What we hoped to build was a community: a small, real one, made of like-minded people.”

The shop’s menu is filled with a great collection of espresso-based drinks and matcha options. Order an iced Americano and egg sando—a 24-hour marinated, soft-boiled ramen egg served inside soft bread with Japanese mayo—and, for dessert, be sure to try one of their matcha cookies.

The coffee here is carefully sourced and roasted, with each shot pulled to perfection. There are pourovers available to order as well. “We source from the hills of Northeast India. Right now, we’re brewing coffee from Dima Hasao, in Assam,” says Uddipan. 

There is also an alag. magazine available to read, to educate readers about the culture of Northeast India: a beautiful way to end a coffee journey through Goa, India, indeed. 

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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