2020 has taken away a couple of things from me, like my travel itineraries, but as I was stirring in my boring old instant coffee in my milk, I couldn't help but start to daydream about my favourite coffee moments from different corners of the world.
So here are my Top 10! How many have you visited?
1. Hanoi
The city has to be the number one in my list only because of how much I LOVED #EggCoffee. I had it in a couple of places in the city but my experience at the famous Cafe Giang would be the best one. It wasn't just about the shared seating (cause that's how crowded it got) but the vibe of that cafe that I loved. When the coffee came to me, I felt like I was born to visit Hanoi one day and for that cup of Egg Coffee. (Okay I am exaggerating) But that cup was the perfect combination for dessert and coffee lovers like me.
2. Mumbai
In the age of 'work from home' I have been away from Bombay for a while now and will probably stay away till next year. And if I had to miss something about the city - I think I miss the cafes the most. They were my weekend treats after looong weekdays that disappeared behind a laptop screen and traffic. From the filter kaafi at Ramashray or pheteli coffee at Soda Bottle or my favourite coffee spots in Bandra - Provenence is my <3 - I really miss those coffee moments.
3. Singapore
South East Asia has a cooler coffee culture, yes. But Singapore wouldn't have been my coffee pick. Then, I remembered my Kaya Toast breakfasts and that cup of coffee may have not been the star of the show, but it certainly was a cherry on top of the cake!
4. Bhutan
My Bhutan trip got me introduced to a new cuisine and a food culture that was not just delicious but interesting! In Thimpu, my friend and I came across a pretty cafe (Ambient Cafe) and we admit we just really needed WiFi, but that hot cuppa in a cute coffee shop was a nice moment for sure! We even got the window seats!
5. Mcleod Ganj
Illiterati Books & Coffee - I need not say much. I couldn't have planned a trip to Mcleod without choosing to visit Illiterati. After all, 80% of the Indian travelers I follow on Instagram share some of the most 'shareable' photos and the travel writer in me - couldn't resist. I can picture myself go back here and sit with a notebook and hopefully writing notes for the book I want to pen one day.
6. Yogyakarta
I was lucky enough to spend a couple of months in Indonesia last year and during that time I was in Yogyakarta for a weekend. Yes, I got to witness the most beautiful sunrise at Borobodur but I also enjoyed me strolling around the town (and hitching rides with gojek) and during those times, I found myself in cute restaurants and coffee shops.
Like the one in the picture below, taken at Blanco Coffee and Books.
PS: My weakness is when coffee shops invite readers
7. Jakarta
Before I even got to Jakarta, my friends from the city had been raving about the coffee culture and before I went there I did try to defend that India has good coffee too. But in my very first week in Jakarta, I found myself around some of the best coffee shops I have ever seen. And coffee takeaways that were so affordable! I discovered Tugu Coffee on my first day and I daydream about it since then.
The picture below was taken at a coffee shop called Bangi Kopi, and I did sit there and give that fragrnant coffee drip undivided attention.
8. Kolkata
The city of joy is on my list only and only because I have to go back and order a cup of coffee at the Indian Coffee House and cross it off my bucket list!
9. Bali
I do not want to be a cliché, but I cannot help it. Bali will remain special to me. It will remain the place that I will always want to go back to. And the coffee shops are just as special. In my last visit in 2019, I was at a different coffee shop everyday! Milk & Madu, Ruko Cafe, Revolver Espresso to name a few and I cannot wait to go back!
10. Bangkok (And Beyond)
I had forgotten about my Thailand trip while writing this post initially till my travel buddy pointed out that one of the highlights from my trip to Thailand was the hostel in Bangkok. Why? Because it was a travel hostel in a coffee shop! Which means our hostel breakfast came with a very very goooooood cup of coffee! Thanks friend for reminding me! And reader, do check out that picture she posted from this very trip to understand my sentiments.
PS: It was not just Bangkok where we found good coffee. We spent a few days in Chiang Mai and just walking around and enjoyed some really nice cups on the way!
Tip: Budget travelers and coffee lovers do check out Niras Bankoc Cultural Hostel when in Bangkok
11. THE NEW PLACE
A number 10 doesn't exist but it's on this list, because I know there are soooo many places that I have to visit and discover the coffee and food culture in each and every one of those. The top most on my wish list are Morocco and Turkey - and hopefully, sometime in the near future, I will find myself writing about my coffee experiences from these countries on this very blog!
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