Here is something that I would love to see take off where I am at. In India, some of the biggest cafes are starting a new trend: coffee mixes with (more than a little) kick to them. From vodka to beer to rum to whiskey – these spirits are used to bring coffee drinking to a whole new level.
Take Café Coffee Day for example. They have a very interesting menu called High Spirits. Even more interesting is the fact that some of their drinks are NON-alcoholic, although they taste just like their alcoholic counterparts. India Times published a write up last month:
Its coffee beer has the same colour, froth, texture, fizz and taste of regular beer. The only difference is that the beverage is non-alcoholic and leaves a coffee aftertaste in your mouth. Cafe Coffee Day is also developing a slew of other coffee-based spirits, and is planning new product offerings around these non-alcoholic products.
Their menu is currently not available though – eager customers have to wait till they finish research and development. I am thinking it should not take forever. That article was written early in December. Who knows, they might be ready to launch the menu in a month or so? There are other cafes who have similar offerings, so the Indian coffee market is probably quite content right now.
As for me, I am wondering if a similar trend will be picked up by other countries. If I had the money, I would start my own coffee shop and have my own version of “High Spirits!” In the meantime, if any of you ever find yourself in India, why not look for a coffee shop or two with this kind of menu?
Originally posted on January 3, 2010 @ 1:56 pm