Whenever I have dated “Myself”, I have treated myself with a
“Cup of Coffee”. I always feel that’s the best present, I can gift “Myself”. If
I have to list out five things that makes my day, Coffee will be top the list.
My fondness with coffee, goes back to my teenage when I was 15; ( Nostalgic ) I
remember, my brother came home with his coffee recipe and forced each one to
try, I sipped praying it should never
last (chuckle)! You all will agree that the first best experience, mostly turns
to “Addiction” and “Coffee” did. My Morning alarm is my Coffee and I can’t
imagine a day start without it.
My idea of a perfect date is to sit at a coffee shop on a
lazy afternoon (during monsoon) when you can see the drops dancing on the glass
pane next to your chair. You just need three friend; a cup of your favorite
coffee, a book and soft background music. My friends know it well, if I am not around,
I must be at some corner of my favorite coffee shop (and they are always
right). I feel suffocated, if there is a new café in town and I haven’t
visited. Needless to say how I breathless I was till last Sunday becaz “Café
Mocha” (Koramangala) came in existence around February 10, 2008 but somehow I couldn’t make it.
“Café Mocha : Coffee
and Conversations” : Mocha is a chain of Café which was started in Mumbai expanded
to Delhi –Ahemdabad – Mulund – Chennai - Hyderabad-Jaipur - Chandigarh and
Bangalore. Every “Café Mocha” is identical; they don’t follow any trend because
Mocha is not only about coffee it’s about an experience. In their own words “Mocha
is an ode to life simple pleasures – Coffee – Conversation and a Smile.”
Mocha @ koramangala is a
world in its own when you enter you gets the feel of “Aladin’s Mahal” of that
Arabian nights.. But again it’s not on any particular theme.
Ambience: As you enter Mocha, you will realize that you
have entered in a God’s created world which is very colorful. Mocha is dim
lighted with usage of candle at some corners and mostly indirect light through
“Jhoomers”. Flooring is purple in Roof in another shades make s you wonder if
you have taken a dip into a paint box. Furniture’s which aren’t twins, every
furniture is different and unique you can read the details attached to it. The place gives you a feel, based on the
need. You need a quite corner, or a cozy sofa or an open area to ponder about
life—you get it right there.
Menu: The moment to get
your hand on the menu you would wish “if appetite can be raised with a switch
of a button”. As I mentioned above mocha
is not only about coffee, there are Deserts; Teas; The Great shakes; Coolers;
To Eat; All Day Breakfast; Something Substaintial and Sheesha’s (Hookah)—you
name it and you will get it. And some of the food items are real innovation and
will put a smile on your face like “Nuts
about noodles” ; “Cutting Chai” and the mumbaikar’s should not miss “Bun Maska
aur Chai”. In there own words “escape
romace far away lands in a coffee cup, immerse yourself in a fruit flavored sheesha
from ciato or spoil yourself with out desert.” The breakfast is a must try
as well as Iice tea, Muffins, Noodles, and all fruit flavored hookahs. Quality of the food served is good; you
will feel the freshness of the milk and aroma of the coffee beans. You don’t
have to borrow your grand pa’s fake tooth to bite the breads, it just melts in
your mouth (Can’t forget the maska bun) … Coffee taste will linger on to your
tongue. Quantity is enough if you
are a decent eater. Service timing:
I will not vouch for becaz some of the item are served within fraction of seconds
and some after your short nap (Giggles ).But You can spent a day there and you
will never run short of ordering a item perfect for various occasions and
moods. Prices: I must say its
moderately priced but most of the items are towards the higher end.Some of the
coffees goes upto INR 165 and the most affordable item you can order is “Cutting chai” INR 30. Crowd: Affordability being one of the
reasons, you will find 65 % of the crowd is working class people and only 35% are the college going kids.
Music: It’s like “various
spices of life” served together. If you
end up spending close to three hour in a café you will realize you have heard a
bit of contemporary as well as the classics. I guess following no particular
trend is the trend that Café Mocha follows .. (do I make sense)
Best time to visit:
Completely depends on the person you are. Below are some of the examples which
can give you an idea:
Chintu25 & Reviewer together
with a book 9:20 Am till 11:00 Am
Ava & Vee discussing
the intricacies of lengthy movies and the nuances of Indian Cinema. 11 AM to
1:30 PM
Faisal & FE –
Intellectual minds around 1:30 – 2:30 PM (The place is quite)
Swan & Monoo discussing
Jindagi between 2:30 – 4 PM
Aditya(Zulu) trying first
hand poetry. 4 PM to 5 PM
Debs (Kwel) trying to
convince Debs(Debarati) for an impulsive tour to some hidden tourist spot. 5 PM
– 6:30 PM
Kiran (Loves reading) & Doveye – 6:30 – 7:30 PM (checking out college kids)
Spike & Ips
discussing the hazards of cooking. 7:30
PM – 9:00PM
Rohit Bhai explaining the
advantages of his Zen while Lalit continues
with his ramblings on Medimix 9:00 PM – 10 :30 PM
Ambuj planning out the
cabinets and ministries after 10:30 PM onwards
Paul – Just before the
Thursday movie premiere
Angel can be found anytime
between shopping of her marriage
Otherwise everyone can meet together at Mocha -koramangala to celebrate Abha’s belated B’day..
No matter what kind of
person you are and how busy your day looks like you can always treat yourself
with a cup of coffee ….. And at Mocha they believe “everyone deserves a short 30 mins vacation. Life can wait!!”
PS: I hope “Vee” can understand now why I keep meeting people only at
coffee shops.