- USP: Specialty brews of single-origin Arabica
- Where: Signature Towers, Kondapur
- Cost for two: approx ₹500
Coffee itself has such a varietal palate, that it’s often hard to wrap your head around everything that makes the globally-loved drink so special. And so, enter Sentido, another drinkery in the city that offers up not just kitsch cups of coffee but also a lesson to take home.
The place looks like it should be featured on an interior design Instagram, designed by partner Bharat Bongu’s wife who knew exactly what the guys needed to draw people in. While the space is small, there is a first floor — ideal for those who want to sip and study. The grey tones and the wooden furniture offers a very pretty contrast and, well, it’s a comfy space. Sadly, the view isn’t great from the balcony that’s speckled with Pinteresty terrariums, but here’s to hoping that may change.
After entering Sentido | Photo Credit: Anand Sivaraman
Places like Sentido Coffee Brewers strive towards not just perfecting every single cup they send over their counters, but also in educating people about brews.
“We have gotten a few people who are wary of these brews,” says Harsha Reddy, one of the partners at Sentido, “and I take the time to explain that we don’t do the filter coffees here which are just piping hot. These beans thrive and produce optimal taste at a certain centigrade so having that dialogue is very importnat to us.” Harsha and his partner Bharat haven’t always been in the coffee world but when they brought their heads together, they spared no expense when getting it right — even from inception.
The duo worked with Paras Bindra in curating their beans and also in meticulously perfecting brewing techniques. Paras, for those unfamiliar with the barista world, is one of the country’s leading figure in anything to do with the tasty drink. That’s when Bengaluru-based Naivo entered the picture with their soothing notes of fruit, florals and cocoa.
More coffee at Sentido | Photo Credit: Anand Sivaraman
The menu at Sentido stays minimal, offering pour-over, aero-press and syphon coffees as well as the everyday lattes, affogatos and cold coffees; and Harsha is clear why that is the case, “Starting out with a core menu like this makes the most sense. We’ve also been clear in placing more emphasis on coffee here.”
As a courtesy, green tea and hot chocolate are offered, so when a girl walks in she immediately says she’ll have a hot chocolate but the boy she’s come with urges her to step out of her comfort zone. She goes for a hot pour-over and is wide-eyed as she watches the pour over being made.
I order a a syphon and given my love for cocoa flavourings, what comes of it is a multi-palatable experience, starting out sweet then evolving towards a slight bitterness from the cocoa as the coffee reaches the back of my tongue — according to Harsha that’s exactly how it should be enjoyed. A pour over of their more fruity varities are less acidic and ideal for newbies to the game.
Sentido also works with homebakers to bring in tasty accompaniments for their coffees; biscottis, tarts, curmbles and brownies — all very subtle in their aftertaste so that their coffee steals the show and, boy, does it.
