Initially sceptical and half-expecting a series of flat drinks, Dyuti Roy is pleasantly surprised by the quality of coffee delivered at her doorstep
Imagine that feeling of entering a coffee shop and being hit immediately by that heavenly aroma of ground coffee beans and a freshly brewed pot of coffee. And as you stand there staring at the plethora of brews wondering and wishing you had the time and capacity to drink all that they had to offer, you wish the world would stop revolving and all of the time would stand still as you take one deep breath after another hoping this feeling would last forever.
This was the exact feeling I experienced when the Slay Coffee brews arrived. Even before I opened the paper bag handed to me by a delivery valet, the aroma seeped through it and invigorated all my senses. In my head, delivered coffee can’t smelt like that. I was half-expecting a series of flat, cold drinks that I’d struggle to digest. So, you can only guess my absolute delight when I took a sip and was instead transported to a happy, warm place of caffeinated wonder.
If I sound like a huge coffee nerd, that is probably because I am one. This almost obsessive, romantic relationship with coffee began from the moment I took my first sip. I don’t quite remember how old I was when I first tasted caffeine, but I distinctly remember tasting it. My mother was having her regular evening cup and offered me a sip. That small mouthful of strong, sugarless black coffee seemed to titillate this hitherto unknown taste bud that I never knew existed. While other kids of my age turned their noses up against this bitter drink, my love affair had already begun. Since that day, years ago, I have consumed a copious amount of coffee so much so that my friends say it is plausible that my veins pump coffee instead of blood.
Drinking the Slay Coffee brews has been a wonderful experience. This cloud kitchen for coffee-on-the-go serves a collection of brews that are a must-try for any coffee aficionado. Importing their beans from the award-winning coffee estates on the rolling hills of Chikmagalur in Karnataka, the diversity of brews that the company offers makes authentic coffee both accessible and affordable. In India, where the coffee culture has grown exponentially in the past few years, I am sure most of us have struggled to get a hold of a good cup of gourmet coffee that can be picked up on the way to work or simply ordered online. The people at Slay seem to have nipped this problem in the bud. Introducing the brilliant initiative of takeaway coffee, its smart packaging techniques of insulated cups, snug holders and artistic delivery boxes dispatch their hand-crafted beverages of goodness to you without any spillage while also retaining the warmth and aroma of the freshly brewed coffee. It is like having a coffee bar all to yourself!
Of all the brews I tried, my absolute favourite was the Long Java Americano. Served black, just the way I like it, it looked like an Americano but has an interesting twist to it. Instead of the usual black coffee where hot water is poured over a shot of espresso, the Long Java has the espresso shot poured over hot water, therefore, making it slightly more concentrated and the flavours more pronounced. This winning cup of concentrated black might come off as a little bit bitter for some people but gives an exquisite kick that only a good cup of coffee offers. Paired with lemon and floral taste notes, one sip doesn’t just jolt you awake but also freshens you up beautifully.
However, what I found most innovative about the Slay Signature blend was how the taste notes change with different brews. While the Americano was citrusy, the Cappuccino was a warm, chocolaty hug. In my several years of drinking coffee, I have always been wary of having coffee with milk. Having mostly drunk different brews of black coffee, I’m always scared that baristas will add too much milk into my drink creating not a latte but a pale, milky mess. The Slay Cappuccino was a pleasant surprise. The steamed milk added to the blend seemed to elevate the flavour to a completely different level. While the fragrant brew reminded one of a bitter caramel sauce, the flavour of the coffee had hints of chocolate in it. With just the right amount of milk, the Cappuccino made me warm inside and I could close my eyes and visualise myself on a rainy evening, sitting in the balcony with my fingers curled around a cup.
The chocolate taste note doesn’t end here. Slay seems to have realised that coffee and chocolate happens to be a combo ‘made in heaven’ because their famous filter coffee, Madras Mud, a tribute to the South Indian coffee gods features it too. Caramelised with hints of cocoa over a medium roast, the Madras Mud might have just become my new filter coffee favourite.
Along with their hot options, Slay also offers a variety of cold brews and frappés to cool you down on an unbearable summer day. With crowd favourites, like the Hazelnut Cold Coffee that tastes like a cup of Nutella, I can see this cloud kitchen becoming one of the prime places to get coffee in India in a few years.
Coffee isn’t just a beverage. It is an overall stimulating experience of all your senses. Being both highly social and intrinsically personal, to me, it is a love language and I’m glad to say I have been “slay”-ed with love.
To all the coffee lovers of the country, try a Slay cuppa—you won’t regret it!