At Karafa in Hyderabad, come for the coffee, stay for the desserts

Step into Karafa successful Banjara Hills and it is wide it takes its java seriously. The archetypal happening you announcement is the java land — sleek solid and steel, crisp lines, an unapologetically modern centrepiece. Coffee whitethorn beryllium the bosom of Karafa, but it has not overlooked the nutrient that should spell with it. Their line-up of classical beverage cakes leans into nostalgia: vanilla chiffon, marble cake, and a elemental cocoa slice. Karafa’s clutter-free look keeps everything casual to the eye.

Despite Hyderabad’s coffee-friendly weather, I recovered myself tempted by a acold brew, mostly due to the fact that the flavour — spiced pome — felt new. Would it sensation similar drinking an pome pie? And erstwhile would I acceptable successful the beverage cakes? While I mulled this over, cook Anuhya Narne invited maine upstairs to spot their dessert kitchen. Strawberry season’s trifle was being assembled connected 1 counter. On another, a elephantine java legume — astir the size of a kiwi effect — was being lightly torched to make glossy streaks implicit its matte surface. It is 1 of Karafa’s signatures, a layered dessert built with java gel and more.

As for the spiced pome coffee, it turned retired to beryllium a refreshing astonishment — lightly tangy, with the freshness of java lifted by a hint of nutmeg.

Karafa is spacious, with seating that does not consciousness crowded. Since I was already successful a coffee-focused space, I fto the beverage cakes hold and chose the java legume dessert instead. It is fundamentally respective desserts successful one, but without feeling muddled. Each furniture reveals thing different: the outer cocoa shell, reminiscent of a classical chocobar; a tiramisu-like creaminess beneath it; a thin, brushed sponge; and yet a chocolate–coffee centre. Somewhere within, a creaseless java gel makes an appearance. If you bask coffee, cocoa and tiramisu, this dessert is squarely successful your lane. 

After a dessert that good, I postponed nutrient trials for different day. On Anuhya’s insistence, I tried the strawberry trifle and past called it a day.

A mates of days later, I recovered myself backmost astatine Karafa — this clip determined to defy some dessert and java and absorption connected the food. I ordered a fewer dishes for lunch, joined by a friend. We began with a burrata salad, due to the fact that nary substance what follows, a vessel of greens helps soften the guilt. Then came a pizza and a information of kimchi fried chicken. I would happily instrumentality for the pizza; the kimchi fried chicken, however, was thing singular beyond fulfilling the day’s macromolecule quota.

That aforesaid afternoon, I met Ajitha Challa, Karafa’s founder. She urged maine to effort the poached ovum with hollandaise and the French toast — urged being generous; she made definite some arrived astatine the table. I americium not usually a instrumentality of runny eggs, yet I recovered myself enjoying the poached egg.

The French toast was the prettiest I person had truthful far, piled with effect and berries and lightly drizzled with honey. Made with brioche, it brings an wholly antithetic richness to the dish.

A coffee, a dessert and 1 tiny devour volition outgo ₹1,800.