Cafés and restaurants have been mushrooming all over Hyderabad, each with something different and unique to offer. However, when we spotted the news of Mumbai-based coffee brand Subko opening up in town, we waited with bated breath (much like most of the coffee loving community in Hyderabad) for the space to open up ASAP.
Stepping into the cosy, swanky, yet calm space at District 150, we spotted a coffee station, a Cacao station housing the brand's house-made chocolates along with a merch section offering everything from tote bags, coffee mugs to tees. We quickly realised that Subko is as much about the subculture as it is about the coffee. Do spot the cool artwork at the space that infuses several elements of the city.
We went through their Speakeasy menu and picked the 'Cacao Float'—a vanilla infused cold brew topped with soda, a take on the classic coke with vanilla ice cream combo. We totally recommend the drink if you dislike the strong or bitter taste of coffee. Retaining the flavour, this one's a perfect drink for warm days.
The Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate from their Hot Chocolate Experiments menu feels like Christmas in a mug and is an absolute must-try in our books. Unlike hot chocolates that are too thick or runny, this one's got just the right consistency and sweetness to make you finish the entire mug.
For coffee nerds, we recommend starting off with a cup of espresso that captures the flavours of the brews beautifully. There's a ton of information around the cafe about where your mug of coffee is brewed, down to the name of the estate, and the process in which it was procured which we thought was pretty cool.
We also checked out the Subko Cacao section that felt like stepping into the refrigerator, quite literally. The house-made chocolates come in super cute packaging with both single-serve layered pralines, chocolate bars and mini barks. The flavours are inspired by the various states of the subcontinent. The Kerala one, for example, comes with notes of banana, dried cranberry and macadamia.
While they haven't opened their bakehouse yet, we sampled the Podi Milk Chocolate Almonds which were a unique take on the Mexican Chili Chocolate.
