6 November 2026 · Issue 04
Here's what's inside:
- Weekend plans: espresso workshops in Bengaluru and Hyderabad, plus an update on Kerala Coffee Festival.
- A new coffee stop: Libertario's Gurugram roastery.
- Plan ahead: coffee cupping later this month.
- From my setup: almost three years with the Encore ESP.
1. Weekend coffee plans
Bengaluru and Hyderabad: try making the espresso yourself
Blue Tokai · Saturday, 7 November · Rs. 1,000
Blue Tokai's espresso and latte-art workshop covers pulling shots, steaming milk, and pouring latte art. If you're considering an espresso machine, this could be a useful way to try one before buying it.
The booking page showed availability for DNR Yashwantpur, Bengaluru, and Origins Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, when checked. The Delhi and Mumbai sessions were unavailable.
Choose your city and check availability
Calicut: Kerala Coffee Festival is this weekend
7-8 November · Aspin Courtyards, Beach Road
We mentioned this in last week's edition. The festival brings together roasters, growers, cafes and home brewers, with workshops, competitions and a brew bar on the programme.
One important update: the official site currently says entry-pass booking is closed. If you haven't already booked, contact the organisers about entry before making plans to go.
Festival programme and contact details
Event details checked on 6 November. Availability can change.
2. A new coffee stop in Gurugram
Libertario adds a roastery and coffee omakase
DLF Summit Plaza, Golf Course Road
Libertario has announced a new Gurugram flagship, following its Delhi cafe in Greater Kailash 2. According to this week's ET Hospitality coverage, the new space includes an in-house roastery and a coffee omakase: a guided selection of coffees and brewing methods.
I've also added Libertario to Coffee Atlas, along with its GK2 cafe in the Delhi list.
3. Put this on your calendar
A coffee cupping in four cities
Blue Tokai · Saturday, 21 November · 11am-1pm · Rs. 850
The workshop covers aroma, flavour, mouthfeel and acidity, with sessions listed in Borivali, Mumbai; AECS Layout, Bengaluru; Panchsheel Park, Delhi; and Baner, Pune.
If you keep reading tasting notes on bags and wondering where those flavours are supposed to be, a guided tasting could be fun. You get to compare coffees with someone there to help you work through them.
Workshop details and city selection
4. Almost three years with my Encore ESP
I've written a long-term review of my Baratza Encore ESP, the grinder I bought alongside my Gaggia in 2023.
I paid about Rs. 18-19K for it, and I still use it most mornings. Lately, tennis elbow has given me another reason to appreciate being able to press a button!
The review covers how I use it, how it compares with my J-Ultra, the one loose part I've had to deal with, and why I'm still very happy with it. There's also a little about the DF54, because of course I'm curious about another grinder.
A small Coffee Atlas update
Bouee now has its own website, and I've updated its Coffee Atlas profile to point there. You can browse its coffees and order directly from the roaster.
If you're looking for somewhere to have coffee rather than another bag for home, there's also the Cafe Atlas.
A quick grinder watch
I've also shared a Short: Do You Really Need an Expensive Coffee Grinder?
For the longer comparison, watch my C2 versus ZP6 video or read the article.
Know about a coffee tasting, workshop or meetup coming up? Send me the organiser's link. I'd love to include more cities here.