This Tirupati shop has been keeping filter coffee alive for over 60 years

Tirupati: At a time when instant coffees and expensive, branded coffee products have become popular, 63-year-old Srinivas of Vasanth Coffee in Tirupati is keeping his love for filter coffee alive.

Located on Gandhi Road in Tirupati, this 64-year-old coffee shop was established by Srinivas’s father and his uncle in May 1959. Everyone who passes by this road look at Vasanth Coffee, which gives off the aroma of coffee beans. The shop is now run by Srinivas, and his cousin Suresh.

In those days, selling pure coffee powder was big and attracted many. As years passed, many people moved to instant coffee, but this coffee shop has been successful for two generations. “My mother’s family were fans of filter coffee, and my father started this coffee shop along with my uncle. He used to bring beans from Karnataka, fry them, and grind them to make coffee powder,” recalls Srinivas.

“In those days, there were not many job opportunities, and I helped my father. I have been running the shop till now. I am not sure if the next generation will continue it,” he adds.

While instant coffee has made their business difficult, many filter coffee lovers in Tirupati directly visit the store to get the freshly-ground powder. The shop also supplies coffee powder to a few retail shops and sends them to other districts in Andhra Pradesh.

Video source: Syed Alekhya Mahathi