The subtle but well-marked death of the cutting-chai culture in urban India saw the rise of the overpriced-coffee culture offered in cocooned environments. The Baristas and CCDs were the first few to kick-off this scene. The newest kid on the block is Gloria Jean’s Coffees, (GJC) which was the subject of my review last week.

My fourteen year old cousin-Mayank was kind enough to join me for this review and the walk to GJC’s was extremely pleasant with a generous helping of inputs on the affairs and scandals that rocked ninth graders last week.

GJC’s made its foray into the India markets a year ago and its outlet at Hiranadani Gardens (Powai, Mumbai) is GJC’s largest outlet in India. The layout of the coffee house is comfortable and spacious but unfortunately, like any other franchise is a victim of uniformity.

Orders are placed on a self-service basis and we lined up at the counter for placing our orders. Mayank settled for a Chicken Quiche while I ordered a coffee that the staff recommended. We momentarily scanned around for the most comfortable seating and unanimously zeroed down on the couch.

Soon our order was ready and Mayank went off to fetch the same as I snuggled into the couch after a hard day’s work.

Cutting-chai at a local eatery is too plebeian for the urban masses and asking your boss or the object of your infatuation out for a beer might still be considered too forward. Coffee seems to be the more socially acceptable catalyst and perhaps coffee houses like GJC’s are a la mode in urban India as they fill this very gap.

The crowd at GJC’s consisted of mature couples, business executives, diamond-laden house-wives and Caucasian tourists: a healthy mix of people who filled the café with a genial decibel level but the prices were an unmistakable entry barrier. Although, certainly value for money as Mayank returned (nodding approvingly) as he began munching on the Chicken quiche. I like my coffee to be tall, dark & handsome and GJC’s did not disappoint. I sipped on the coffee gratefully (it was supremely energising).

I polished-off my cuppa and it was well past dinner time so we had to cut our visit short. All in all, the breadth of the menu was a slight disappointment but was compensated by the quality of the fare. Something about GJC’s can never elevate it to the status of a Les Deux Magots but GJC’s is just right for a semi-formal meeting, for an informal rendezvous or just to sip a languid coffee over a book.

-Ritika Mankar