Who? Why? Whatttttt!

I am Swapnil Agrawal, an Advocate, an Aviation Geek, a Tech Geek, a Hardcore Foodie, a Musician, but most importantly, a Coffee Nerd.

The obsession that started in 2017 led me down a deep, deep rabbit hole.

I have always been interested and invested in coffee, unusually so. It began when my father, who also enjoys coffee, used to take me to a beautiful Café Coffee Day outlet in our town after office hours. Needless to say, I was addicted to the smell of coffee. We would usually order cappuccinos, as most people did, but what fascinated me the most was the shot of espresso that gave life to the drink.

Slowly but surely, I started reading about coffee and watching YouTube videos (James Hoffmann, Lance Hedrick, etc.), gaining knowledge and insight into what coffee really is and what makes it so delicious.

Initially, I had no coffee brewing equipment. However, the urge to learn and taste coffee had intensified to such an extent that I ordered some ground coffee from Blue Tokai, placed a paper cloth over a sieve, and brewed my first cup of coffee. Honestly, just between the two of us (yes, you), I was like, bleh. This coffee tasted like shit.

That, however, was the start of something special, a journey that would see my fondness for coffee grow exponentially.

In 2020, I ordered my first V60. I realized that learning how to brew coffee is not hard, but figuring out what you like, amid the overwhelming opinions and recommendations on the internet, certainly is. People who have grown up drinking coffee their entire lives have developed very different taste palates compared to us North Indians, who largely survived on sweet chai. Learning to navigate initially bitter-tasting coffee is not easy. Appreciating nuanced characteristics is not easy. Like all good things, it takes time, dedication, and practice to learn and tailor coffee to your own taste.

After years of perfecting my V60 technique and recipes, I had an epiphany. It was time to move on to other methods. In April 2025, I got my first espresso machine, the beloved Breville Barista Express. There is no setting, no combination, no variation that I have not tried on that machine. I quickly realized that espresso is not a hobby, it is a passion. Making espresso made me happy. Drinking the nectar was just the cherry on top. Whether it is pulling a creamy, silky traditional espresso or venturing into the territory of turbo or soup shots, once you acquire a taste for it, there is no going back.

Despite brewing coffee every single day, sometimes multiple times a day, it remains a continuous process of learning, recording, measuring, correcting, and starting again to make a better-tasting cup.

I am here because people love coffee, and I love coffee. However, it is an expensive hobby to nurture. I want to share my experiences, my recipes, and the tips and tricks I have developed over the years to reduce waste and get the best bang for your buck. I am here to share my mistakes so others can learn, to experiment so everyone can see the results, and to taste as many coffees as I can so people can make informed choices.

I am here because there was no one on my journey.

I hope you found what you were looking for. If not, please do not hesitate to contact me through the Feedback page.

Be well and take care!