Whether it’s a rainy morning, a busy afternoon, or a social gathering, coffee remains a great companion to many Indians. For most South Indians, especially in cities like Bengaluru, filter coffee or “filter kaapi” forms an essential component of their daily routine. Walk past any local breakfast joint and you will find people sipping strong, frothy filter coffee while they enjoy their idlis or dosas. But beyond that staple of traditional India lies a much more vibrant coffee culture – the artisanal coffee, single-origin beans, and brewing methods, slowly but surely making their way into popularity. But what’s the secret to this change? Coffee machines. On International Coffee Day, let’s explore how these have had an important role in shaping the kind of coffee that has been brewed, from humble filter coffees to sophisticated espressos and cappuccinos.