Black Fuel Roastery, a modern cafe in Hyderabad puts Araku coffee at the centre

A café with quiet corners always hits the vibe check. There is music in the background to lift the silence without pulling you out of your zone. You will find spots that work perfectly as makeshift desks, others where you can stretch your legs and sink in, and outdoor seating that is ideal for coffee catch-ups with college friends and meme-heavy conversations.

All of this comes together at Black Fuel Roastery, founded by Ravi Kumar Pulapa and Akila Chungi. Tucked away in a quiet Banjara Hills lane, the café is surrounded by trees that gently set the mood—whether you are here to get work done or do nothing.

The space itself is clean and modern. There is no reliance on statement art or decorative lampshades, but it does not feel bare or makeshift either. The architecture is structured, understated, and thoughtfully done.

Inside Black Fuel Roastery
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Special Arrangement

As Akhila puts it, “It’s designed for people to pause, create, or enjoy a well-made brew. The idea is to bring together design, culture and community through recurring art and design soirées that invite creative voices into conversation.”

That attention to detail shows up in small but meaningful ways — charging points placed where you actually need them, compact side tables for your coffee, phone or keys when you choose to lounge with your legs stretched out by the glass walls. An amphitheatre-style seating arrangement overlooks the café, letting you sit back and enjoy the shade of the trees outside.

Inside Black Fuel Roastery
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

At its core, Black Fuel Roastery is a celebration of coffee from Araku. To give the region its due, the team works closely with local farmers, collaborating on cultivation and processing methods. Akhila says the aim is to highlight the true potential of Araku’s beans.

“We’re not just promoting coffee from the region but experimenting with different processing techniques for different brews,” she explains. “Working with the farmers has been rewarding. They bring deep knowledge of the soil and climate, while we share insights on processing methods. We roast our beans in-house and put them through multiple rounds of cupping. That entire process reflects our respect for quality and craft.”

From V60 pour-overs to Syphon brews, each method is chosen to bring out distinct flavour profiles. So, what are the crowd favourites? “Our black coffees and manual brews,” Akila says, adding, “it has become our signature. These techniques turn brewing into a ritual, revealing nuance, clarity and the full potential of 100 per cent Arabica beans.”

Pour over at Black Fuel Roastery
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

I tried a couple of the manual brews with different roasts, and with every sip, the flavours stood out—bright, fruity notes layered with gentle spice As for food, BFR keeps things firmly in café territory. Expect sourdough sandwiches, croiwiches (croissant-sandwich hybrids), and a rotating selection of savoury danishes — easy, comforting pairings that let the coffee remain centre stage. I particularly loved the manual pour over in the micro lot, Extract 04, black honey blend. Extract 1, 2, 3 and Pour 1 and 2 are BFR’s in-house blends available throughout the year. Pour 3 is a micro lot, which is used for manual pours like pour over or flatbed dripper.

So how is that achieved? “At the heart of Black Fuel Roastery is the Araku Valley,” explains Ravi. “Our coffee comes directly from tribal farmers who practise natural farming in interior forest regions. Their cultivation and cherry-picking techniques have been refined over generations.”

Through Avani Origins, the green coffee supplier, these farmers produce both micro-lots and larger batches using washed processes, 36- and 72-hour fermentations, red honey, and other natural methods. “For us, Araku is more than a sourcing region,” Ravi adds. “It’s a partnership built on respect, tradition and community.”

Black Fuel Roastery, 114/A, Road Number 10, Sravanthi Nagar, ICRISAT Colony, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, Telangana 500033

Published – February 19, 2026 12:09 pm IST