If pre-caffeine conversation is not on your morning agenda, Di Bella Coffee is where you want to get your first cup of Joe. At this Australian chain’s recently opened Bandra and Shivaji Park outlets, Samsung tablets replace waiters, allowing you to place your order, make alterations, pick portion sizes, decide between skimmed and regular milk, all sans any human interaction. Now remember, don’t rage against the machine.

Through Thick and Thin

bpb visited the Bandra branch where three small tables are housed inside Title Waves bookstore. With one attendant tending to tables and preparing orders, we imagine things could get a little chaotic during rush hour, but all was calm yesterday morning.

Using our table’s tablet we ordered what turned out to be our morning medicine - their yum signature Di Bellaccino coffee in Felici blend with a couple of marshmallows dunked in for fun. The mint chocolate shake was a little too sweet, but thick and unlike the over-iced watery versions served at many other cafes. To go with our drinks we got a chicken pepper sandwich, a substantial snack filled and grilled right in front of us. No pre-heated snacks here, thankfully. If you’re making a breakfast run, we suggest you grab an apricot nutmeg muffin served hot with chunks of sliced apricots. The rich blueberry chocolate mousse with a layer of fruit in the middle, is best reserved for a lazy Sunday. Di Bella also has salads, waffles, croissants and a selection of luxury teas on the menu. Judging from all that we scarfed down, Di Bella is notches above the  Barista and Cafe Coffee Day, and on the same level as the slightly more expensive Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf chain of shops.

The Tome Of Your Life

While waiting for our second to-go muffin, we tried to browse Di Bella’s tablet (no W-fi yet) and came across the previous customer’s Google search -‘lower back pain weightlifting’. Makes sense. After all, there is a bookstore next door. 

Getting there: Title Waves, ground floor, St Paul's Media Complex, 24th Road TPS III, next to Ensemble (off Linking Road), Bandra (W), call 65140333 or visit the website here.

bpb reviews anonymously and pays for its own meals.