Imagine a place where time drips slowly, like coffee through a filter, where the rush of the city hushes to a murmur, and every shade of brown tells a story. Toise Coffee Roastery is this very pause, a sanctuary where warmth and depth seep through the walls, inviting you to sink into the rich, textured world of coffee in this cafe design. Here, each corner is crafted to evoke the calm of a quiet brew, a place where design speaks as softly as the first sips of the morning, coaxing you to linger, to savour, and to feel time slow down.

Coffee Cafe Design Invites To Sink In The Rich World Of Coffee | DR&W: Design, Research and Workshop

Concept

The vision was to create a sanctuary that invites one to sink into the experience of coffee itself—colors, textures, calming and warm embrace. Every element here, from the design language to the ambient light, works to transform the bustling energy of Worli into a slowed-down retreat. It almost feels like as if stepping inside a freshly brewed cup. The interiors reflect a spectrum of coffee hues: cappuccino tones, dark roast browns, and soft milk froth. Moreover, each shade invites the eye to rest, while the roastery’s primary colors, bold yellows and blues, punctuate the warmth with modern clarity.

The site, an old building rich with character, provided a foundation layered with art deco charm, where wooden details, a mezzanine, and a handsome staircase set the stage. The design instinct was to celebrate this old-world warmth while giving it new life. We maintained the textured woodwork, opened up the windows to flood the space with natural light, and let the deep brown walls frame the brand’s contemporary elements. Additionally, the natural light now pours in unfiltered, illuminating the space and breathing warmth into each detail. Thus, creating a lively yet soothing environment.

Roastery

A striking pair of structural columns occupy the roastery, and rather than concealing them, we turned them into focal points. We accented them with shimmering china mosaic, a design that creates an ever-present glow, catching the light as customers enter. The roaster, a true hero piece, sits at the heart of the room within a transparent enclosure. Moreover, it surrounds the seating that draws customers to the essence of the space. The layout here defies the traditional café format, with the roaster machine anchoring the entryway experience. Thereby, leading visitors naturally towards the coffee bar at the back. The journey through Toise becomes an experience in itself, moving past the glimmering column and roaster to discover a sanctuary for coffee at the bar.

Mezzanine

Upstairs, the mezzanine seating encourages customers to wander through the space, up the warm, natural staircase, where cosy nooks await. The dark brown walls extend upwards, textured and grounding, while a lighter milk-froth shade in the cosier spaces brings a lift and brightness. To enclose the roaster, we crafted a glass and MDF partition with a gradient from dark roast to natural wood. It is an homage to a freshly poured cup crowned with frothy crema. Additionally, the bar showcases scalloped brown Jodhpur stone. Meanwhile, the pink Jodhpur stone backsplash adds a soft, natural complement that unifies the materials.

Furniture and Lighting

Furniture in Toise reflects an organic, tactile appeal, with asymmetry and raw edges lending a sense of honesty to each piece. The bar ledge itself is a half-cut log of wood, perched delicately on metal. Thus, inviting visitors to linger alongside the roaster, sip coffee, or work on a laptop. Similarly, benches and side tables feature live-edge wood, creating a connection with nature in every curve and surface.

Lighting in the roastery is an artful play on intimacy and atmosphere, with pools of light carefully illuminating focal areas. A table lamp greets you on entry, and task lighting over the bar highlights the roastery’s equipment. A tall fabric lamp in a swirling design adds softness, casting shadow-play that feels like a cloud settling gently over the floor. Every glow, every shadow, has been thought of to bring warmth and joy into the space.

Mezzanine Floor

There are intimate nooks, where one or two can sit by a shelf lined with books and games, along with a community table for larger gatherings. The space even includes a dedicated coffee bean storage area that doubles as a backdrop for the mezzanine seating. Thereby, filling the air with the scent of fresh coffee beans. On the mezzanine, a manual brew bar invites customers to craft their blends, an experiential touch that lets visitors actively engage with the brand’s ethos of creativity and exploration.

Stepping into Toise Coffee Roastery from the vibrant streets of Bombay is like crossing into another pace of life. Here, time slows as the dark, mellow colours and gentle lighting pull you into a state of mindful calm. It’s a journey that takes you, even before that first sip, into a sense of repose, inviting you to pause and savour the essence of coffee, both as a product and as a carefully crafted space.

Fact File

Designed by: DR&W: Design, Research and Workshop

Project Type: Restaurant/Bar/Cafe

Project Name: Toise Coffee Roasters and Brew Studio

Location: Worli, Mumbai

Year Built: 2024

Project Size: 1200 Sq.ft

Principal Architects: Jay Shah & Yashada Deshpande

Design Credits: Dhruv Sachala

Photograph Courtesy: Ukti Kulkarni

Contractors: SY Solution Pvt Ltd, Sevalal Interiors, Saee Interiors

Firm’s Instagram Link: DR&W: Design, Research and Workshop

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