Wholebrew, a take-away spot for cold and hot brews in Thiruvananthapuram
Jostling for space in a 10x9 room near Sasthamangalam junction in Thiruvananthapuram is an espresso machine, grinder, freezer-cum-cooler, cylinder, stoves, utensils, packaging material…This is from where Athulya JR runs Wholebrew, a take-away spot for coffee and toast. The talking point of the place has been its round hatch window to serve orders and a service bell hung outside. 'The service window was an experiment and people liked it. The bell was kept to pique everyone's curiosity,' Athulya says.
Athulya says that the idea has been brewing in her mind for a while; even when she was working after completing her course in User Interface (UI) and User Experience Design from the National Institute of Fashion Technology, Kannur. 'Although I got a job soon after I passed out, I always wanted to start something on my own. I was also unhappy with the atmosphere at my workplace, especially navigating office politics. The situation was no different even after I moved to Dubai. It was difficult to work in a male-dominated environment. The pandemic saw many employees being laid off, most of whom were women. That was the last straw. I quit and came home,' she says.
While on a one-year break at her home at Mangattukadavu in Thiruvananthapuram, Athulya had decided that she would not work under anyone.
Realising that coffee culture was gaining ground in Thiruvananthapuram, she decided to cash in on that. Coffee is her 'cup of tea' , especially cold coffee. 'I enjoyed the basic cold coffee and was never into the premium, high-end varieties from big brands.'
Athulya, 28, adds that although she wanted to spend some time on the idea she could not because the space came up for grabs suddenly. 'I didn't want to let it go. I invested whatever money I had and opened it,' she says.
She opted for the take-away concept because that seemed the viable option with the space available. 'Also, there are many who love their coffee on the go. I wanted to put up a big espresso machine and other equipment. But, right now, this is enough and people have accepted us as well.'
Athulya manages the shop alone, except on certain days when one of her friends chips in. The menu has 10 varieties of cold coffee, including iced latte, Americano and cappuccino, fluffy Dalgona, caramel macchiato, Nutella coffee, vanilla frappe etc, priced from ₹80 onwards. Then there are hot coffees such as latte, Americano, cappuccino and mocha besides a healthy smoothie. While there is a fixed menu, specials are served occasionally.
The toast varieties such as honey toast, Nutella with banana, and chocolate, coffee and Nutella options with ice cream (₹60 onwards) have many fans. 'I wanted to have pancakes and waffles on the menu. But since I manage everything alone, I found toast to be the best option,' she says. Latest addition on the list is egg and cheese sandwich.
Wholebrew is open 3.30pm to 11 pm, Monday to Friday, and from 11am to 11pm on Saturdays. Contact: 7994996956
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Nutella unveils its first-ever new flavor in 60 years: Here's when it will hit U.S. shelves
Nutella is making history with the launch of its first-ever new flavor in six decades. Since debuting in 1964, the beloved hazelnut spread has become a household favorite worldwide, known for its signature taste and loyal fan base. Despite its massive popularity, Nutella has never officially launched a new flavor—until now, marking a major moment for the iconic brand. Also Read: Hooters announces shutdown of over 30 restaurants: See full list of which locations closed In a press statement earlier this week, Ferraro, the parent company, revealed a new Peanut Nutella flavor. The company called the new flavour 'a bold yet natural evolution for a product rooted in tradition but ready to surprise,' adding that it 'combines the distinctive creaminess of Nutella cocoa hazelnut spread with the delicious taste of roasted peanuts,' as reported by the Daily Mail. The Chicago Tribune revealed that the production of the new product will also begin in the US at its Franklin Park and Ferraro will 'invest $75 million in the plant'. This will also generate new job opportunities. Seth Gonzalez, Nutella's senior director of marketing, clarified that the new product should not be mistaken for peanut butter. He told Tribune, 'We didn't want it to be another peanut butter; there's a reason why cocoa is still connected as a peanut-and-cocoa formula, instead of just peanuts.' Also Read: One Piece LEGO sets inspired by live-action series officially revealed: Release date, preorders, and full set list The new Nutella spread is set to hit U.S. store shelves by spring 2026—but there's a catch. Despite global excitement, the new flavor will be available exclusively in the United States. Michael Lindsay, who is the President and Chief Business Officer of Ferrero North America, shared, 'Developing Nutella and Ferrero Rocher products specifically for the North American market represents a defining moment in our company's history,' as reported by the Daily Mail. He added that these new products are designed to connect with both 'loyal fans' and 'new consumers', strengthening Ferrero's leading position in North America
Fashion Value Chain
7 hours ago
- Fashion Value Chain
Greening the Fabric: Greenvironment's Approach to Sustainable Fashion
Daman The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Daman campus, facilitated a session on sustainability in the textile and apparel industry, in connection with World Environment Day. Mr. Varun Sridhar, Director of Greenvironment, spoke about the key aspects of sustainability, including smart energy management, indoor air quality, ESG criteria, and sustainable building design. During his presentation, Mr. Sridhar highlighted the importance of real-time monitoring and troubleshooting support through IoT and Artificial Intelligence in promoting environmental sustainability in the textile and fashion industry. He stressed the need of implementing smart energy management systems, prioritizing indoor air quality, and incorporating ESG criteria into textile business operations. He urged the future leaders in the textile and fashion industry to prioritize sustainability in their careers. Director, NIFT Daman Dr Sandeep Sachan said that all stakeholders of fashion, textile, and management need to think creatively about sustainability in their future careers. The session reinforced the need for the textile and apparel industry to adopt sustainable practices and reduce its environmental footprint. Greenvironment, a startup company incubated from IIT Chennai has gained recognition for its innovative solutions. Recently they have secured $1 million in funding from Rainmatter, an impact VC fund floated by Zerodha. With its smart sensor systems for water and waste treatment facilities already deployed in over 300 buildings across India, Greenvironment is making a significant impact in the field of sustainability.
Fashion Value Chain
8 hours ago
- Fashion Value Chain
Leveraging AI Agents in Apparel and Textiles to enhance efficiency and Innovation
Dr Tanmay Kandekar, Associate Professor, Department of Fashion Technology, National Institute of fashion Technology, Ministry of Textiles, Mumbai Campus Amarthya Shekhar K N, Academic Scholar, Department of Computer Science, Govt. Engineering College, Trichur, Kerala The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in the apparel and textile industries is transforming the way businesses operate, creating new opportunities for innovation and growth. On one hand, AI-powered technologies are revolutionizing design, production, and customer experience, enabling companies to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving market. However, the increasing use of AI also raises concerns about job displacement, as automation and machine learning algorithms take over tasks traditionally performed by humans. As the industry navigates this double-edged sword, it is important to understand the impact of AI on job creation and displacement, and to explore strategies for upskilling and reskilling workers to thrive in an AI-driven future. Artificial intelligence autonomously makes decisions and takes actions autonomously without human intervention. They perceive the environment through data, sensors, or other inputs. AI agents use algorithms and logical reasoning about the data and make decisions. Their actions include sending messages, controlling devices, and interacting with humans. There are different types of AI agents that influences decision making. Simple Reflex Agents react to current state without considering future consequences. Model-Based Reflex Agents uses internal models to reason about the world. Goal-Based Agents make decisions based on goals and desired outcomes and Utility-Based Agents choose actions that maximize utility or value. They apply in contexts and work as virtual assistants to enable as chatbots and voice assistants, and robotics ensure autonomous interaction with the environment. As recommendation systems, it gives suggestions for products or services. I powered agent works as a tool for informed decision-making as a decision support system. They are intelligent and can learn, reason, and adapt. They have autonomy to operate independently and interact with humans and other systems. The applications of AI agents are transforming industries and revolutionizing the way we live and work. It has the power to create Job and displace it. World Economic Forum expects that it can create 97 million new jobs by the end of this year,2025. The jobs are created in AI development, implementation, and maintenance professionals, as well as positions focused on leveraging AI for innovation and growth. A survey from LinkedIn shows that a 30% annual growth rate for AI-related roles in fields like AI integration, organizational transformation, and AI implementation consulting. While the industry fears about a potential job displacement, many companies anticipate net job creation due to automation, with 50% of companies expecting automation to lead to new job opportunities. However, this revolutionary technology requires careful handling and regular updates to avoid potential downsides. The jobs roles that are at risks are those involve repetitive, rule-based, or data-driven tasks are those more susceptible to automation. The jobs of customer service representatives, car and truck drivers, data entry clerks, administrative secretaries, and accounting professionals have the potential to be absorbed by AI agents. According to US job loss data, AI was directly responsible for 3,900 job losses, accounting for 5% of the total in May 2023. The report says that AI may replace 300 million jobs globally, with 9.1% of all jobs worldwide potentially being affected. Manufacturing, customer service, and administrative sectors are among those most vulnerable to AI-driven jobs that faces the job displacement. Technology has a history that displaced many routine jobs and created new and promising avenues. To remain relevant, workers will need to develop AI-related skills, as 83% of businesses believe that AI skills determine job security, a way to upskill and reskill. The cut throat competition forces companies to reimage their workforces, combining human creativity with AI capabilities to drive innovation and growth and the industry adaptation is quick and faster in this sector. The AI Job market is continuously evolving, while AI poses challenges, it also presents opportunities for workers to transition into new roles and industries.
