Bengaluru artists create art using coffee techniques

Bengaluru is celebrating its love for coffee in a creative way. Local artists are using coffee to create beautiful artworks. At the Coffee Santhe 2025 event, they displayed their coffee paintings, which have captured the attention of art lovers. One artist, Sapna Noronha, shared her journey into coffee painting. She started with a simple idea but faced challenges. Unlike regular paints, coffee doesn’t create thick pastes. After some experimentation, she found a way to create lighter shades by diluting the coffee. Each stroke had to be planned carefully because they couldn't be corrected once applied. To protect her artwork, she used fixatives, which helped preserve her coffee creations. Many people, especially those with coffee estates, appreciate her work. Another artist, Hema Bindu, stumbled upon coffee painting and saw its potential. She uses leftover coffee grounds, mixing them with jaggery and tamarind paste. Hema works on handmade paper and often starts several paintings at once. She achieves different shades of brown by layering the coffee. She adds oils to enhance the colors but must be careful not to use too much. Hema believes everything can have value and encourages a resourceful approach to art. In addition to artistic innovations, Bengaluru's coffee culture is evolving. Coffee lovers are now exploring barrel-aged coffee, which is infused with flavors from whiskey, rum, and wine casks. Chandini Puresh from Harley Estate explains that the beans are aged for about six months in these barrels. They absorb the aromas but do not contain any alcohol. This process creates unique and exciting new flavors for coffee enthusiasts.