A cup of nostalgia at Apon Coffee House

Even though the space was half empty, it was still filled with the murmurs of a living and breathing cafe—glasses clinking in the back, the shuffling feet of the waiters, and the bursts of mid-conversation laughter of diners. The table next to me calls the waiter by his name, asking him to get another cold coffee for his friend. 

Sometimes when the business slows down, the staff might even go live on Facebook to talk with customers about the food, in a sly attempt to get a positive review.

It might sound a little funny, but it also sounds like a cafe that has formed a strong bond with its customers.  When we sat with Sabbir Alamin, the Assistant Manager of Apon Coffee House, he asked the first question. 

"Are you from Khilgaon?"

His question makes sense because Apon Coffee House has, in a way, grown up with Khilgaon and vice versa. In 2004, the coffee house began its journey with just coffee and confectionery items. When they first set their shop up in their current location, the roads used to be empty. But as soon as evening pulled in, customers would flock to the cafe for a cold coffee, despite having nowhere to sit. 

"We didn't have a seating area, we didn't even have a proper menu. But we grew by virtue of word of mouth; because people told their friends and family about our cold coffees," reminisced Alamin.  

He continued, "Apon was very popular even back in the day, and we still have people coming here who have been with us from the very beginning."

The coffee shop that used to only sell cold coffees out of a freezer has always been a staple spot in the area, and today, it has expanded its shop, as well as its menu. From a few cold coffee flavours to a selection of Indian, Italian, and American cuisines, their menu is now several pages long.

We took a stroll down memory lane, coffee in hand, to see if their food lives up to their own legacy. 

Cold coffee

Apon's cold coffees are where their legacy began years ago. With a slushie-like consistency, the beverage is made out of blended frozen milk or ice cream with other flavours such as chocolate, caramel, butterscotch, etc. 

Over the years, their chocolate cold coffee has managed to retain its original flavour. According to Alamin, the recipe for their iconic cold coffees has undergone a few adjustments, but they have tried to keep it true to its original flavour. 

However, a fair warning— the sheer amount of chocolate powder used as a garnish on the top layer of the drink might trigger a coughing fit. However, you certainly will find customers who actually enjoy this because it's always been served this way for over two decades.

Interestingly, Apon has stuck to the same plastic cups and coloured straws they introduced in the beginning. It is not only a testament to their consistency, but it also evokes a sense of nostalgia for people who grew up in this place. 

The simple beverage might not seem much to food enthusiasts, but this refreshing cold drink has become a staple for people located in Khilgaon. 

Doi Fuchka

This is a classic light bite. In a menu that spans around four pages, the doi fuchka is not one that immediately stands out but is highly recommended by regulars at Apon.

Once the plate lands on your table, you are on a timer. The fuchka itself is quite light and crispy but, in turn, gets soggy very quickly. 

The entire plate is ladled with yoghurt, and in turn, the fuchka filling gets lost somewhere in the mix. The dominant flavour is the masala used in the yoghurt. The (time-sensitive) texture makes it stand out, but its flavours lack the complexity you can find in other local eateries. So, if you are a fan of mild flavours, this might be the perfect snack for you. 

Beef Masala Dosa

Even though the entire menu is quite lengthy, they manage to select 'safe' dishes from different cuisines. In other words, if you are an adventurous eater, you might not find out-of-the-box items at Apon—except for their dosas. 

The dosas I have tried in the past have all been vegetarian, so a chicken or beef dosa option was new for me. With the time-sensitive nature of the fuchka in mind, I thought the case might be similar for the dosa, but the experience was quite different. 

The dosa was able to hold onto its texture for quite a while, and the mild taste complimented the chutneys it came with. The coconut chutney had a strong taste of coriander, which might have made it more refreshing, but it can become off-putting for a lot of people. 

The beef is served separately in a small dish. The beef does not try to be too much and sticks to familiar flavours. In short, it tastes like a simple homemade beef curry, which makes it quite a comforting meal. 

Apon Pizza

Apon's pizza and spaghetti menu is a relatively new addition, and you can tell by the new glean the black menu page gives off in comparison to the tattered older menus.  The whole page is filled with Italian names, but we had to try its eponymous pizza. 

The pizza is topped with beef, chicken, corn, capsicum, black olives, mushrooms, and tomatoes, with a healthy serving of cheese. 

The cheese pull on this pizza was quite impressive, which is why, despite having so many toppings, the cheese became the dominant flavour in this dish.The flavour of the beef curry from the beef masala dosa we tried earlier made a return in the pizza, which is quite the odd addition.