By Leslie W. Colley
South Indian coffee culture comes to East Atlanta.
It’s easy to stop into Raani for a beautifully made latte and a pastry. Spend a little more time there, though, and you’ll realize this isn’t just another neighborhood coffee shop. Since opening last November in the former HodgePodge Coffee space on Moreland Avenue, Raani has quickly become one of Atlanta’s most distinctive cafés, earning recognition as an Atlanta Journal-Constitution Critic’s Pick and a feature in 285 South.
Owner Praveena Sundarraj grew up on her family’s tea estate in Ooty, South India, built a career in specialty coffee, then set out to introduce Americans to a coffee tradition many have never experienced. The centerpiece is Madras kaapi, or South Indian filter coffee. Unlike espresso or drip coffee, kaapi is slow-brewed through a traditional metal filter, producing a concentrated decoction that’s blended with whole milk and jaggery, an unrefined cane sugar long used throughout India, before being poured back and forth between a tumbler and dabarah to create its signature frothy top. For Sundarraj, it’s deeply personal. “Filter kaapi anchored my childhood mornings. It was the heartbeat of our family gatherings. It’s not just a cup of coffee. It’s a piece of our heritage.”
The café roasts its coffee in-house and sources many of its beans from women-owned farms and producers that employ predominantly women. Seasonal drinks showcase thoughtfully layered flavors with combinations like mango and saffron, while staples like the Cardi J Latte highlight cardamom and jaggery. The pastry case is equally compelling, with house-made kaapi cake, cardamom and coriander morning buns, masala cheddar biscuits, and other Indian-inspired bakes. New breakfast sandwiches have recently joined the lineup as well.
The location at the crossroads of Ormewood Park and East Atlanta Village was an intentional choice. Sundarraj saw an opportunity to revitalize a beloved neighborhood space as an inclusive “daytime anchor,” blending South Indian coffee traditions with the area’s artistic, independent pulse. Bright, family-friendly and wheelchair accessible, Raani offers free Wi-Fi and an inviting atmosphere for catching up with friends or lingering over a second cup. The café also hosts DJs and community events, while its mobile coffee cart appears everywhere from weddings to collaborations with metro area institutions like Decatur’s Chai Pani.
In a city with no shortage of great coffee, Raani offers something different: a world-class coffee program rooted in South Indian tradition, served right here in our own neighborhood. Visit weekdays from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and follow @raanicoffee on Instagram.
