Hyderabad cafe introduces Japanese-style ice block coffee experience

Hyderabad’s Et-Si café has introduced a Japanese-inspired ice block experience where beverages are served in crystal-clear frozen glasses. The concept, inspired by Tokyo cafés, offers evolving flavours as the ice melts, blending desserts and drinks into a unique summer attraction.

Hyderabad: Ice in coffee has always been common, but what if your coffee was served inside ice itself? Inspired by Japan’s evolving cafe culture, Hyderabad’s Et-Si has introduced the city’s first Japanese Ice Block experience, where beverages are poured into handcrafted crystal-clear ice glasses.

The concept draws inspiration from cafes across Tokyo and Osaka, where visually striking iced beverages featuring coffee, matcha and flavoured ice blocks have become increasingly popular. Unlike regular iced drinks, the flavour of the beverage gradually changes as the ice slowly melts, creating a more immersive and interactive cafe experience.

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“I was fascinated by the visual appeal and evolving taste experience that these ice block drinks offered in Japan, and wanted to bring the concept to Hyderabad by blending desserts and beverages into something bold and unique,” says Anju Narang, founder of Et-Si.

To reinterpret the trend for the city, the cafe introduced combinations such as the Tiramisu Latte, Chocolate Mousse Mocha and Hot Chocolate Affogato, which have already become popular among Hyderabadis. Priced at ₹595, each serving combines a beverage or dessert drink with the signature crystal-clear ice block, turning a simple coffee break into an experience.

However, creating the perfect ice block was far more technical than simply freezing water. Et-Si spent nearly two to three months researching and developing the concept, with one of the biggest challenges being the structure, thickness and clarity of the ice blocks so they could hold beverages for almost 45 minutes without melting too quickly.

“We use RO and UV-purified water to create crystal-clear ice blocks instead of conventional cloudy ice cubes. Each batch takes nearly 48 to 56 hours to freeze and prepare,” Anju explains.

While the process is highly time-intensive, the cafe believes the final experience makes the effort worthwhile, especially during Hyderabad’s peak summer season, where customers are increasingly looking for unique and globally inspired café experiences.