Le Mil’s is preparing to open its first brick-and-mortar café at 1330 Polk Street on August 15, bringing San Francisco’s only café dedicated exclusively to Indian specialty coffee, according to The San Francisco Chronicle.
The business was founded by Milana Ram and Himanshu Bhaisare after they sought to preserve Ram’s family coffee farm in southern India, launching Le Mil’s through online sales and farmers’ markets before deciding on a permanent location.
Their mission is to introduce customers to Indian-grown coffee, highlighting flavor profiles that differ from more familiar Latin American varieties while showcasing beans sourced from Ram’s family’s Navilumane Estate and neighboring farms.
The café’s menu will feature pour-overs, espresso drinks, and South Indian filter coffee alongside creative specialty beverages inspired by Indian ingredients. Signature offerings include the Pink Panther, made with cascara, kokum, and hibiscus, plus drinks flavored with house-made masala jaggery syrup infused with cardamom, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg.
Le Mil’s aims to celebrate India’s coffee-growing heritage while creating greater awareness of the farmers behind every cup. The owners hope the new café will introduce Bay Area customers to an often-overlooked coffee tradition through both education and distinctive flavors.
