A method for forming a hydrophobic coating on a substrate by a thermal spray deposition process is described. The method may comprise feeding a thermal spray apparatus with a coating precursor consisting of particles having an initial particle morphology, and heating the particles with the thermal spray apparatus to cause the particle to at least partially melt. The method may further comprise accelerating the particles towards the substrate, and forming the hydrophobic coating on the substrate by allowing the particles to impact the substrate in a partially melted state in which a fraction of the initial particle morphology of at least some of the particles is retained.