Tag Archives: Blue Tokai

Immersive experiences new coffee add-ons at cafes

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Coffee consumption in India has increased to 91,000 tonne in 2023 from 84,000 tonne in 2012, where instant coffee has emerged a top favourite, as per a 2023 study by the Coffee Board of India and CRISIL.

Immersive experiences new coffee add-ons at cafes

For coffee drinkers, it’s not just about enjoying a saffron pistachio latte anymore, but also being part of the journey of the coffee bean from farm to cup.

From organising coffee tours to sampling sessions of ‘make your own brew’ while offering innovation in products, new-age coffee brands like Roastea, Blue Tokai, Barista and others are crafting experiences to make coffee a ‘cool’ drink.

“With increasing affinity for high-quality coffee, consumers are actively seeking out-of-home coffee experiences,” said Shivam Shahi, co-founder & COO, Blue Tokai, an Indian specialty coffee roaster & café chain, which opened its 100th store this year.

Blue Tokai recently collaborated with Royal Enfield for an immersive three-day road trip in the Eastern Ghats with 12 explorers and coffee enthusiasts, picking varieties of coffee plants for brewing sessions.

“Coffee brewing is now an immersive experience,” said DM Purnesh, president of Speciality Coffee Association of India (SCAI), who is spearheading the India International Coffee Festival (IICF) in India, an ongoing event with participation of over 150 brewers, growers, roasters, exporters, traders, cafe chain owners, retailers and coffee connoisseurs from all over India.

“Much like other tea-drinking nations such as China, Japan, and the UK, India is seeing a shift towards coffee, particularly among the youth. The increasing number of cafés, not only in big cities but also in smaller towns reflects this growing trend. While tea-focused chains remain limited to low-price segments, the coffee scene is rapidly evolving with premium and unique experiences,” said Purnesh.

Coffee consumption in India has increased to 91,000 tonne in 2023 from 84,000 tonne in 2012, where instant coffee has emerged a top favourite, as per a 2023 study by the Coffee Board of India and CRISIL.

Also, the India coffee market is expected to reach $1,227.47 million by 2032 at a CAGR of 9.87%, as per Custom Market Insights. This is driven by increasing demand for specialty coffee (over 70% growth) and sustainable practices (60% preference among consumers), Kaapi Machines, an integrated beverage equipment company offering catering support to café chains including McDonald’s, Tata Starbucks, WeWork, ITC Hotels, and Taj Group, offer bean-to-cup tours, and customised roasting sessions for coffee connoisseurs.

“Consumer demand is ever-evolving but we see a new trend around milk-based beverages like Cortado and Macchiato, as well as drinks like infused cold brews and Nitro coffee,” said Abhinav Mathur, CEO & MD, Kaapi Machines.

Retailers are also supportive of selling coffee in unique ways and adapting to changing consumer preferences by offering alternatives such as oat and almond milk, catering to vegan and lactose-intolerant customers, shared Purnesh. “Cafés enhance the coffee experience with artistic presentations, like latte art and premium cutlery, adding an exciting dimension to the  experience. This approach sets coffee apart from traditional tea offerings and aligns with modern consumer trends,” he added.

At the recently launched Tata Starbucks store in Delhi, coffee drinking combines local culture embedded in design and food offerings. From Punjabi floral motifs to connect the global coffee brand with Indian consumers, the store has cinnamon jaggery latte with organic jaggery sourced from Maharashtra; and cocoa birds eye chilli latte inspired from Meghalaya.

The demand for experience more than the product is led by the younger generation. Rajat Agrawal, CEO, Barista Coffee Company, which hosts exclusive tasting events and  workshops on brewing techniques, latte art, and tasting sessions, said: “The millennial and Gen Z segment want innovation in everything. These sessions help consumers to be among the first to experience new blends, single-origin specials, or seasonal beverages like tiramisu iced latte. Our recent launch of dessert-based beverages like coffee bubble tea and affogatos, plant-based lattes and detox drinks, along with desserts cater to the  growing desire for a luxurious experience,” added Agrawal.

Omnichannel beverage company Roastea that started in 2019, today serves nearly 60 million cups of coffee per year. Their focus is on product innovation and expansion strategy, tapping into tier-2 and tier-3 cities, where the brand sees a rising interest in premium coffee. “We have tried to elevate the experience beyond drinking by organising barista competitions, different brewing methods like pour-over or filter method and sampling by consumers. Consumer demand is steadily increasing for specialty coffees, sustainable products, and personalised experiences, so we plan to expand our offerings to national highways, speed corridors, and markets like the Middle East in the future,” said Chaitanya Bhamidipaty, co-founder of Roastea.

New product offerings are also a value addition to the coffee experience. For instance, Canadian coffee house Tim Hortons introduced Aerocano, an espresso-based beverage infused with microfoam. “This new introduction to our menu aligns with the growing demand for diverse coffee experiences in India,” said Tarun Jain, CEO, Tim Hortons India.

93 Degrees Coffee Roasters offers  products like easy pour-over packs and cold brew bags. The brand also hosts sessions on coffee brewing workshops, latte art and sensory workshops like practice intensities, aroma descriptors, flavour characteristics.

“Earlier, Indians mainly enjoyed instant coffee, and later, South Indian filter coffee became popular. Taking this a step further, we plan to launch ready-to-drink cold coffee cans and cold brew cans to enjoy specialty coffee on the go,” added Mishthi Aggarwal, CEO, 93 Degrees Coffee Roasters.

Roastery Coffee House, established in 2017 as a specialty coffee roaster, with presence in Hyderabad, Kolkata, Noida, Lucknow, Delhi, and Jaipur, recently sold over 100,000 cups of cranberry coffee in six months. The crimson drink is a playful variation of coffee.

source: http://www.financialexpress.com / FE Leisure, Financial Express / Home> Business News> Life> Lifestyle / by Vaishal Dar / November 10th, 2024

Zerodha’s Nikhil Kamath leads $10 mn round in coffee specialty brand Subko

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Subko, a brand known for its premium coffee, baked goods, and bean-to-bar chocolate, has secured a significant investment round of $10 million.

Nikhil Kamath, Co-founder & Chief Investment Officer, True Beacon and Zerodha

Subko, a Mumbai-based brand known for its specialty coffee, craft-baked goods, and bean-to-bar chocolate, has secured a significant investment of $10 million. Leading the round is renowned investor and co-founder of Zerodha, Nikhil Kamath, valuing the company at approximately $34 million post-money.


Kamath is also an investor in Third Wave Coffee.

Subko competes with several players including Third Wave Coffee, Slay Coffee, Blue Tokai, Sleepy Owl Coffee, Hatti Kaapi, and Rage Coffee.

The latest funding round highlights Subko’s growing appeal.  The company’s focus on celebrating South Asian culture through its products, coupled with its design-driven experiential approach, has attracted a diverse range of investors.These include the Blume Founders Fund, The Gauri Khan Family Trust, Priya &  John Abraham, Sangita Jindal, Srinivas & Pallavi Dempo, The Mehta International Mauritius Limited Group etc.

The funds will fuel Subko’s expansion plans. Key areas of focus include:

  1. Building a strong team
  2. Developing innovative customer experiences through technology
  3. Investing in research and development for new products and design
  4. Strengthening farm-level infrastructure for specialty coffee and cacao beans
  5. Launching ready-to-drink coffee products

Subko also plans a strategic rollout of flagship experience cafes with different formats. These cafes will be carefully curated and launched in select Indian cities and potentially even global capitals. The aim is to showcase South Asian craftsmanship and the region’s exceptional agricultural resources.”Nikhil’s participation is a testament to our brand’s potential,” said Rahul Reddy, Founder, CEO, and Creative Director of Subko. He emphasizes Kamath’s alignment with Subko’s mission: empowering homegrown Indian brands and navigating the complexities of the consumer market.

“I am deeply impressed by Subko’s commitment to showcasing the finest Indian craftsmanship on a global platform. It is paramount that a distinctive Indian brand like Subko leads the way in delivering our unique, curated experiences to the world. My journey with Subko, transitioning from a customer to an investor, has given me unique insights into the brand’s evolution and potential. I am eagerly looking forward to witnessing the brand’s narrative unfold and flourish in the coming years,” said Nikhil Kamat.

Subko Specialty Coffee Roasters and Craft Bakehouse is a coffee roastery, bakehouse, and experiential cafe concept in Mumbai that focuses on the Indian subcontinent’s origin stories across a variety direct-to farmer sourcing efforts.


“Zerodha founders just doubled down on coffee in a big way..Nikhil Kamath already had a small stake in Third Wave Coffee, which is sort of the leading challenger brand competing with Starbucks India today. And now, a firm fully owned by the two brothers (NKSquared) has acquired a massive 25% stake in a smaller competitor.With the existing investment in Third Wave Coffee, the Kamaths would have surely gotten much insights about the functioning and the potentila of the space,” said Jayant Mudhra of Dexter Capital Advisors. 

Subko sources specialty coffee, fine cacao, and wheat, directly from farmers and emphasizes hyper-traceability, which involves tracking and documenting every step in the supply chain, including recent block-chain enabled coffee and pioneering direct tipping systems for coffee farmers. 

The brand works in direct trade relationships with coffee estates and smallholder farmers harvesting and processing coffee and cacao, roasting and transforming the agricultural produce into fine specialty finished goods, and along with its bakehouse, showcases the products in flagship cafes and ‘mini’ pop up stores in addition to shipping products pan-India, and globally.

source: http://www.business-standard.com / Business-Standard / Home> Companies> News / by Sunaina Chadha, New Delhi / March 26th, 2024

India showcases thriving coffee industry at World Coffee Conference

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The Indian coffee market amounts $0.5 billion in 2023, and is expected to grow at 9.04% CAGR.

WCC

Coffee enthusiasts and stakeholders worldwide have gathered in Bengaluru for the fifth World Coffee Conference (WCC) 2023.

The four-day event, happening once every four years and being hosted in India for the first time, aims to discuss sustainability through circular economy, regenerative agriculture, and innovation within the coffee industry. The conference has attracted more than 24,000 delegates from over 80 countries.


Major players in the Indian coffee landscape, including Nestle India , Tata Coffee, and Bru, as well as artisanal brands like Blue Tokai and Narasu’s Coffee, are participating. The event serves as a platform for Indian coffee growers and makers to discuss financing mechanisms, quality control, startup innovations, and trade opportunities.

Matt Chitharanjan, co-founder and chief executive officer at Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters, commented on the significance of the event. “The WCC is unique in its focus on coffee-producing nations, offering India an excellent opportunity to showcase its growing coffee community and industry advancements,” he told Business Standard.


According to Statista, the Indian coffee market is worth $0.5 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate of 9.04 per cent until 2028. To further highlight India’s coffee production, the event has organised tours to coffee plantations in Coorg, Chikkamagalur, and Kodagu Valley.

Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry, emphasised the conference’s commitment to sustainable practices. “As we gather in Bengaluru, the WCC underscores the critical importance of sustainability, waste reduction, and inclusivity in shaping a greener future for the coffee industry,” he said.


An exhibition displaying the entire coffee value chain, from bean to cup, has been set up, drawing considerable interest from attendees. Pavilions representing India’s major coffee-growing states, such as Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, showcase the diverse range of coffee produced in the country.

A spokesperson from Nestlé India, the makers of the Nescafé brand, also expressed support for the WCC’s mission. “We are fully aligned with the WCC’s efforts to build a sustainable coffee industry that focuses on circular economy and regenerative agricultural practices,” they stated.


The WCC is a collaborative effort involving the International Coffee Organization, the Coffee Board of India, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Government of Karnataka, and various stakeholders in the coffee industry.

source: http://www.business-standard.com / Business Standard / Home> Industry> News / by Akshara Srivatsava, New Delhi / September 27th, 2023