Everything You Need To Know About Coffee Chains In India

History and origin of coffee

Little is known about how and when the coffee was discovered, though some legends were related to its origin.

The story of an Ethiopian Legend

• The world of ancient coffee forests dates to the Ethiopian plateau.
• The goat herder Kaldi was the first person to discover the beloved coffee beans.
• There is a story behind the discovery. Kaldi noticed that his goats became energetic and did not sleep at night after eating berries from a certain tree.
• Kaldi informed the abbot of the local monastery.
• They then made a drink with the berries of the tree and found out it kept them alert for a long period of time.
• The knowledge of the potential berries began to spread when the abbot shared the discovery with his other monks at the monastery.

Coffee spreads to the Arabian Peninsula

• The word spread from the East to Arabian Peninsula, and the world came to know about these beans.
• On the Arabian Peninsula, the coffee cultivation trade began.
• Coffee was grown in the Yemeni district of Arabia by the 15^th
• It was known in Persia, Egypt, Syria, and Turkey by the 16^th
• Many public coffee houses began to appear in the cities across the NorthEast known as qahveh khaneh. Thus, coffee was not only enjoyed in homes but outside as well.
• The popularity of coffeehouses was immense, and it became a part of all kinds of social activity.
• The patrons listened to music, played chess, engaged in conversation while drinking coffee. These coffee houses became an essential part of their social culture where they could exchange information, and that is why they were referred as “Schools of Wise”.
• The knowledge of this “wine of Araby” began to spread as pilgrims came to visit Mecca each year from across the globe.

It comes to Europe

• The European travelers who visited near the East brought back the news of an unusual black beverage.
• With that, coffee made its way to the European continent and became popular in the 17^th century.
• The news of this beverage is also mired with controversy. People suspected and called it the ‘bitter invention of Satan’.
• When the coffee came to Venice in 1615, the local clergy objected to it.
• Pope Clement VIII was made to intervene due to the intensity of the controversy.
• Before making any final decision, he decided he tasted the beverage and liked it so much that he gave his papal approval.
• In the major cities of England, Austria, France, Germany, and Holland, coffee houses became a social activity center and communication center. Despite the controversies, these coffee shops kept on thriving.
• “Penny universities” in England sprang up as, for the price of one penny, one could buy a cup of coffee and engage in conversation.
• The common beverages of the time, that is beer and wine, were replaced by coffee. People felt when they drank coffee instead of alcohol, they felt more energized and the quality of their work also improved.
• By the mid-17th century in London, more than 300 coffee shops were built. They attracted patrons, merchants, shippers, brokers, and artists.
• Businesses from these coffee shops were established. Edward Lloyd’s Coffee House is an example.

To the new world

• Coffee was brought to New York in the mid-1600s.
• As the popularity of coffee increased, there was an urge to cultivate coffee outside Arabia.

Plantations by the Dutch

• In the latter half of the 17th-century Dutch finally got the seedlings. They first tried to plant in India, but it failed. Later they were successful in growing in Batavia on the island of Java, which is now called Indonesia.
• Dutch made a huge production and trade in coffee as the plants thrived. In the islands of Sumatra and Celebes Dutch expanded their coffee cultivation as well.

Arrival in the Americas

• King Louis XIV of France received a young coffee plant from the Mayor of Amsterdam in 1714. It was planted in the Royal Botanical Garden in Paris.
• Gabriel de Clieu, a young naval officer in 1723, took a seedling from the king’s plant and safely transported it to Martinique, which is an island and region of France.
• The seedling was planted, and it thrived with the spread of over 18 million coffee trees on the island of Martinique in the next 50 years. This seedling was the parent of all coffee trees in the Caribbean, South, and Central America.
• The story of Brazilian coffee is quite intriguing. It owes its existence to Francisco de Mello Palheta. The emperor sent him to French Guiana to obtain coffee seedlings. The French refused to share seedlings with him. But the Governor’s wife gave him a bouquet before he left. The coffee seedlings were concealed inside the flowers, and that paved the way to the billion-dollar industry today.
• The coffee seeds were carried to new lands and were planted worldwide by many missionaries and travellers.
• In magnificent tropical forests and on rugged mountains, plantations were established. Some crops thrived, and some could not. Many companies made a profit, but some could not.
• Coffee became one of the most profitable export crops by the end of the 18th century. Even new nations were built on coffee economics. Coffee is the most sought commodity in the world after crude oil.

Benefits of coffee

Your favourite beverage has a lot of advantages-

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• It helps you to burn your fat.
• It contains essential nutrients.
• It may lower your risk of Parkinson’s.
• It may protect your liver.
• It can fight depression and make you happier.
• It helps to improve energy levels.
• It can drastically improve your physical performance.
• It may lower your risk of type 2 diabetes.
• It may lower the risk of certain types of cancer.

It has advantages, but consuming too much coffee can be disastrous as well. It can cause sleep problems, nausea, tense muscles, and headache. Coffee can dehydrate your skin as well. If you are a coffee addict and decide to withdraw it, you will experience severe headaches that can last up to one week. So, drink it wisely.

Coffee Industry in India

While returning from a pilgrimage to Mecca Baba Budan, an Indian Muslim saint, smuggled coffee beans by hiding them in his beard from Yemen to Mysore in India. He planted them on Chandragiri Hills in Chikamagalur district, a quaint lesser-known hill town. Mysore is now a part of the Karnataka state, and that was the inception of the coffee industry in India. The first plantation was established in 1840 and then spread to Wynad, the Shevaroys, and Nilgiris. Coffee plantations flourished to export when, in the 19th century, British colonials took control. Thereby, the spread of the coffee industry was rapid in South India.

India is the world’s sixth-largest producer of coffee. It is cultivated in thick canopies in the Western Ghats, which are a UNESCO World Heritage site and a biodiversity hotspot. India produced 5.5 million bags of coffee in 2016-17. 65% of coffee comes from Karnataka, 15% from Tamil Nadu, and 20% from Kerala. 2,10,000 coffee producers are in India. They process coffee by both wash(wet) and natural(dry) methods.

Coffee Shops in India

It is well established that Indian people love coffee. The production of coffee in India is enormous, and so is the popularity of coffee shops in India. The coffee business in India has a huge market, and with time it has even increased. The café culture in India is on the rise, and the main reason is because of its ambiance, quality, taste, and surrounding of the coffee shops.

Whether you are young or old, you always want to visit a café to meet up, as that is the most happening place in today’s time. As potential customers are looking forward to the coffee shop for their network and relaxation, the business is growing.

The top 10 best coffee chains in India are-

• Café Coffee Day
• Indian Coffee House
• Barista Café and Restaurant
• Costa Coffee
• Brewberrys Café
• Café Mocha
• Starbucks Coffee company
• The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Restaurant and café
• Aqua Java
• Georgia café

Café Coffee Day

• It is one of the best coffee shops and the largest café chain in India. It opened its first outlet in Bangalore in 1996. V.G. Siddhartha is the man behind the CCD team.
• CCD has 1319 outlets across 28 states of India.
• The chain grows its coffee and has an estate spread across 10,000 acres.
• With coffee, CCD also provides chips, sandwiches, cakes, cookies, and water under their brand name.
• CCD has a range of coffees like classic cappuccino, espresso, Irish coffee, etc.

It is a great place for hanging out with friends and colleagues, along with being the most loved coffee chain in India.

Indian Coffee House

• Indian coffee shop was started by the coffee cess committee in 1936.
• The coffee shop is managed and controlled by its employers.
• Along with coffee, they serve food items like idly, dosa, toast, uthappam, and vegetarian dishes as well.
• It is on the list of the oldest coffee franchise in India, and the Indian coffee house franchise is around 12 lakh.

This is one of the most popular coffee chains in India.

Barista café and restaurant

• It has 225 outlets and is the second-largest organized coffee shop in India.
• It was established in February 2000 by the coffee company limited.
• Espresso methods are used to brew coffee, and they take pride in their technique and hospitality.
• They use a different method of extraction to determine how much coffee should go into a cup.
• Along with coffee, the menu includes snack items.

This is one of the most liked coffee chains in India.

Costa Coffee

• It is the third-largest coffee shop franchise in India.
• This brand came to India in 2005 from the United Kingdom.
• It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Whitbread PLC.
• Costa Franchise cost is 30-40 lakh.

Brewberrys café

• It was formed in 2008.
• The first café opened in Vadodara, Gujarat.
• They have 45 stores in 15 states.

Café Mocha

• This type of café includes the concept of hookah while enjoying coffee with friends and family.
• This coffee chain has taken its inspiration from the coffeehouse of Morocco and Turkey.
• The menu includes burgers, pizza, panini, desserts, delicious coffee, etc.
• The franchise cost is around 50 lakh.

Café mocha falls on the list of the best coffee chains in India.

Starbucks coffee company

• This is a new entry into India’s coffee market. In 2012, they had a partnership with Tata Global Beverages and came to India.
• It is a Seattle-based company and has outlets across 61 countries and has opened chains in Mumbai and Delhi.
• In October 2012, Starbucks opened its door in Mumbai.
• Compared to local joints, the coffee price in Starbucks is a bit high, but that does not stop coffee lovers from visiting and enjoying coffee here.
• The coffee here is delicious as they offer the best high-quality coffee. Whether the temperature is hot or cold, it tastes good and is loved by all.
• The menu also offers bagels, doughnuts, sandwiches, and desserts to go with your coffee.
• They offer 3 sizes of coffee – small, large or regular, like the American standard.
• Starbucks does not provide franchises to any individual. You can have a licensed store of the company in a selected location.

This is one of the most loved coffee chains in India.

The coffee bean Tea leaf restaurant and café

• In 2008, the coffee bean & tea leaf (CBTL) started its operation in India.
• Since 1963, CBTL has been a famous brand for premium coffee.
• They serve brewed coffee from the best beans and roasted well to suit individual tastes.
• They have studied the technique of roasting coffee and apply it while preparing the appropriate cup of hot brewing coffee.

This is one of the most visited coffee chains in India.

Aqua Java

• In 1999, Saket Agarwal opened the first outlet. It is a small and quaint chain of coffee.
• They offer hot brewed coffees with cold varieties.
• The menu is vast, and the food items are affordable.
• Along with coffee, there is a hookah and other main course meal to make sure you hang out for a long time with your friends.

This is one of the preferred coffee chains in India for a hangout.

Georgia Café

• It produces high-quality coffee.
• Customers love their coffee blends in a jar.

These are the top 10 best coffee chains in India. People love coffee no matter what, and the business has increased because of their love and affection for this hot beverage.

Cafe franchise in India

The coffee culture in India is evolving. The sitcom Friends has inspired people, and it has become a heartwarming beverage. Coffee is locally produced, and you can get the best beans without spending too much. It is estimated that the café culture or coffee franchise will grow to Rs. 3,250 crores by 2021.

Related Read :

6 Best Green Coffee Brands in India.

Here are some interesting FAQs on Coffee Chains in India :

Conclusion

Coffee is the ultimate hot beverage loved by all. From young to old, they love coffee. With each year, the number of coffee shops in India is increasing. People are investing money to buy a franchise of various coffee chains. Even Tata invested a whopping amount in bringing Starbucks to India. It is because the café culture is spreading. People are more going out to have coffee, and the business is thriving. This article talks about the best coffee chains in India, the history of coffee, the best coffee shop in India, and the cost of the coffee franchise.