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Introduction to India's Seven Major Coffee Brands and the Unique Flavor Characteristics of Indian Monsoon Natural Process Coffee Beans

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee

Last Updated: 2026/01/27, India has long been a cultivator of coffee beans, in fact, it is the world's sixth largest coffee producer. However, in most parts of the country, the vast majority of Indians prefer to start their day with tea, and traditionally, if you ordered coffee in a restaurant, you were more likely to receive a sad cup of Nestlé coffee rather than real coffee. But in recent years, this situation has changed

India has long been a cultivator of coffee beans—in fact, it is the world's sixth-largest coffee producer. But in most parts of the country, the vast majority of Indians prefer to start their day with tea, and traditionally, if you ordered coffee in a restaurant, you were more likely to get a sad cup of Nescafé rather than "real coffee." However, in recent years, this situation has improved significantly, with an increasing number of coffee brands changing India's coffee market by introducing consumers to the advantages of artisanal coffee over instant coffee and the excellent qualities of specialty coffee.

Actually, in recent years, the quality of Indian specialty coffee has been improving. FrontStreet Coffee previously had an S795 coffee bean from India, which used the monsooned natural processing method—we'll focus on explaining processing methods later. FrontStreet Coffee roasted this Malabar bean to medium, which significantly reduced the coffee's acidity and created a very distinctive taste. Rich caramel, raisin, and herbal notes, with a mouthfeel somewhat like genmaicha tea, and a berry-like aftertaste.

Today, FrontStreet Coffee will take a look at what coffee brands India has to offer!

Koinonia Coffee Roasters

Koinonia's unassuming location in one of Mumbai's popular neighborhoods attracts many people to taste cold brew and specialty coffees. All coffees are hand-roasted and sourced from several estates in southern India. Popular varieties include Marvahulla. They also offer barrel-aged coffee, where coffee beans are aged in whiskey barrels before being roasted.

Araku Coffee

Araku offers premium biodegradable coffee beans and blends grown and processed by local Adivasi farmers in Andhra Pradesh, which have also gained recognition on the world stage. Last year, Araku Coffee won the prestigious Prix Epicures gold medal in Paris, defeating blends from other countries. In India, the brand offers four coffees, with bestsellers being Signature and Micro Climate.

Black Baza Coffee

Black Baza Coffee aims to create a "localized, participatory, and meaningful coffee movement." Their coffee is 100% traceable to farms, shade-grown, and they believe in giving back to society and the environment (think employment, reforestation). They offer both Arabica and Robusta coffee beans, as well as two blends with different flavor profiles. Dark chocolate, South Indian filter coffee, fruity flavors, and many regular flavors are accompanied by regular limited editions.

Halli Berri

Four Kariappa women run this family-owned coffee estate in Karnataka. For six generations in their family, 'House of Halli Berri' has produced sustainably grown coffee, planted in shade with cherries hand-picked. This delicious coffee is produced in small batches, made from 100% Arabica coffee beans with honeydew flavors.

The Flying Squirrel

This Bangalore-based brand was founded by third-generation coffee farmer Tej Thammaiah and advertising executive Ashish D'Abreo. The brand offers up to 11 different varieties and a seasonal coffee rotation menu. Favorite coffees include Parama with chocolate notes and Sunkissed brew.

Ainmane Coffee

This Coorg-based brand produces one of the world's most expensive coffees - civet coffee, which involves coffee cherries being ingested by wild civets and then excreted for harvesting and processing the coffee beans. Besides this, Ainmane also offers various coffee blends.

Blue Tokai

Founded in 2013 by Matt Chittaranjan and Namrata Asthana, Blue Tokai offers freshly roasted coffee from light to extremely dark roasts. "Our coffee is sold in bean form to customers who like to grind their own coffee before drinking (which we usually recommend), or specifically for the brewing equipment they use," the duo says. Attikan Estate from MS Estate and organic coffee are some of the bestsellers.