From Tea to Coffee: India’s coffee revolution brews global success
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the November 2025 edition of his monthly radio address Mann Ki Baat , spotlighted the growing global recognition of Indian coffee and praised the diversity of flavors cultivated across the country. He particularly highlighted Koraput coffee from Odisha and Araku Valley coffee from Andhra Pradesh, describing them as symbols of India’s agricultural innovation and community empowerment. “India’s coffee is coffee at its finest brewed in India and loved by the world,” the Prime Minister said, emphasizing how coffee cultivation has been transforming rural livelihoods, especially for women entrepreneurs and tribal farmers who have turned passion into prosperity.
After decades of being synonymous with tea, India is now making its mark as a global coffee powerhouse. What once began as a niche crop grown in select hilly regions has evolved into a billion-dollar export success story, admired worldwide for its rich aroma, distinctive terroir, and sustainable cultivation practices. According to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, India’s coffee exports surged 40.2% year-on-year, reaching USD 1.80 billion in FY 2024–25, extending its billion-dollar growth streak for the fourth consecutive year. The impressive surge underscores a growing international appetite for Indian beans celebrated for their artisanal quality and diversity, reaffirming the country’s ascent from a traditional tea nation to one of the world’s most dynamic coffee exporters.
How* *c* *offee* *c* *ame to India* *:* *A* *j* *ourney* *r* *ooted in* *l* *egend
The story of coffee in India traces back to the 17th century, when Baba Budan, a Sufi saint from Chikmagalur, Karnataka, is said to have smuggled seven coffee beans from Yemen’s port of Mocha and planted them on the slopes of the Baba Budan Giri hills of Karnataka.
From these humble beginnings, coffee cultivation slowly spread through the Western Ghats, nurtured by the British during the colonial era who established organized plantations across Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. Today, these three southern states account for over 90% of India’s coffee output, with emerging plantations in Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and the North-East adding new flavors to the country’s coffee map.
A* *l* *andscape of* *d* *istinct* *f* *lavours : The* *m* *any* *c* *offees of India
India’s coffee landscape is remarkably diverse, with each region producing beans that carry distinct aromas, flavors, and identities shaped by the soil, altitude, and climate. The Arabica coffee (Coffea arabica) grown in Karnataka’s Chikmagalur and Coorg, Tamil Nadu’s Nilgiris and Shevaroys, and Andhra Pradesh’s Araku Valley is mild, aromatic, and slightly acidic, thriving at altitudes between 1,000 and 2,000 meters. This premium variety dominates specialty markets in Europe and Japan. In contrast, the Robusta coffee (Coffea canephora) from Kerala’s Wayanad, Travancore, and Malabar regions, as well as parts of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, offers a stronger, full-bodied cup with higher caffeine content and is widely used in espresso and instant blends, forming the backbone of India’s coffee exports. Among India’s most unique offerings is the Monsooned Malabar coffee from the coastal belts of Karnataka and Kerala, aged naturally in humid monsoon winds to develop a smooth, mellow flavor with low acidity, an accidental discovery from colonial trade days that now enjoys Geographical Indication (GI) protection. Another celebrated variety, Mysore Nuggets Extra Bold from Karnataka, is a full-bodied, aromatic Arabica featuring large beans and a balanced profile, often regarded as India’s “AAA-grade” export coffee. In the coffee heartland of Coorg and Chikmagalur, plantations produce beans with nutty, chocolatey, and spicy undertones, often shade-grown under silver oak and jackfruit trees that promote biodiversity. Wayanad coffee from Kerala is robust and earthy, intercropped with spices like pepper and cardamom, and renowned for its women-led farming cooperatives. From the eastern side, Araku Valley coffee in Andhra Pradesh stands out for its fruity, balanced flavor and organic cultivation by tribal farmers earning international acclaim for sustainable practices. Similarly, Koraput coffee from Odisha offers a smooth-bodied cup with mild acidity, cultivated by tribal growers in the Eastern Ghats who have gained recognition for ethical and community-driven production. In Tamil Nadu, the Nilgiri and Shevaroy coffees are delicate, floral, and medium-bodied, often used in European blends for their balance and finesse. Meanwhile, the North-East coffees from Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Mizoram are bright, fruity, and still evolving as part of India’s next coffee frontier, supported by government and NGO initiatives to promote livelihood and sustainability. Together, these regional varieties define India’s coffee identity as an extraordinary blend of tradition, biodiversity, craftsmanship, and global appeal.
Modern* *c* *ultivation :* *Tradition* *m* *eets* *t* *echnology
Coffee cultivation in India is undergoing a quiet yet significant transformation, blending age-old practices with emerging innovations. But is this transformation a current reality or a projected development? In truth, it is a mix of both. Precision farming tools, satellite mapping, and digital traceability platforms are already being used by several large plantations and cooperatives across Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu to monitor crop health, soil moisture, and shade coverage. Startups are introducing blockchain-based systems that allow global buyers to trace coffee beans from plantation to cup, while organic certifications and fair-trade practices have become increasingly common in regions such as Araku Valley and Wayanad, helping small farmers earn better prices.
At the same time, technologies like AI-driven soil analytics and drone-assisted irrigation or pest management are still in early or pilot stages, largely limited to research projects and a few advanced estates. The Coffee Board of India has been promoting specialty and estate-branded coffees through initiatives like India Coffee Week and Fine Cup Awards, encouraging a move toward value addition and brand identity. Taken together, these developments, some already implemented, others on the horizon, reflect how India’s coffee sector is evolving into a more sustainable, technology-integrated industry without losing its traditional roots.
A* *g* *rowing* *g* *lobal* *i* *dentity
From the plantations of Coorg to the hills of Koraput, coffee cultivation is transforming lives, fueling exports, and redefining India’s agricultural landscape. With sustainability, innovation, and heritage at its core, India’s coffee story is no longer just a cup of comfort, it's a symbol of global recognition and rural prosperity.