Roasters I get coffee from and some comparison – 2022

In this article I am sharing how I learned about specialty coffee from India, the roasters I buy coffee from and a comparison of their offerings.

Ignorance

Till 2017, I had no clue that India produces high quality (specialty) coffee. Going to Starbucks in India and coffee shops abroad, and consuming international information on coffee, I always thought coffee from Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia), South America (Columbia, Guatemala) and some countries like Indonesia, Hawai are the only countries that produces good quality coffee.

Must. Find. International. Coffee

In 2016, my specialty coffee journey began with a trip to Europe. In Italy, I had enjoyed multiple espresso shots and purchased Illy coffee (and Bialetti moka pot), and was amazed by the taste and flavors. Italians knew their coffee. After coming back home, we* ran out of that coffee. We also ran out of Java coffee gifted to us by our friends. Then we ran out of the Java coffee our friends had kept for themselves, but later passed it on to us (:P). Then we ran out of the booster stocks of Illy we got from our travels and others’.

*my wife is a coffee lover as well

Enlightenment

By early 2018, we had two lonely brewers and two eager coffee lovers at home, living a life without coffee. Then finally, we looked up online to find coffee in India.

Thanks to Blue Tokai, Koinonia (now KC Roasters) and Flying squirrel coffee, we were not only able to find good quality coffee in India, but also learned that India has amazing coffee. Much of that high quality coffee gets exported, which reminded me of alphonso mangoes and brain drain.

Given we have quality specialty coffee and a plethora of variety in India, I mostly buy local now. More sustainable, for my planet and for my wallet. When I travel international, I do buy roasted coffee beans from that region.

Great Indian Coffee Roasters (and Farmers)

There are many coffee roasters in India who have a curated collection of single origin arabica specialty coffee and blends. They all work closely with the coffee estates / farmers from various parts of India. Some of them own the lands and grow the coffee themselves (Maverick & Farmer). Some work closely with small farmers to support them with global best practices and support them with a more than fair price (Black Baza, Araku). 

They roast, from light to ultra dark roasts, to bring out the best in each bean and to meet the needs of different types of brewing and coffee recipes; and ship freshly roasted coffee across India. Options are available to buy whole beans or grounds of a particular size to suit the brewing equipment at home. There are organic coffee options available as well. You can find innovative and experimental coffee roasts – World’s first cold smoked coffee (Ol’ Smoky @ Maverick and Farmer); to wine inspired carbonic maceration fermentation application to coffee (Tat Tvam Asi organic @ KC Roasters), Wine barrel aged coffee (Sula Barrel Aged Blend @ Blue Tokai) and so on.

Many offer the option to subscribe coffee at a discounted price (upto 20%).

My go to Coffee Roasters

I have ordered from many roasters, and always had a great experience. I have captured some of the key information from each roaster I have ordered from. 

Roaster & websites	Coffee variety	Sampler option	Price range (INR)	Shipping fee	Intro offers	Subscription option	Other Products
BlueTokai Coffee	15+	Yes, 3 of your choice	440-580 / 250 g	Free	15% off	10% to 20% discount for 3 to 24 deliveries	Cold brew cans & bags, Easy pour*, Coffee capsules, Equipments**
ThirdWave Coffee	10+	No	430-450 / 250g	Free		12.5% to 20% discount for 3 to 12 deliveries	Easy pour, Cold brew bags
BlackBaza Coffee	9	Yes, 1 set of 7	320-360 / 250g	60 INR / order		~17%-23% discount for 6 to 24 deliveries	Equipments, Coffee flour
Araku Coffee	5	No	490 – 850 / 250 g	Free		No	Easy pour, Equipments (signature)
FlyingSquirrel Coffee	10	Yes, 2 sets – 6 & 7	360-680/250g	Free		12.5% discount 3-12 months	Equipments
KC Roasters	15	Yes, 3 sets of 3	690-980 / 340g	Free		15%-20% off, 4-12 deliveries	Equipments, Coffee protein bars
Maverick and Farmer	15	Yes, 1 set of 5	360-680/250g	Free		6% discount for 3 month	Brew bags, Equipments
Roastery Coffee	9	No	425-500 / 250 g	Free	10% off	No	Easy pour, Equipments, Chocolates
El Bueno Coffee	9	No	450-550 / 250 g	Free		No	Coffee tonics, Easy pour, Equipments

There are many other coffee roasters in India apart from the ones I listed above. I plan to explore more, and keep adding more information.

Apart from roasters, I have also bought coffee from:

• Marketplaces – Sixteen Grams (not anymore), Amazon, Somethings Brewing. 
• Cafes – Many cafes have their own freshly roasted coffee for sale. I ask when I like something. 
• Coffee Estates – In our stays and visits to coffee estates we have often asked if we could buy their coffee. That’s how I discovered Halli Berri.

Hope you find something new or interesting. 

If you liked what I write you might want to follow my journey on Instagram @journal_of_a_coffee_enthusiast.

Below is a link to more latest article.

Roasters I get coffee from & the coffees I loved – 2024-25