The Odisha-based coffee roaster and café chain is testing itself in one of Europe’s most mature specialty coffee markets after making its international debut
India’s appreciation for specialty coffee in India has been growing for nearly a decade, driven by government investment in domestic production a burgeoning branded coffee shop market.
But Indian specialty coffee is also gaining recognition on the global stage.
Prominent homegrown coffee roasters such as Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters, Subko Coffee Roasters, Nothing Before Coffee and Roastery Coffee House have all opened cafés abroad in recent years – in Japan, the UAE, Portugal and Finland – while scaling their respective international e-commerce networks.
One market yet to fully embrace Indian specialty coffee is the UK.
World Coffee Portal data shows that India is not among the top 10 preferred coffee origins for UK coffee shop consumers, tracking behind not only coffee-producing powerhouses Colombia, Brazil and Kenya, but also the likes of Guatemala, Jamaica and Bolivia.
Seeking to raise the profile of Indian specialty coffee in the market is Odisha-based roaster and café chain Kruti Coffee, which has made its international debut with an outlet on Tooting High Street in Southwest London.
Odisha is one of India’s 16 recognised coffee-growing regions, famous for its shade-grown arabica coffee cultivated in the Eastern Ghats.
Kruti was founded in 2013 to revive a neglected coffee plantation in Odisha’s Koraput region and currently works with dozens of smallholder farmers to produce prized microlots, which it roasts at a state-of-the-art facility in Bhubaneswar.
Kruti distributes its specialty coffee online, to B2B clients and via seven company-owned cafés in its home market.
Its London store will serve a range of espresso-based beverages alongside a rotating pour-over menu of award-winning Indian specialty coffees, all supplied by the Bhubaneswar roastery. In July 2026, Kruti became one of the first Indian businesses to ship to the UK as part of a new India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).
In a LinkedIn post, Kruti highlighted London as the ideal launchpad for its international expansion, highlighting the UK capital’s global influence and vibrant café culture, as well as fast-growing consumer interest in specialty coffee.
“What began as an effort to revive a forgotten coffee plantation in Koraput has grown into a journey of showcasing the incredible potential of Indian specialty coffee to the world. Opening our first international café in London is a proud milestone – not just for Kruti Coffee, but for the farmers and communities whose dedication makes every cup possible,” said Kruti Coffee Co-founder Jeeta Mona, who is leading the UK expansion.
London has one of the most mature specialty coffee markets in the world and has long been an attractive market for international branded coffee chains.
Highlighting its status among global specialty coffee brands, Germany’s influential specialty coffee roaster The Barn, Turkey’s Cup of Joy, South African boutique operator Platō Coffee and Thailand’s super-premium chain ve/la have all debuted in London within the last 12 months.
