India has long been a grower of coffee beans – in fact it is the sixth largest coffee producer in the world. But in most of the country, the vast majority of Indians prefer to start their day with tea. This is, however, slowly changing as the youth take to caffeine in a big way and make it their signature drink.
The pleasure of coffee is that it transcends space and time. A cup of coffee can bring a big smile to the face and evoke a thousand memories. It can conjure up pleasant visions of a beautiful time. And it can radiate warmth, goodwill, and love shared between family and friends. It is that kind of magical brew which is surreal and yet can be enjoyed on the most mundane of occassions.
In India, the Indian Coffee House is the oldest surviving coffee chain in the world, having been founded sometime in the 1930's. The prominent chains are there in Kolkata, New Delhi, and Allahabad. Apart from a niche market for speciality coffee, roasters in the West imported coffee from India. The aroma of newly-roasted coffee tickling the senses and the sight of young and old alike, engaged in conversations, was the trademark of the India Coffee House. Even poets and writers used to find these spaces amenable to gatherings, where dance, music, and theatrical performances were organised.
Coffee has always been synonymous with conversations, and no, I am not just referring to CCD's overblown parlance! The starting of Cafe Coffee Day heralded a change in middle class consumption of coffee in India. Youngsters started visiting these cafes in huge numbers, and exchanging talks over a steaming hot cup of cappucino. Coffee began to determine dress codes, lifestyles, and changed the contours of fun overall. Cafe Coffee Day changed the way Indians viewed coffee. It became a lesiure drink and something to be savoured over chats and gossip.
This café culture has introduced coffee to many Indians for the first time, and even in traditional coffee-drinking regions has brought more variety to the drink. Baristas serve up espresso, cappuccino, filter coffee and latte to people who had far fewer options before.
Starbucks, the world's largest coffee-shop chain, opened its first branch in India on 19 October 2012. Two more branches – including one in Mumbai's famous Taj Mahal Palace hotel, which has likewise seen dozens of people queuing for a frappuccino – opened soon after that. With more than 17,600 branches in 61 countries, the Seattle-based company caught on like wildfire in India and reached a surge in popularity by 2014.
India is the home to chai, sugary and milky tea ladled into tumblers at street stalls for around five rupees. However, as Indians' disposable incomes rise, cafes are cropping up in large cities. The country's cafe sector is worth $230m (£143m), up from $40m five years ago, according to a report by Technopak, an Indian consultancy. Cafe Coffee Day, a no-frills homegrown chain, dominates the market. The UK's Costa Coffee and the US's The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf also have a small presence.
Caffeine is an intoxicating substance, capable of evoking the strongest emotions, and also synonymous with fun and frolic. It is the drink of the youth, in more ways than one. It is considered 'cool' to be hanging out and drinking coffee. Whether it's a date, a fun outing with friends, or a reunion with the extended family, coffee becomes the numero uno drink on all occassions. It has that heady charm, which translates into moments of unparallaled warmth and bonhomie.
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