India’s Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters reaches 100-store milestone

Blue Tokai’s Ballygunge store in Kolkata | Photo credit: Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters

Indian specialty coffee roaster and café chain Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters has reached 100 stores with a new outlet in Kolkata. 
 

Located in the neighbourhood of Ballygunge, Blue Tokai said the store will offer an extensive range of premium hot and cold beverages, including espresso, pourover and Vietnamese-style iced coffee. The outlet also features a Bahrisons Booksellers bookstore on its first floor. 

Blue Tokai has nearly doubled its store count within the last year and is seeking to reach 200 sites within the next 12-18 months. In a press release, the business said its café network has proven to be an ‘instrumental channel in shaping India’s coffee preferences’ across different demographics.  

“With the increasing affinity for high-quality coffee, consumers are now actively seeking out-of-home coffee experiences that extend beyond just transactions and focus on the need for inclusive, safe spaces. Our growth in the last 12 months reflects the impending demand for go-to coffee spots and increasing brand loyalty. Our aim is to take this count closer to 200 by the end of the coming fiscal year,” said Shivam Shahi, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer, Blue Tokai. 

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Founded in 2013, Blue Tokai now operates four roasteries and has scaled its café presence to nine states across India – with nearly 60 of its stores in Maharashtra and Delhi. The group also counts several marquee retail outlets, luxury hotels and restaurants among its wholesale clients, including Radisson Hotels and Pullman Hotels & Resorts. 
 

In January 2023, Blue Tokai raised $30m in Series B funding to scale its café footprint, develop its B2B channel and explore opportunities in India’s coffee vending machine segment. Its investors include A91 Partners, Ka Enterprises, Anicut Capital and 8i Ventures.