In the heart of Bengaluru, from April 25 to 27, the city’s air carried a scent more potent than usual—the rich, familiar aroma of freshly brewed coffee. At Marakata, Chamara Vajra, Jayamahal Main Road, the India International Coffee Festival (IICF) 2025 welcomed coffee lovers, baristas, industry veterans, farmers, and curious newcomers alike. Organized by the Specialty Coffee Association of India (SCAI) and supported by the Coffee Board of India, the festival offered more than just a caffeine fix; it provided a deep dive into India’s complex, evolving coffee culture.
Following successful editions in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru in 2024, the 2025 festival built on a growing enthusiasm for specialty coffee in India. From exciting competitions to interactive workshops and lively discussions, IICF created a space where coffee was not just consumed—it was understood, appreciated, and celebrated.
Brewing Excellence on a National Stage
At the centre of IICF 2025 were the much-anticipated semi-finals and finals of key national competitions. The National Barista Championship, National Latte Art Championship, and the National Brewers Cup showcased the skill, creativity, and precision of India’s top baristas and brewers. The event also hosted the grand finale of the National Filter Coffee Championship, honoring India’s cherished filter coffee traditions.
The competitions were more than mere contests. They represented countless hours of practice, experimentation, and passion. Each participant brought a unique style and story to the stage, creating an environment where talent was not just recognised but nurtured. The audience, too, became part of the journey, witnessing first-hand the artistry involved in crafting a perfect cup.
DM Purnesh, president of SCAI, reflected on the event’s significance, stating, “We are proud to celebrate the country’s finest coffee talents. IICF has always been more than a competition; it is a community where coffee professionals and enthusiasts come together to learn from each other.”
Rooted in History: How Seven Seeds Changed India
India’s deep connection with coffee traced back to the 1600s, when the legendary saint Baba Budan returned from Yemen with seven Mocha seeds hidden in his robe. Planting them in the courtyard of his hermitage at Baba Budan Giri in Karnataka, he unknowingly sowed the seeds of an industry that would grow to global stature.
From these modest beginnings, India’s coffee story blossomed into a thriving enterprise. As of fiscal year 2023-24, India stood proud as the seventh-largest coffee producer in the world, with exports reaching $1.29 billion—a significant jump from $719.42 million recorded just three years earlier.
This remarkable journey served as a reminder to festival-goers that behind every espresso shot or filter brew lay centuries of dedication, adaptation, and passion.
Coffee Farming: Where Nature and Nurture Met
While the festival highlighted brewing artistry, it also brought attention to the origin of the coffee bean itself. India’s coffee continued to thrive across the lush landscapes of the Western and Eastern Ghats—regions recognised globally for their extraordinary biodiversity.
Karnataka led Indian coffee production, contributing 248,020 metric tonnes in 2022-23, followed by Kerala and Tamil Nadu. These shaded plantations not only yielded prized Arabica and Robusta beans but also served as vital guardians of local ecosystems.
Farming practices evolved over time, blending tradition with modern techniques. With climate challenges becoming more frequent, growers adopted soil health monitoring, precision irrigation, and pest control technologies to protect both their livelihoods and the delicate environment they nurtured.
One inspiring success story celebrated at the festival came from Araku Valley, where around 150,000 tribal families, supported by the Coffee Board and Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA), boosted coffee production by 20%. Their efforts, strengthened by financial support from the Girijan Co-Operative Corporation (GCC), illustrated how coffee cultivation empowered communities and strengthened the vision of a self-reliant India.
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The Rise of Indian Coffee at Home and Abroad
India’s coffee made its mark far beyond its plantations. Global demand for its rich and unique flavours continued to rise, with Italy, Belgium, and Russia among the top buyers. In just the first half of January 2025, India exported over 9,300 tonnes of coffee.
Traditionally, most of India’s coffee exports were unroasted Arabica and Robusta beans. However, a noticeable shift towards value-added products like roasted and instant coffee helped fuel the ongoing export boom.
Meanwhile, back home, India’s coffee consumption steadily increased. From 84,000 tonnes in 2012 to 91,000 tonnes by 2023, the numbers reflected a shift in drinking habits. With the rise of café culture, higher disposable incomes, and a growing preference for coffee over tea, the beverage steadily became an everyday staple for both urban and rural consumers.
IICF 2025 captured this evolving landscape, providing visitors a space to taste and experience the diverse brewing techniques and coffee styles shaping India’s contemporary coffee scene.
Technology and Sustainability Brewing Together
The future of Indian coffee continued to be built not only on tradition but also on innovation. To meet rising domestic and international demands, the Coffee Board of India rolled out initiatives like the Integrated Coffee Development Project (ICDP). These efforts aimed to improve yields, expand cultivation into non-traditional areas, and promote sustainable farming practices.
Workshops at the festival introduced attendees to how agritech tools were supporting farmers—from smart irrigation systems to AI-based crop monitoring. While these sessions kept the tone light and accessible, they underscored a growing reality: the coffee industry’s future depended on sustainability as much as it did on tradition.
Sreeram G, director of marketing at SCAI, captured the spirit of the festival well: “The India International Coffee Festival is not just about competition; it’s about connection. This festival serves as a dynamic platform for networking, innovation, and celebrating coffee as a lifestyle. It brings together coffee professionals, aficionados, and industry leaders to exchange ideas, explore emerging trends, and experience the rich intersection of coffee, cuisine, and craftsmanship.”
Brewing the Future, One Conversation at a Time
The organisers of IICF 2025 anticipated around 15,000 visitors over three days, with nearly 90 exhibitors participating. Beyond competitions and workshops, the festival brimmed with music, gourmet food stalls, artisanal products, and lifestyle showcases, creating a vibrant atmosphere.
Although the 2025 edition focused mainly on national participation, discussions during the festival indicated that future editions could see international country delegations, widening the scope for collaboration.
NN Narendra, Director of Finance at the Coffee Board of India, emphasized that the larger aim was to ensure Indian coffee received its due recognition globally while encouraging practices that benefitted both producers and the environment.
As Bengaluru hosted the India International Coffee Festival 2025, it did not just celebrate coffee as a beverage—it honoured the relationships, history, aspirations, and communities interwoven into every cup.
Through competitions, workshops, exhibitions, and meaningful conversations, IICF 2025 paid tribute to India’s rich coffee heritage while embracing the promises of its future. From the seven seeds planted centuries ago to the thriving café cultures today, the journey of Indian coffee continued, one brew, one connection, one story at a time.
