Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters — Indian Hospitality Magazine
Cafe Edition

Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters

India's specialty coffee pioneer — the roastery that proved Indian coffee could compete globally

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Matt Chitharanjan and Namrata Asthana

Founder · Est. 2013 · Champa Gali, Saket, Delhi NCR

Blue Tokai was founded in 2013 by Matt Chitharanjan and Namrata Asthana with a thesis that was, at the time, considered commercially uncertain: that Indians would pay a premium for Indian-grown specialty coffee if the sourcing was transparent and the roasting was precise. The couple began roasting in a small facility and selling beans online before opening physical cafés.

The Champa Gali café in Saket became the brand's most iconic single location — a roastery-café in a converted industrial lane that became, almost accidentally, one of Delhi's most visited cultural addresses. Champa Gali's transformation from forgotten industrial alley to curated creative district was catalysed significantly by Blue Tokai's presence.

Blue Tokai has since expanded nationally with multiple locations across Indian cities, but its contribution to the Indian coffee conversation is more significant than its retail footprint: it established the model for sourcing directly from Indian estates, roasting with transparency, and educating consumers about what Indian coffee could be.

Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters — additional image

“Indian coffee estates were already growing extraordinary coffee. We just thought someone should tell people about it.”

What Defines Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters

Single-Estate Pour-Over— The preparation that most clearly demonstrates Blue Tokai's sourcing philosophy. Each estate is named, the altitude documented, the processing method specified.
Cold Brew— Slow-steeped and served without ice. The preparation that introduced cold brew as a category to large parts of the Delhi market.
Espresso— The roastery's calibration benchmark. At Blue Tokai, the espresso reflects the current seasonal blend.
Retail Beans— The retail offering that built the brand before the cafés existed. Each bag specifies estate, altitude, variety, and roast date.
Cappuccino— The espresso-based milk drink that is the most popular single order across all Blue Tokai locations.

The Experience

The Champa Gali location is reached through a narrow industrial lane that opens into a small courtyard. The roastery is visible through the glass. The seating is outdoor, in the alley, on simple furniture. The coffee is the point; the setting is the bonus.

Rated & Reviewed By

Condé Nast Traveller India · GQ India · Forbes India · Zomato 4.4★

Editorial Notes

  • Blue Tokai is widely credited as India's first direct-trade specialty coffee roastery at scale.
  • The Champa Gali address catalysed the lane's transformation into a Delhi cultural destination.
  • The company's Series A and subsequent funding rounds are documented case studies in Indian food-tech investment.
  • Recommended for hospitality students studying direct-trade coffee sourcing, specialty coffee retail, and the café-as-cultural-catalyst model.

Getting There

Nearest Metro: Saket (Yellow Line, 10-minute auto ride to Champa Gali). The café is in Champa Gali, a converted industrial lane off Kalu Sarai. Auto-rickshaw recommended from the metro station.