Homegrown specialty coffee brand Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters has crossed a significant milestone with the opening of its 200th café, located at Origins, HLP Galleria in Mohali. What began as a small roasting venture has grown into one of India’s most recognisable café networks, mirroring the steady evolution of the country’s coffee culture.
The 200th café opening was marked by teams across the organisation as a moment of collective pride—built, as many within the company describe it, on passion, discipline, and a strong commitment to craft.
From Roastery to a Pan-India Presence
Founded in 2013 by Matt Chitharanjan and Namrata Asthana, Blue Tokai began with a clear mission: to make high-quality, traceable Indian coffee accessible to a wider audience. By working closely with coffee growers and focusing on education around beans, brewing methods, and origins, the brand helped introduce many Indian consumers to specialty coffee.
Over the years, Blue Tokai has expanded its café footprint across 50+ cities, covering metros as well as emerging Tier 1 and Tier 2 markets. Its network includes neighbourhood cafés, high-street locations, and the more experiential Origins format, where provenance and brewing techniques take centre stage.
Building Consistency at Scale
Reaching 200 cafés has been a measured journey rather than a rapid sprint. The company has steadily invested in roasting infrastructure, training programmes, and operational systems to ensure consistency across locations. The Mohali café reflects this approach, reinforcing Blue Tokai’s craft-led positioning even as the brand operates at national scale.
Backed by Long-Term Capital
Blue Tokai’s growth has been supported by institutional capital from marquee investors, including A91 Partners and Sequoia Capital India (now Peak XV Partners). According to market sources, the company’s most recent funding round valued Blue Tokai in the $250–300 million range. The capital has been channelled into café network expansion, strengthening backend and roasting capacity, investments in technology, and building leadership and frontline talent.
A Culture Anchored in People
As the network expanded beyond early adopter metros, Blue Tokai’s leadership has continued to emphasise a people-first culture—from baristas and café managers to city and regional operations teams. This focus on training, internal progression and shared values has emerged as a key differentiator, helping the brand maintain quality and identity while scaling.
Steadily Becoming Part of Everyday Urban Life
Crossing the 200-café mark places Blue Tokai among India’s largest café chains by footprint, while still retaining its specialty roots. The next phase is expected to focus on deeper penetration in Tier 2 cities, improving store productivity and widening engagement with new consumers. Rather than aggressive overseas café expansion, the brand is also likely to extend its reach through packaged coffee, partnerships and retail channels.
As India’s coffee consumption continues to rise and more consumers trade up from instant to craft, Blue Tokai’s 200th café milestone reflects a broader shift underway in the market. Specialty coffee is no longer niche—it is steadily becoming part of everyday urban life across the country.
