11 Best Coffee Brands in India 2021

That strong aroma that gets you out of bed, or gets you to actually wake up (if you’re already out of bed) – is there anything that can match it? Certainly not. So how do you like your coffee- With milk; With sugar and cream; black; or just a strong shot of espresso. Whatever your preference, the Indian market has plenty of coffee brands to satisfy you. Check out below for the  Best Coffee Brands in India: 

Related: Most Popular Chocolate Brands in India

Best Coffee Brands	Link
Nescafe	Link
Bru	Link
Country Bean’s	Link
Sunrise	Link
Colombian Brew	Link
Blue Tokai	Link
Tata Coffee	Link
Teddy Roosevelt coffee	Link
Black Baza Coffee Co.	Link
Bayar coffee	Link

After having reviewed all the best coffee brands in India based on taste, origin, beans, roast, price and much more; my team and I zeroed in on 11 that stood out. Coffee from these 11 brands were put through a series of tests to determine the best. We found that:

The best coffee brand in India is Nescafe. Nescafe’s most popular coffee is sunrise that comes with 70% coffee and 30% chicory. Additionally, the coffee is a blend of Arabica and Robusta. It’s mildly acidic and sweet. Most importantly, it will give that kick you need to wake up in the morning as each sachet contains about 50mg to 100mg of Caffeine. It also happens to be slow-roasted. So, it comes with an amazing aroma.

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Top Coffee brands in India 2021

Nescafe

The international brand, Nescafe, is quite well known in India for the filter coffee style “Sunrise”. But, for those who like regular coffee without chicory, Nescafe has the market flooded with several varieties. 

The Nescafe “Classic” is coffee granules from pure roasted coffee beans which tastes delicious whether you have it black or with sugar or as a latte. 

This instant coffee comes in a variety of premix flavours as well, like choco mocha and latte. All you need is some freshly boiled hot water to make a cafe-style cuppa. 

The decaf version is an excellent option for those who crave coffee after 6 pm but can’t afford to stay up late. Do try Nescafe “Gold” for real smooth textured coffee. Nescafe is premium without a doubt and the coffee is priced accordingly. 

Related: Best Tea Brands in India

Bru

Bru changed the way South Indians consumed their traditional filter coffee with easy to mix and use instant coffee.

• Bru coffee is quite strong, with a mix of premium quality Arabica and Robusta beans blended with 30% chicory, which gives it the much-loved filter coffee taste.

• Bru prides itself on tasting very close to actual filter coffee and I couldn’t agree more! Bru has been a household favourite for many decades and continues to be one with the blend of quality Arabica and Robusta beans harvested in the coffee plantations in South India.

These are roasted to the right flavour and vacuum-sealed to retain freshness. Bru is sold in several package sizes, including travel-friendly single-serve sachets. Bru is quite affordable and is priced on par with the other equally popular instant coffee brand in India, Nescafe Sunrise. 

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Country Bean

Every once in a while I like to have flavoured coffee to satisfy my sugar cravings. Coffee also seems to double as dessert on these occasions. 

• My recent go-to has been Country Bean’s flavoured coffees which have the perfect balance of the coffee taste with just the mild hint of flavour. 

• The flavour is naturally derived and there is no sugar added, so I can customise it with the amount of sugar and milk I want. 

Since it has pure instant coffee, it also tastes great when I have it black. The flavour I enjoy most is the cocoa mint which tastes great both hot as well as cold. You can also try the Berry and the Vanilla flavours and decide your favourites. 

Sunrise

Nescafe Sunrise has me humming the popular jingle I grew up watching, with a smile on my face. The brand that broke stereotypes of traditional relationships between couples has also found a place in almost every Indian’s home.

•  Every pack of Nescafe Sunrise that you open has the fresh aroma of coffee wafting out with its blend of 70% coffee and 30% chicory, adding just the right flavour of bitterness to the drink. 

• A spoonful of sugar and a bit of milk gives us the flavour of freshly brewed filter coffee, yet this is easy to make instant coffee. 

Sunrise is also available in single-serve sachets which I absolutely love cos I can carry these with me when I travel. Nescafe Sunrise is much cheaper than the original Nescafe Classic and Nescafe Gold varieties, and packs quite a punch delivering the strength and taste that Indians love. 

Colombian Brew

With more artisan coffee brands establishing themselves in the market, and with more coffee drinkers exploring and enjoying premium quality, hand picked and roasted beans, brands like Colombian Brew are becoming more popular.

• The coffee packaged by Colombian Brew is rich in flavour and aroma, with a very smooth taste. As the caffeine hits the spot, it is also easy on the stomach as it does not contain any chicory.

• The dark roast arabica espresso coffee is a bestseller, but there are many more varieties by Colombian Brew that are worth a try, like the French Press, Vanilla filter and the Cinnamon filter.

These coffees taste equally great even when brewed cold, simply perfect during the hotter months of the year. 

Blue Tokai

Until a few years ago, the Indian market was filled with the same old mass produced instant coffee and filter coffee, with certain brands ruling the shelves.

• Though the competition has been fierce, Blue Tokai has been able to break out of the mass production and introduce Indians to the taste of higher quality brews, ones that are grown in artisan farms by artisan farmers and roasted in smaller batches to maintain the flavour. 

• Blue Tokai was one of the first brands to draw the consumer’s attention to the various tasting notes in what they were sipping. 

One of my favourites from Blue Tokai is the Attikan Estate which has notes of figs, roasted almonds and dark chocolate. 

Tata Coffee

Tata, a name familiar with tea lovers across the country is now equally popular for the coffee too.

• The coffee from Tata is picked off the plantations owned by the brand in the southern part of the country, roasted to perfection and blended with chicory for that perfectly strong taste that we desperately seek on those groggy weekday mornings.

• This instant coffee is best had with a shot of hot milk and a spoonful of sugar, the perfect accompaniment to a delicious Indian breakfast.

It is milder than Nescafe Sunrise and Bru as the coffee to chicory ratio is lower than theirs. The coffee is also priced at a fair price, especially when compared to the other mass-produced instant coffee brands in India.  

Teddy Roosevelt

Teddy Roosevelt coffee is true luxury, with individual portions packed in sachets. The contents are pure coffee with absolutely no added chicory, sugar or colour.

•  The coffee is therefore healthy, smooth and does not affect the lining of your stomach even when you drink it black.

•  Teddy Roosevelt claims that the coffee in the “High Caffeine” variant has a higher percentage of caffeine and makes a great pre-workout drink.

 Though I found it to be no different in terms of the caffeine content, I have to admit that I did relish the rich aroma and the smooth texture of the coffee on my palate. There are plenty of flavours like Toasty Hazelnut, Mocha, Instant Coffee and Hot & Cold Brew that are all worth trying. 

Black Baza Coffee Co.

Coffee sure does feel good but you know what makes me feel even better – knowing that the coffee I am drinking is ethically sourced and I’m giving back to the community by purchasing it.

• Black Baza Coffee Co. strives to do this the right way by sourcing the arabica and robusta beans from the coffee plantations in the riverside areas of the Kodagu and Karadigod regions, and they work on conserving the biodiversity. 

• These plants are grown in the shade and handpicked by the farmers there, helping employ more people. The brand also ensures that active reforestation takes place. The coffee is roasted in small batches, so every time you order a pack, you are assured that you’re getting freshly roasted coffee. 

That, of course, is also evident from the way the rich fragrance tickles your nostrils when you open the packet. Black Baza Coffee Co. does price its coffee on the higher side, considering that the beans are free of pesticides as well, but do look online for attractive discounts. 

Bayars Coffee

“Degree” coffee is a kind of coffee that is relished down south. It is slightly different from the regular filter coffee in terms of the taste and strength. 

• Freshly brewed “degree” coffees are something we absolutely do not miss out on our road trips, and Bayars Coffee brings a whole lot of those beautiful memories when brewed right here, in my kitchen. 

• With the blend of coffee and chicory in the ratio of 80:20, this filter coffee is delightfully strong without the burning acidity that too much chicory can bring. 

Blended with milk and sugar and served in a stainless steel tumbler and cup is all I need to set the right tone for my day. 

Continental Coffee

Very few coffee manufacturers manage to achieve the flavour of South Indian filter coffee in their packaged instant coffee, but it can be safely said that Continental Coffee comes very close.

• The coffee is in the form of granules that dissolve in hot water or milk, and when blended with sugar, has rich colour, flavour and aroma. 

Many coffee drinkers compare the taste of Continental Coffee to Nescafe Sunrise and Bru, giving the verdict that it tastes as good as these reputable brands. Continental Coffee is indeed one of the best coffee brands in India and at a price that is nominal. 

How to choose the best coffee brands in India?

Choosing a brand of coffee isn’t easy. After all, not all coffee beans taste the same. So, refer to these factors below as it will help you make an informed decision.

Robusta or Arabica

• Robusta and Arabica are the two types of coffee beans that are widely available these days. It’s important to keep these two species of coffee in mind as the taste between both types can significantly vary.

• For example, Robusta is bitter and is commonly found in India. In fact, it’s also used to make instant coffee. Arabica on the other hand tastes smoother, sweeter and has hints of chocolate. It’s mostly in the form of beans. However, there are instant coffees with a blend of both.

Caffeine Content

• The Caffeine content is directly related to the roasting process of the coffee bean. For example, while the dark roasts taste strong and smooth, they actually contain very little caffeine. Light roasts on the other hand are bitter and contain the most amount of caffeine. The closer it is to green beans, the more powerful the caffeine jolt.

List of Things to Consider Before Selecting the Right Coffee Brands – Buyer’s Guide

While the “best” coffee brand is super subjective, there’s certainly a distinction between good and terrible coffee beans. In fact, the majority of the coffee brands in India taste the same primarily because they use the same sub-par techniques and beans to cut corners and save money. So, if you want to know what heaven tastes like, then please do refer to our buyer’s guide below.

Before we begin, you should note that majority of these factors are applicable to both Instant coffee and Ground coffee. Of course, there’s useful information for home baristas and roasters as well.

Freshness

• Freshness is probably one of the most undervalued factors. In fact, the majority of the people think that all packaged coffee is the same. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case. Coffee degrades extremely quickly. Especially, roasted coffee. For best results, one should consume the coffee within 5-7 days of roasting the coffee. This way you see many coffee aficionados buy coffee so frequently.

• Now, the best thing you can do is go get some freshly made coffee from a good coffee roaster. However, if you have no choice but to depend on store bought coffee, then ensure that you’re buying one with the most recent packaging date and not ones that have been lingering on the shelf for 5 months. When the freshness deteriorates, the taste, aroma and even the benefits are affected.

Aroma

• While you won’t be able to figure out the aroma of packaged coffee without opening it, It will take some trial and error on your part to zero in on your favourite aromatic. Now, although it might not seem like its aroma is important, it can make or break your overall coffee experience.

• And coffee can have a tremendous range of aromatic notes. From spicy notes to chocolatey and floral notes, the sky is the limit when it comes to coffee aroma. So, go crazy and experiment with a few coffee beans till you find the “one”.

• We recommned anything with a chocolate, nuts or chicory-like aroma for beginners. Coffee enthusiats with a advanced palatte can always experiment with unusual aromas like fruits and spices.

Quantity

• As mentioned earlier, coffee deteriorates really quickly this is because moisture in the air has adverse effects. Especially if it ground or instant coffee. So, the best thing you can do is to buy in reasonable quantities so as to maintain the taste and fragrance. I personally believe that buying coffee for a week is the best.

Light or strong coffee

• If your drinking coffee for it’s caffeine then the roast of the coffee will matter. The roast colour is pretty straightforward. Light roast has the least amount of caffeine while dark roast has the more. Majority of the coffee afficianados tend to gravitate towards medium roast as it also allows them to savour the flavour in addition to getting a kick.

• With light coffee you can definitely exprience the flavour and aroma more accurately. Strong coffee on the other hand is usually quite bitter. Of course, there are certain blends that can offer a brilliant exprience. If your looking for a coffee to help you work through the night then dark roast coffee is your best bet.

No Visible Oil on the Surface of the Beans

• Most people aren’t aware of this uncommon piece of information. However, it is absolutely important. Noticable oil on the surface of a coffee bean is a sigh of over-roasting. Over-roasted coffee will taste extremely burned and bland. Additionally, oily coffee beans can make the coffee grounds really stick causing irregular brewing. So, you’ll be wasting a lot of money.

• The natural oils present in the coffee beans are important to the texture and taste of good espresso. If your buying your beans from a roaster or from a coffee vendor, then make sure that the coffee beands are dry on the surface. Especially if these dark roast coffee beans.

• If you are roasting your own beans then you’ll have to pay attention to the heat. When coffee is heated, the carbon dioxde tend to push the oil out through the pores. So, extremely long roasts or really hot roasts can break down the beans cell walls and make it easier for the oil to come out. We recommend that you roast for a cooler temperature so that the cell walls don’t break down. Most importantly, this will keep the oil viscous.

FAQ’s

Should You Drink Coffee Daily?

Although drinking coffee on a daily basis seems normal, it does have it’s own pros and cons. The biggest con as such is that your body will get addicted to caffeine if you drink it one a regular basis. Caffeine essential prevents the sleep hormone adenosine from causing your body to become tired.

Now, if you drink a lot of coffee you will develop a resistance to adenosine. And your your body will also try to compensate by producing more adenosine. Now, once, you reduce your caffeine intake or stop it completely, the waves of adenosine will cause you to become more tired than usual.

Other than this caffeine issue, it can also increase anxiety and even cause some jitters. Please talk to your general physician if you have these unwanted issues when you drink coffee.

As for the benefits, that’s actually pretty straightforward. Most importantly, the benefits of drinking coffee in moderation significantly outweigh the cons. Since it is filled with antioxidants, it helps the body get rid of free radicals and prevent certain types of cancer.

Coffee also tends to protect the liver from diseases like cirrhosis. So, those who drink more than the permissible limit of alcohol on a regular basis can at least prevent their liver from developing alcoholic cirrhosis by drinking 3 cups of coffee every day. Of course, always remember to consult your doctor.

There have also been cases where coffee has prevented Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. This is specifically due to a compound in coffee known as phenylindanes that prevents certain toxic proteins from deteriorating your brain. Coffee is also known to improve memory and overall cognition.

What is the difference between Nescafe and Nescafe Gold? 

Like every other brand Nescafe has experimented with a premium version of the same to bring out better texture and flavour. 

The Nescafe Gold is creamier and has a stronger flavor when compared to the normal version. People who swear by this coffee know that 1 teaspoon is more than enough to have a strong cup of coffee.

Is Bru better or Nescafe? 

Nescafe is obviously the more popular choice among those who are coffee lovers here in India but Bru is not very far away from the radar and has its set of devotees. 

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