Archive · 15 Aug 2025
Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters: From Delhi Room to National Success
Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters started because the founders saw a need for good coffee in India.
They wanted to serve high-quality coffee from Indian farms.
They started small, making coffee in a home, then grew to multiple locations.
They faced a setback with a fake license but overcame it.
After the COVID-19 pandemic, their business grew quickly.
Today, they have many coffee shops in India and one in Japan, with plans to expand.
They customize their coffee to suit local tastes, like darker roasts in Japan.
Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters was founded in 2012 by Matt Chittaranjan and Namrata Asthana.
The founders aimed to bring specialty coffee to India, sourcing high-quality Arabica beans directly from Indian producers.
The company initially faced challenges including a fake FSSAI license.
Shivam Shahi joined as COO, and the business expanded significantly after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Blue Tokai currently operates 155+ outlets across India and Japan, with 95% of its business from four major cities.
- Who
- Founded by Matt Chittaranjan and Namrata Asthana, with Shivam Shahi joining as COO.
- What
- Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters' journey from a small venture to a chain of coffee outlets.
- When
- Started in 2012, with significant growth after the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Where
- Started in Delhi, now operates in India and Japan.
- Why
- To introduce specialty coffee and support Indian coffee producers.
Challenges
Success
Fake Licence
Challenges
Challenges during company’s growth included a fake FSSAI licence that caused operations to halt
Success
Company overcame the challenge.
- Founders
- Matt Chittaranjan, Namrata Asthana
- Founded
- 2012
- Initial Location
- Delhi
- Current Outlets
- 155+ across India and Japan
- Key Cities (95% Business)
- Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore
- International Expansion
- Japan, Dubai (FMCG distribution)