Araku Coffee: India’s journey from local heritage to global prestige

The launch of Araku Café in Paris in 2017 marked a significant moment for India’s presence on the global specialty coffee stage. This achievement underscores the remarkable journey of the tribal farmers from Araku Valley, a bio-diverse region on the borders of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. 

The Araku Coffee story began in 2000 with the Naandi Foundation’s engagement with the local Adivasi (tribal) communities. Recognising the cultural and environmental significance of these communities, Naandi focused on transitioning them from traditional shifting cultivation to regenerative agriculture. By 2005, farmers were collaborating with the Foundation to enhance coffee quality. This transition not only increased their income, but also contributed to afforestation, as coffee is grown under shade, providing year-round employment for local families. 

Organic coffee cooperative 

Within a decade, Araku Valley evolved into the world’s largest tribal organic coffee cooperative. Today, it features a flagship store in Paris, exports to over 12 countries, and supports a vibrant local economy. The cooperative, with over 40,000 members and a 50% female executive body, showcases the benefits of democratic involvement and global cooperation. 
Araku Coffee’s global success is supported by European investment, international expertise, and the establishment of a flagship café in Bengaluru in 2021, which serves as both a dining venue and a cultural hub promoting Arakunomics—a unique food vision. Innovative coffee equipment designed by Norwegian duo Anderssen & Voll debuted in France before launching in India in 2018. Additionally, Araku has opened a restaurant in South Mumbai. 
Now recognised as a premium luxury social enterprise, Araku Coffee exemplifies India’s ability to excel globally in every aspect of the coffee value chain. It is a source of pride for the Naandi team that Araku Coffee was included in the Government of India’s gift hamper for visiting heads of state at the G20 Summit in 2023.
 The annual Gems of Araku festival celebrates the region’s finest coffee micro-lots, attracting over 20,000 farmers and experts worldwide. The event, which evaluates over 1800 micro-lots each season, has significantly improved coffee quality through rigorous international cupping protocols. 
Since its inception in 2009, Gems of Araku has fostered collaboration between international jurors and Araku farmers, enhancing coffee quality through best practices and advanced techniques. The festival’s 16th edition saw top micro-lots scoring as high as 94 out of 100.

The brand’s success

Globally acclaimed, Araku Coffee now reaches over 42 countries, including Korea, Japan, France, the UK, Germany, and the USA. The brand’s success demonstrates how an Indian-origin coffee can thrive internationally, connecting small tribal farmers with global consumers. 
The Arakunomics model, which promotes biodiversity and regenerative agriculture, has received prestigious awards like the Food System Vision Prize from the Rockefeller Foundation in 2020 and the Seeding the Future Prize from the Institute of Food Technologists in 2023. This model is now being adapted to other challenging regions in India and could potentially expand to North America or the Middle East in the future. 
This narrative embodies India’s rise and self-reliance.
 More information can be obtained about Araku Coffee by visiting their websites www.arakucoffee.in & www.arakucoffee.com
(Excerpts from an article by Rohini Mukherjee
Journalist, social worker, and Naandi Foundation’s Global Partnerships and Strategy Lead, with extensive experience in impactful development projects).