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K'taka Govt sanctions 2,500 coffee kiosks to be set up at Rs 25 cr
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Saturday, 14 February, 2026, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Nandita Vijayasimha, Bengaluru
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The Karnataka Government has sanctioned Rs 25 crore to set up 2,500 coffee kiosks titled as Akka Cafe, which will be operated by women trained under SHGs (Self-Help Groups) across the state.
Minister for Large & Medium Industries and Infrastructure Development M B Patil made the announcement at the India International Coffee Festival, organised by the Speciality Coffee Association of India (SCAI) and supported by the Coffee Board of India, held at the Chamara Vajra, Palace Grounds in Bengaluru from February 12-14, 2026.
The event according to the organisers attracted over 20,000 visitors. There are cultivators, roasters, baristas, and coffee connoisseurs from across the country to display specialty coffee in India. The initiative aims to strengthen the coffee value chain and promote economic empowerment through employment generation.
According to Patil, the Coffee Board, in collaboration with the National Rural Livelihood Mission, Karnataka, is providing training in coffee brewing, cafe management, and entrepreneurship to one lakh women associated with Self-Help Groups across the state.The government is also extending scholarships to children of workers employed in coffee estates and large plantations in Kodagu district.
The event is enabling coffee growers brand their produce and showcase at the three-day festival. Also at the 'Kala Loka' outlet set up by the Industries Department at Kempegowda International Airport, coffee is being showcased and sold alongside more than 45 other GI-tagged products from the state, featuring distinctive packaging and branding.
The minister highlighted that coffee is cultivated over 2.2 lakh hectares in Karnataka, making the state the largest producer in the country. Nearly 75 per cent of India's total coffee production comes from the districts of Hassan, Kodagu and Chikkamagaluru.
Patil said the festival has brought together growers, processors, exporters, roasters, cafes and hospitality service providers, equipment manufacturers, professionals, and consumers under one roof - a commendable initiative.
Several stalls at the festival, showcased various coffee varieties, artisanal brews, tasting sessions to celebrate India’s growing reputation as a major player on the global coffee map. There are also hands-on workshops like Farm to Cup: Post-Harvest Processing, introduction to fermentation, drying and handling methods that bring out aromatic flavours. Tasting-led sessions like the robusta tasting, processing, live championships, B2B networking zones and brand showcases by over 70 companies.
There are sessions on roasting fundamentals, profile building and tasting. In addition, there is a theory on roast and profiling, understanding how heat, airflow and development time allow flavour to waft and taste the results. For those keen to better their brewing skills, the festival also offers a range of hands-on workshops focused on technique and taste. Sessions such as the Manual Brewing Masterclass & Tasting (CAFEC) are across different brews.
There is also Espresso Brewing Masterclass & Tasting, which covers recipe building, grinder calibration, extraction variables, milk workflow and troubleshooting, with expert-led tastings along the way. There is a master class on south India filter coffee, which gives a peek into the history, technique and tradition.
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