Recently, the Coffee Board of India held capacity-building programmes to increase the number of growers registering on its mobile application for EU Deforestation Regulation compliance.

About Coffee Board of India

The Coffee Board of India is a statutory autonomous organization responsible for promoting coffee production and export in India. It operates under the administrative control of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India. 

Establishment and history

• Formation: The board was established by an act of Parliament, the Coffee Act of 1942, during World War II when the industry was in distress.
• Marketing deregulation: Until 1995, the Coffee Board was responsible for marketing a pooled supply of coffee. Following India's economic liberalization, marketing became a private-sector activity.
• Shift in role: Since marketing was discontinued, the board's role has shifted to being a "friend, philosopher, and guide" for the entire coffee sector. Its core focus is now on research and development, quality improvement, and promotion in both domestic and export markets. 

Structure and headquarters

• Headquarters: The head office of the Coffee Board is located in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• Leadership: The board is led by a Chairman, who serves as the Chief Executive. It also includes 32 other members representing various stakeholders, such as coffee growers, trade interests, labor, and consumers.
• Research centers: The board has a Central Coffee Research Institute (CCRI) in Balehonnur, Karnataka, as well as regional research stations in several coffee-growing states.
• Promotional units: It maintains promotional units, including several India Coffee Houses located in major cities, to promote coffee consumption. 

Core functions and objectives

The primary activities of the Coffee Board aim to enhance the quality, productivity, and profitability of Indian coffee. Its key functions include: 

• Research and development: Conducting research into new and improved coffee varieties, better cultivation techniques, and pest and disease control.
• Extension support: Disseminating the latest technologies and best practices to coffee growers through a network of extension units.
• Quality improvement: Implementing strategies and schemes to improve the quality of Indian coffee for both domestic and international markets.
• Market intelligence: Collecting and providing statistical and market-related information to the industry, including export and domestic market trends.
• Promotion: Promoting Indian coffee in both export and domestic markets through trade fairs, exhibitions, and competitions like the "Flavour of India – The Fine Cup".
• Export facilitation: Issuing export permits and certificates of origin to registered exporters.
• Welfare measures: Implementing labor welfare schemes and providing development support and financial assistance to coffee growers.

Coffee Board of India Latest

Latest updates from the Coffee Board of India include a push to raise awareness among growers about the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), a strategy to boost domestic consumption, and the recruitment of new staff. 

Production and promotion

• Targeted growth: In March 2025, the board announced a 10-year roadmap with an ambitious goal to nearly triple India's coffee production to 9 lakh tonnes by 2047, up from a provisional figure of 3.63 lakh tonnes in 2024–2025.
• Global promotion: India's specialty coffees were showcased at the SCAJ World Specialty Coffee Conference & Exhibition in Tokyo from September 24–27, 2025, to promote Indian coffee to a global audience.
• Domestic market: To increase domestic consumption, the board launched premium single-serve, GI-tagged coffee drip bags in March 2025. The bags feature five GI-tagged Arabica varieties and only require hot water to prepare.
• Brand building: The board plans to sell GI-tagged coffee online to make these products accessible to more consumers across India. 

Exports

• Strong performance: India's coffee exports showed robust growth in fiscal year 2024–2025, reaching $1,803 million, and have continued to surge in the early part of FY 2025–2026.
• EUDR compliance: To prepare for the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which affects coffee exporters, the board is conducting awareness programs for growers. It is encouraging growers to register and add geo-location data through its mobile app to provide proof that their coffee is not linked to deforestation. 

Recruitment

• New vacancies announced: In June 2025, the Coffee Board announced a recruitment drive for 55 positions in Scientific and Technical cadres, including Divisional Head, Subject Matter Specialist, Junior Liaison Officer, and Extension Inspector.
• Online applications: The application period was from June 9 to July 9, 2025, with eligible candidates required to apply online through the official website. 

Other initiatives

• Centenary celebration: The Coffee Board has called for an event management agency to organize the centenary celebration of the Central Coffee Research Institute (CCRI) in 2025.
• Community quality centers: Expressions of interest were sought for establishing Community Coffee Quality Centres (CCQCs) to improve quality under the Participatory Quality Improvement program. 

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