Anand Mahindra bats for Indian coffee, says Araku will replace Starbucks in the US

Anand Mahindra backs Indian coffee’s US debut

Billionaire industrialist Anand Mahindra, who is currently in New York, has said that Indian coffee brand Araku Coffee will soon enter the United States market and that he is more than happy to replace Starbucks with a home-grown alternative.

Mahindra made the comment after sharing photographs of New York blanketed in snow following a winter storm. Reacting to the post, a social media user joked that his “survivor’s kit” was missing a Starbucks cup, a staple often associated with New York selfies.

Mahindra responded with a firm but light-hearted reply, making it clear where his loyalty lies. “Starbucks? Are you kidding?” he wrote, adding that he is deeply committed to promoting Araku, an Indian coffee he described as one of the best in the world. He also revealed that America’s first Araku Café is expected to open in midtown Manhattan by this summer. “You can then count on selfies with an Araku cup in my hand,” he added.

Starbucks? Are you kidding ?

You’re asking someone whose obsession is to spread the fame of Araku—an Indian coffee—that’s considered one of the best in the world? And by the way, we’ll be opening America’s first Araku Café in midtown Manhattan by this summer! You can then… https://t.co/Y8mkGSZxDX — anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) February 24, 2026

Internet debates

His response quickly went viral, sparking a lively discussion among coffee lovers online. While many welcomed the idea of Indian coffee entering the US market, others weighed in with their own preferences. One user praised Araku’s flavour but pointed out its premium pricing, while also highlighting coffee beans from Chikmagalur, often considered the birthplace of Indian coffee.

Another user recalled tasting Araku Coffee at its place of origin and called it “really good,” while also recommending Naga Coffee grown in the hills of Nagaland, saying it stood out during a visit to the Hornbill Festival.

Not all reactions were positive. A critical user argued that opening a café in Manhattan risks turning Araku into a branding exercise aimed at influencers rather than staying rooted in its farmer-driven origins. The comment questioned whether New York needed another premium coffee import.

Araku Coffee comes from the Araku Valley in Andhra Pradesh and is grown by tribal farmers using sustainable and regenerative farming practices.