First Coffee co-founder Sohrab Sitaram | Photo credit: First Coffee
New Delhi-based First Coffee has raised $1.2m in a seed funding round led by Singapore-based venture capital firm BEENEXT.
Founded by Sohrab Sitaram and Shiv Dhawan in 2023 as India’s ‘first single origin, single estate coffee business’, First Coffee opened its debut store at New Delhi’s Pacific Outlet Mall in April 2024 and currently operates four sites across Delhi and Gurugram.
The business exclusively sources coffee from Harley Coffee Estate in Karnataka, one of India’s key coffee growing states, and where much of the country’s burgeoning specialty coffee production is located.
In a press release, First Coffee said the new investment will support plans to reach 35 stores across Tier 1 cities in North India by mid-2025. Outlet growth will focus on small-format stores in high-footfall locations, such as shopping centres, corporate parks, high streets and metro stations. The funding will also be used for hiring and marketing campaigns.
“Our grab-and-go model, combined with a focus on sustainability and tech-driven customer engagement, is enabling us to carve a strong niche. Our current four stores have seen 25% month-on-month growth. Each outlet serves around 100 cups of specialty coffee every day, showcasing consistent customer loyalty and engagement,” said Sitaram.
India’s domestic specialty coffee segment is becoming increasingly competitive as more start-ups and entrepreneurs seek to gain a foothold in the country’s fast-growing branded coffee shop market.
