Coffee consumption rises by 6%

Coffee consumption has gone up by 6% to 1,08,000 tonnes during 2010.

According to the Coffee Board, India's consumption grew by 6% in the last calender year as against 1,02,000 tonnes in 2009.

Coffee, which is a preferred beverage in South India, is making inroads in Northern parts of the country.

"Coffee consumption has gone up by about 42% in the North Indian states annually between 2003-09," a top Coffee board official said quoting a recent survey report.

While the coffee has found favour in the markets of North India, its growth in home markets of South is modest at 4% annually during the period, Coffee Board Chairman Javed Akhtar said.

Coffee is grown mostly in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

Tracing the growth trend of coffee consumption in the country after the Independence, he said the total domestic consumption of the brew grew by only 2% per annum between 1951 to 2000, but, since 2003 it leapfrogged at a rate of 6% annually.

Akhtar attributed coffee's growing popularity to rising number of coffee bars and cafes across the country to cater to the bulging urban masses.

Increase in earnings of middle class in the urban areas has also helped its growth, he noted.

However, International Coffee Organisation -- the global body on the brew -- estimates the consumption in the country to have risen by 7% to 1,03,500 tonnes in 2010, compared to 96,300 tonnes in the 2009 calender year.

Growth rate of coffee consumption in India is faster than the global consumption, which grew by 2.4% to 135 million bags (of 60 kg each) in 2010, compared to 131.8 million bags in 2009.