Bengaluru's India Coffee House gets refreshing avatar to woo younger generation in golden jubilee year

India Coffee House (ICH), an icon of old Bengaluru, reopened on Monday in a renovated avatar.

Rajesh Agrawal, Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, inaugurated the coffee house at the Coffee Board of India’s head office on Ambedkar Veedhi. ICH has teamed up with Mitti Cafe, a chain run by specially-abled individuals.

The coffee board has set out to train enthusiasts from tier-2 cities to set up coffee businesses through the restyled outlet.

The renovation cost Rs 22 lakh. The interiors have been revamped in a way that the outlet has retained its aesthetic past, while also appealing to youth with subtle changes. The outer corridor has been modified to accommodate 20 more tables, which will scale down the standing crowd.

Connoisseurs can only find a tinge of modernisation given to the heirloom outlet as the coffee board has revived decades-old furniture by polish coating and has instructed to retain all the items in the menu, which will be curated by Mitti Cafe.

Dr K G Jagadeesha, CEO and Secretary of the Coffee Board, told DH: “The change in the menu is nominal. The visible change will just be the length of it as there will be a number of additions to it.”

He added: “We are planning to introduce a franchise model for entrepreneurs in tier-2 cities and train them here in Bengaluru. We will give them the required assistance to set up India Coffee House centres in their respective cities. Our aim is to promote entrepreneurship and increase coffee consumption across Karnataka,” he added.

The ICH started in 1936 with the vision of promoting pure coffee without chicory and is known for consistency and authentic coffee flavour.