“Coffee is not just a drink, it’s a sensation”: ‘Benki’ Suhas gives a new touch to the world of coffee “ಕಾಫಿ ಎನ್ನುವುದು ಕೇವಲ ಪಾನೀಯವಲ್ಲ, ಅದು ಒಂದು ಸಂವೇದನೆ”: ಕಾಫಿ ಲೋಕಕ್ಕೆ ಹೊಸ ಸ್ಪರ್ಶ ನೀಡಿದ ‘ಬೆಂಕಿ’ ಸುಹಾಸ್

"Coffee is not just a drink, it's a sensation": 'Benki' Suhas gives a new touch to the world of coffee

☕ "Search Coffee" Digital Magazine: Special Interview ☕

An insightful conversation with the founder of Benki Coffee.

☕. How did your coffee journey begin? What was the inspiration behind choosing 'coffee' as your career?

I have been in the industry for about 15 years. My entry was inspired by the late Siddhartha sir. He opened the second Cafe Coffee Day outlet near my house in Jayanagar 7th block, Bangalore. I used to cycle past it every day, saving my pocket money for two weeks just to buy a 50-rupee cappuccino. It was a celebration for me. Seeing wealthy kids hanging out there with their cars and bikes made me want to dress up and be a part of that culture. Since my school days, I planned to open a cafe. After my Masters, I worked in the Middle East and saw the global coffee culture. I realized there is an in-depth science to coffee beyond what I knew and started studying intensely. I finished my diploma and began judging international and Indian coffee competitions. I returned to India in 2017 and founded Benki Coffee and Benki Brewing Tools. Eventually, I set up the school and developed my own plantation. 🚲

☕. What is the significance behind the name 'Benki' (Fire)? Why choose this name for your brands?

In my hometown Tarikere, 'Benki' is used as a synonym for awesome, amazing, or superb. I grew up hearing "Maga, Benki agide!" to describe something great. So 'Benki Coffee' literally means 'Awesome Coffee'. Historically, in the 16th century, coffee shops were centers of political revolution, not just places for couples to hang out. Intellectuals and freedom fighters met there for deep discussions, leading to their ban in Europe for decades. I wanted my cafe to be an intellectual hub. 'Benki' also signifies the internal 'fire' required to fight injustice, corruption, and bribery. I wanted our cafe to be a place of revolution. 🔥

Benki Coffee Founder
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The Founder of Benki Coffee

☕. What innovations have you introduced to coffee cultivation through 'BENKI ESTATE'?

At Benki Estate, we use a 100% sprinkler system that works entirely on gravity. We are also 100% off-grid using solar energy for our pumps and operations, minimizing the use of government power. We maintain wide spacing between plants so small tractors can be used for applying medicines and fertilizers. We also plan to grow pepper on stone pillars using modern drip irrigation in the future. ☀️

Benki Coffee Estate

Lush views from Benki Estate

☕. What advice would you give to Indian coffee growers to shift toward 'Specialty Coffee'?

The market is volatile, and my dream is for every Indian farm to shift to specialty coffee. Specialty coffee lets us escape the commodity price trap of the NY/London exchanges and create our own brand value, much like a BMW or Mercedes car. Specialty markets offer a premium of at least 150 to 200 rupees over market rates. I suggest treating a farm like a factory—if my cost of production is 100 rupees, I can sell for 150 because that margin allows for infrastructure development and replanting. I suggest farmers convert at least 10-20% of their crop to specialty each year. 💎

☕. What is the core objective behind the 'Specialty Coffee Academy of India'?

In 2017, when I started selling specialty equipment, everyone laughed at me because knowledge levels were very low in India despite high global demand. There were no quality-focused roasters or cafes. I decided to start a school to educate cafe owners, roasters, and farmers. When the supply chain is educated, everyone rises together. Today, many leading coffee brand owners, CEOs, and GMs in India are our former students. 🎓

“Coffee is not just a drink, it’s a sensation”: ‘Benki’ Suhas gives a new touch to the world of coffee “ಕಾಫಿ ಎನ್ನುವುದು ಕೇವಲ ಪಾನೀಯವಲ್ಲ, ಅದು ಒಂದು ಸಂವೇದನೆ”: ಕಾಫಿ ಲೋಕಕ್ಕೆ ಹೊಸ ಸ್ಪರ್ಶ ನೀಡಿದ ‘ಬೆಂಕಿ’ ಸುಹಾಸ್

Quality analysis during a Tasting Session

☕. What are the challenges as a distributor? How can equipment transform coffee?

The right equipment significantly transforms the taste of coffee. However, the biggest challenge is logistics. Safety and timely delivery in India aren't as developed; we often see packages being mishandled or even stepped on by couriers. We have to invest heavily in reinforced packaging. Furthermore, India is like multiple countries in one; every state has different laws, languages, and business cultures. Managing HR and the complex paperwork required for simple transactions in such a market is a major challenge. 📦

☕. How successful has the 'Indian AeroPress Championship' been in uniting the community?

We started this in 2018 to build a community and share knowledge where previously there was rivalry. The AeroPress competition is accessible—anyone from software engineers to housewives or doctors can participate. It is now the world's biggest AeroPress championship with 630 contestants across 13 cities. Last year, India achieved 3rd place in the world finals for the first time. We hope to expand this to 2000-3000 people across all states. 🏆

☕. How is 'Benki Coffee' making an impact? What makes your roasting unique?

We don't promote a 'sit-down' culture or offer free Wi-Fi/AC/Music focus; our cafe is directed entirely toward the coffee itself. We use a state-of-the-art 'Stronghold' roaster from Korea. It uses three types of heat transfer: drum heat, hot air, and halogen (IR) heaters. This allows us to create unique flavor profiles and bring out flavors that others simply cannot. ☕

Suhaas at Stronghold Coffee Roaster

Suhaas operating the precision Stronghold roaster

☕. What is your opinion on Search Coorg Media’s 'Search Coffee' campaign?

Any media channel promoting coffee progress is close to my heart. Many people think Coorg only has commercial Robusta, but Search Coorg Media is showing that we have amazing Specialty Robusta and Arabica too. We need to encourage our farmers to grow more to prevent future coffee shortages and avoid unnecessary imports. 🌿

☕. What message do you have for young Indian entrepreneurs?

There is no better time than now to enter the Indian coffee industry. Foreign companies are investing every six months. We have the potential and the talent. Every part of the supply chain—farming, trading, roasting, training—has huge potential. Even a basic barista can earn 20-25k today, which is often more than what engineers or graduates start with. Don't delay; take benefit of this growth trajectory. 🚀

Brand Directory

Benki Coffee

Premium roasted coffee beans focused on unique flavor profiles and sustainable sourcing.

Visit Website
SCAI

India's premier education center for specialty coffee training and certification.

Visit Website
Brewing Tools

Curated high-end coffee brewing equipment for both enthusiasts and professionals.

Visit Website
"Let's be the Fire in the World of Coffee!" 🔥☕
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