On 13th June 2025, Batch 4 students of the Hospitality Business Leadership (HBL) program visited the headquarters of Subko Coffee to gain insights into India’s growing specialty coffee industry. The visit offered a practical look at the coffee supply chain, processing techniques, and evolving consumer trends in the South Asian market.
On 13th June 2025, Batch 4 students of the Hospitality Business Leadership (HBL) program visited the headquarters of Subko Coffee to gain insights into India’s growing specialty coffee industry. The visit offered a practical look at the coffee supply chain, processing techniques, and evolving consumer trends in the South Asian market.
In the workshop, students explored the farm-to-cup journey of coffee, learning about India’s supply chain, key growing regions like Andhra Pradesh and the Northeast, and the impact of bean varieties and processing methods on flavour.
Subko’s approach to specialty coffee blends innovation with cultural storytelling. Students explored unique offerings like barrel aged beans, cascara drinks, and rare microlots, while also learning about the brand’s focus on traceability, regional identity, and design inspired by Indian heritage. Their cafés serve as cultural bridges, combining traditional aesthetics with modern minimalism through architecture, packaging, and storytelling.
On the practical front, students got hands-on experience with brewing methods like pour-over, French press, cold brew, and espresso, learning how elements such as grind size, water temperature, and brew time influence flavour.
Beyond coffee, the experience showcased how design, culture, and sustainability intersect in hospitality, offering students valuable insights into creating meaningful, purpose-driven experiences and skills they will carry with them into their future careers.
