DropKaffe

Dropkaffe Food and Beverages Pvt. Ltd. represents a strategic evolution in the beverage market, originating from an on-demand coffee delivery service to a diversified, ready-to-drink beverage manufacturer. The company was founded in Bengaluru, India, in April 2015 by Chaitanya Chitta, Lakshmi Dasaka, Rakshit Kejriwal, and Amar Yashlaha. The founding team shared a professional history, having previously worked together at KPMG in New York and later on an ed-tech venture, SmartOn Learning. This shared background fostered a collaborative approach to tackling a new market challenge.

The initial concept for DropKaffe was born from the founders' observation of the prevalent coffee culture in the US compared to the limited, often poor-quality options available in Indian offices. They launched as a hyperlocal service to deliver freshly brewed coffee directly to consumers, managing the entire process from sourcing and micro-roasting beans to brewing and delivery. This model initially gained traction, with fulfillment centers across Bengaluru and plans for subscription services. However, recognizing the limitations of an on-demand model for long-term growth, the company pivoted in late 2015 to become a pure-play FMCG beverage brand. This shift involved ceasing the delivery-only kitchen operations and moving production to a centralized factory to create bottled, ready-to-drink beverages.

Under the new model, the company focuses on a multi-channel distribution strategy. Its product lines, which expanded to include cold coffee variants under the brand Coffiato, milkshakes, and smoothies, are sold through modern trade outlets like Godrej Nature's Basket and Foodhall, as well as online via platforms such as Swiggy and BigBasket. The business generates revenue through the sale of these consumer-packaged goods. A key element of its product strategy is the use of natural ingredients and no preservatives, a decision influenced by a partnership with the National Dairy Research Institute for its smoothie line.

DropKaffe has successfully secured capital to fuel its expansion. The company raised a seed round of $300,000 in August 2015, followed by a pre-Series A round of approximately $550,000 in April 2016 from investors including GrowthStory and Fireside Ventures. By October 2019, it had completed a Series A round, bringing its total funding to $5.8 million with participation from investors like Rebel Foods. The journey of DropKaffe also led to the creation of SLAY Coffee, a subsequent brand co-founded by Chaitanya Chitta, further cementing the parent company's presence in India's coffee market.

Keywords: ready-to-drink beverages, cold brew coffee, bottled coffee, Indian beverage market, FMCG startup, coffee delivery, on-demand services, food and beverage, Dropkaffe Food And Beverages, SLAY Coffee, Coffiato, dairy beverages, beverage manufacturing, venture capital, food-tech, hyperlocal delivery, consumer packaged goods, beverage distribution, smoothie brand, natural ingredients