Indian Coffee House, Restaurant cooperative chain in India
Indian Coffee House is a restaurant cooperative chain in India where the workers themselves own and run the establishments. The interiors are simple and functional, and the menu centers on South Indian food and filter coffee served at low prices.
The first location opened in 1936 in Bombay and the chain grew to around 50 establishments across British India by the 1940s. After independence, when the government shut down many of the sites, the workers formed cooperative societies in 1957 to keep the chain running under their own management.
The Indian Coffee House has long been a meeting place for students, writers, and local professionals who come to talk, read, and spend time together. The filtered coffee is brewed in the traditional South Indian style and served in the same way it has been for decades.
Most locations open early in the morning and close late in the evening, so a visit fits into almost any part of the day. They are generally easy to find on foot, as they tend to be located in busy neighborhoods near universities, offices, or markets.
Although it operates as a nationwide chain, there is no central company controlling the individual locations, as each cooperative runs independently. This means the menu, decor, and daily routines can vary noticeably from one city to another.
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