Bengaluru: The Mysore royal family has ventured into India’s growing specialty coffee market with the launch of Berunda Coffee, introducing three premium varieties sourced from some of Karnataka’s best-known coffee-growing regions.
Unveiled at a royal soirée in Karnataka on July 3, 2026, the new brand marks the nearly 700-year-old royal house’s entry into the coffee retail business. The launch also brings the family into a sector closely associated with Karnataka, which accounts for around 70% of India’s coffee production.
Berunda Coffee takes its name from the Gandaberunda, the mythical two-headed bird that was the royal emblem of the Wadiyar dynasty and is also the official insignia of Karnataka.
The initial portfolio comprises three AA-grade, chicory-free coffees sourced from Chikmagalur, BR Hills and Coorg. Each pack carries its roast date, with the brand placing emphasis on freshness and provenance.
The three blends have been named after palace elephants. Drona has been crafted as a South Indian filter coffee, while Arjuna and Gajendra are positioned as hand-poured brews.
Rajkumari Jayapalashri Anil, Founder of House of Berunda and granddaughter of Jayachamaraja Wadiyar, said the venture was inspired by the family’s long-standing relationship with coffee.
“My mother used to tell me about waking as a child to the smell of fresh coffee, watching her father savour his morning cup. Coffee, in our family, was never just a drink — it connected generations,” she said, describing Berunda Coffee as a continuation of a tradition that began at the family table.
The company plans to expand its range with more variants. Sustainability will remain central to the brand’s approach, spanning shade-grown sourcing and sun-dried processing. Anil also said the venture aims to increase women’s participation across the value chain, from coffee estates and roasting to leadership roles.
Speaking at the launch, Coffee Board Chairman M.J. Dinesh highlighted the gap between India’s coffee production strength and domestic consumption. While Karnataka leads the country’s output, he said per capita coffee consumption in India remains at around 70 grams annually, compared with 12 to 15 kilograms in some European countries.
Dinesh said India’s coffee sector has considerable headroom for expansion, but stressed that stronger domestic consumption would be critical to unlocking the industry’s next phase of growth.
With Berunda Coffee, the Mysore royal family is combining its cultural legacy with a contemporary specialty coffee proposition built around regional sourcing, traceability and sustainability.
