A Humble Beginning
The story of Mysore Concerns begins not in a bustling cafe, but in the simple home of G.V. Venkatram, a visionary hailing from Gargeshwari near Mysore.
Driven by a desire to share the perfect cup of filter coffee with fellow South Indian migrants in Bombay, Venkatram embarked on a meticulous process. He began by manually roasting green coffee beans sourced from Karnataka over his gas stove and then grinding them using a traditional stone. This personal quest for exceptional coffee was part of a larger entrepreneurial spirit, which also saw him involved in ventures like a Mysore printing press, a boarding house, and even a Kannada film production. His granddaughter, Shweta Shrikant, shared that though the film was shelved, its music, believed to be an early recording by Lata Mangeshkar and Mohammed Rafi, was successfully digitized, showcasing another facet of his diverse interests.
Generational Transition
The reins of Mysore Concerns were eventually passed to Venkatram's son, Shrikant, who took over the business at the tender age of 16. Balancing his studies at Khalsa College with the daily demands of running the company, Shrikant was instrumental in shaping the Mysore Concerns that exists today. He expanded the business's reach significantly from the late 1960s until his passing in 2021, establishing extensive retail and wholesale networks across Mumbai and beyond. These networks included major retailers like Reliance, D-Mart, and Nature's Basket, alongside local kirana stores. Over the decades, the company also became a trusted supplier to renowned Udupi establishments such as Santosham and Cafe Mysore, and even counted the legendary mathematician Shakuntala Devi among its patrons. More recently, actress Vidya Balan has publicly lauded the brand as one of her preferred coffee sources.
Modern Craftsmanship
Currently, the legacy is carried forward by Shrikant's daughters, Shruti and Shweta, who represent the third generation at the helm, alongside their mother, Subhadra. Both sisters, who are engineers by training, have transitioned into the family business, bringing fresh perspectives and formal expertise. Shruti, as Managing Director, oversees sales, operations, and procurement, having joined around 2012. Shweta, who heads product development, quality control, and marketing, joined full-time in 2021. Both have undergone specialized training in coffee sourcing, roasting, and flavor profiling, ensuring the continued evolution of their offerings. Their roastery, now operating as Shrikant & Daughters Coffee Company across two units in an industrial estate, is equipped with both an older manual roasting machine and a state-of-the-art 25-kg German Probat roaster, one of only three in India. This blend of tradition and advanced technology allows them to produce between 80–100 tonnes of coffee annually, catering to a wide range of clients from restaurants and cafes to individual homes across India.
Product Philosophy
Mysore Concerns offers a diverse product range categorized into three main areas. The most popular selection includes chicory-blended coffees, designed for the authentic South Indian filter coffee experience; their bestseller in this category is the Brindavan Bold blend, a precise 80:20 mix of coffee and chicory. Beyond these traditional blends, they also provide 100% coffee options, featuring blends like the Legacy Blend, a combination of Arabica and Robusta beans. For discerning customers seeking greater transparency and unique flavor profiles, they offer specialized single-origin and micro-lot coffees. Among these unique offerings is Monsoon Malabar, a distinctively Indian coffee that undergoes a special processing method involving exposure to monsoon winds and moisture—a technique that originated incidentally during historical colonial trade routes, imparting a unique character to the beans.
Championing Home Brewing
The core principle guiding Mysore Concerns has always been to empower and encourage home brewing. Shweta emphasizes that true success for them is measured not merely by the scale of their operations, but by the genuine connection they foster with their customers. They define success as a customer being drawn in by the inviting aroma of their coffee, learning about the brewing process, purchasing a packet of beans and a coffee filter, and subsequently enjoying the ritual of making coffee in their own homes. This philosophy is deeply embedded in their customer interactions at the Matunga store, which is conveniently located near Cafe Madras. Here, the staff actively engage with customers, helping them understand their individual taste preferences, desired flavor profiles, and guiding them towards the most suitable coffee blend and brewing method for their lifestyle, making the art of coffee brewing accessible and enjoyable for everyone.
Navigating Future Challenges
While celebrating a rich heritage, Mysore Concerns is keenly aware of the emerging challenges facing the coffee industry. Shweta points to the significant increase in raw material costs, with Arabica beans that were priced at Rs 300 per kilo a decade ago now costing upwards of Rs 700. A more pervasive threat is climate change, which is subtly but persistently disrupting yields at higher altitudes where Arabica thrives due to its sensitivity. This environmental shift is prompting estates to explore more resilient coffee varieties such as Robusta, Excelsa, and Liberica. Although a widespread shortage has not yet occurred, the company anticipates constrained supply and escalating prices. This evolving landscape will likely necessitate an adaptation in consumer preferences as well, requiring the company to remain agile and innovative in its sourcing and product development strategies to maintain its commitment to quality and consistency.
