/Specialty Coffee Cart
☕
Street Food

Specialty Coffee Cart

The third-wave coffee movement has reached India. Be early.

Earning range

₹40K – ₹2L / month

Specialty coffees (pour-overs, cold brew, lattes): ₹150–₹350. 100 cups/day at ₹200 average = ₹20,000/day revenue. After costs: ₹8,000–₹12,000 profit/day.

Real Story

A mechanical engineering student from Bengaluru invested ₹1.2L in an espresso machine and kiosk. He parked outside an IT park and became the unofficial office coffee. Revenue crossed ₹2.5L/month within 6 months.

How to start

  1. 1Take a barista course at a local coffee training centre (₹5,000–₹15,000)
  2. 2Start with a ₹40,000–₹80,000 semi-automatic machine before going full espresso
  3. 3Scout high-footfall locations: near IT parks, colleges, gyms, metro exits
  4. 4Do pop-ups on weekends before committing to a fixed location

Real talk

“Indians spent ₹12,000+ crore on coffee in 2024. The vada pav stall uncle makes ₹80K/month - the specialty coffee cart uncle can make ₹1.5L.”

Skills you need

Espresso technique, latte art, cold brewCoffee bean sourcing and freshnessLocation reading and footfall timingBuilding a loyal customer base

Ask the Dropout

Get a personalised guide for becoming a Specialty Coffee Cart

All hustles