few european specialty coffee roasters ship to india in 2026, and those that do typically require manual quotes due to customs complexity and high shipping costs. transit times run 18 to 28 days by sea, and indian recipients face customs duties, import taxes, and unpredictable clearance delays that can add 30 to 60 percent to the landed cost. the smarter play for most indian coffee drinkers is ordering from india's growing roster of exceptional specialty roasters who source directly from estates in karnataka, kerala, and tamil nadu and deliver fresh roasted beans nationwide within days.
why do so few european roasters ship to india?
shipping roasted coffee internationally is expensive, slow, and risky for freshness. most european specialty roasters avoid india entirely because the economics don't work: a 250-gram bag that costs €12 in europe might incur €8 to €15 in shipping, plus another €6 to €10 in customs duty and handling fees once it lands in mumbai or bangalore. that's a landed cost of €26 to €37 for a single bag, and the coffee is often three to five weeks post-roast by the time it reaches your door.
NextDayCoffee in motherwell and Mancoco Coffee Bar & Roastery in manchester, both scoring 96+ on the NRI specialty index, offer international shipping but assess non-european orders case by case. the manual quoting process exists because duties, taxes, and courier fees vary wildly depending on declared value, shipment weight, and the specific customs office handling clearance. Ozone Coffee in shoreditch and Origin Coffee on charlotte road ship within the UK and eu reliably but rarely extend service to asia due to transit time and the risk of stale coffee.
some roasters, like Flying Roasters in berlin, list international shipping but exclude india or require minimum order quantities (often 2 to 5 kilograms) to justify the courier cost. rabbit hole roasters in montreal ships internationally to over 19 countries but makes clear that duties, taxes, and customs fees are the recipient's responsibility and that delays from customs inspections are outside their control. this uncertainty is a dealbreaker for most buyers.
how much do customs duties and taxes add to imported coffee?
green coffee beans imported into the EU carry zero import duty under HS code 0901.11, but roasted coffee shipped from europe to india faces a different tariff structure. india's customs duty on roasted coffee typically ranges from 30 to 40 percent of the declared FOB value, plus an integrated goods and services tax (IGST) of 5 to 12 percent depending on classification. on top of that, couriers like DHL, FedEx, and UPS charge handling fees of ₹500 to ₹1,500 per shipment for customs clearance paperwork.
for a realistic example: a €40 shipment (two bags of specialty coffee plus shipping) declared at customs becomes ₹3,600 at current exchange rates. add 35 percent duty (₹1,260), 12 percent IGST (₹432 on the duty-inclusive value), and a ₹800 handling fee, and your total landed cost is roughly ₹6,100, or €68. you've paid 70 percent more than the original invoice, and the coffee is already a month old.
this math explains why ordering coffee from india directly makes financial and sensory sense. indian roasters source from estates with full traceability, roast to order, and deliver within three to seven days via domestic couriers. freshness wins, and so does your wallet.
which global roasters actually ship to india and how do you verify?
if you're determined to order from abroad, verify shipping availability before placing an order. most specialty roasters do not list india in their standard checkout flow. instead, you'll need to email and request a manual shipping quote. ask these questions upfront:
- do you ship to my city in india, and which courier do you use?
- what is the total cost including shipping, and will you declare the full value at customs?
- how long after roasting will the coffee ship, and what is the expected transit time?
- who is responsible for customs duties and clearance, and how will those be collected?
- do you offer any insurance or reshipping policy if the package is lost or delayed by customs?
roasters who regularly ship internationally usually work with couriers that handle customs brokerage (DHL express, FedEx international priority), meaning the courier pays the duty on your behalf and bills you afterward, often with a service fee. this is more reliable than relying on india post or untracked parcels, which can sit in customs for weeks.
Rosslyn Coffee on queen victoria street and Nostos Coffee in london both maintain strong reputations for international logistics, but again, india is not a standard destination. expect a multi-email conversation and a lead time of at least four weeks from order to delivery.
why are indian specialty roasters often the smarter buy?
india produces some of the world's most distinctive coffee, from the monsooned malabar of mangalore to the shade-grown arabicas of coorg and chikmagalur. indian roasters have direct access to these estates, often visiting farms and cupping at origin, which gives them a pricing and freshness advantage no european importer can match. estates like kerehaklu, silver oak, and tata coffee supply traceable microlots that indian roasters turn around within days of harvest and processing.
local roasters also understand indian water chemistry and brewing habits. many dial in their roast profiles for indian espresso machines (often La Marzocco or synesso) and brew methods like south indian filter, aeropress, and V60. that means the coffee you receive is optimized for your setup and your palate, not a generic medium roast intended for scandinavian water.
ordering domestic also means zero customs risk, fast shipping (often via dunzo, swiggy genie, or blue dart), and support for india's emerging specialty coffee economy. roasters in bangalore, mumbai, pune, and delhi are pushing quality standards higher every year, competing in national and international competitions, and investing in education and transparency. buying local strengthens that ecosystem.
where can you find reliable specialty roasters across different origins?
if you want to explore coffee from different origins beyond india, look for roasters who post current crop information, lot numbers, and cupping scores. transparency is the hallmark of specialty coffee, whether the roaster is in london, naples, or bangalore. Sansone Coffee Artisan Microroastery & Specialty Coffee in naples scores 91 on the NRI index and exemplifies this ethos with detailed tasting notes and origin stories for every lot.
in the UK, roasters like Alex Coffee and Qima Cafe both maintain offerings from ethiopia, kenya, colombia, and central america alongside their house blends. but again, shipping to india is not their core service. if you're after a specific colombian gesha or a kenyan SL-28, check whether an indian roaster has already imported that same lot. many do, and they'll roast it fresh for you.
what about ordering green beans and roasting at home?
some enthusiasts bypass roasted coffee entirely and import green beans, which face zero EU import duty under HS 0901.11 and lower indian duties than roasted coffee. home roasting with a behmor, hottop, or even a popcorn popper gives you maximum freshness and control, and green beans stay shelf-stable for months if stored in a cool, dry place.
importing green beans still requires navigating customs, phytosanitary certificates, and minimum order quantities (typically 10 to 30 kilograms), but the per-kilogram cost can drop to ₹400 to ₹800 depending on origin and grade. roasting at home is not for everyone, but for those willing to learn, it's the ultimate way to drink hyper-fresh coffee while supporting direct trade.
final recommendation: buy fresh and buy local
ordering specialty coffee from european roasters to india in 2026 is possible but rarely worth the cost, wait, and customs headache. transit times of 18 to 28 days, duties adding 30 to 60 percent, and the risk of stale coffee make it a poor value proposition compared to india's own specialty roasters. support the roasters pushing quality forward in india, enjoy coffee roasted within the week, and save yourself the customs paperwork. if you must order internationally, verify shipping policy in writing, budget double the sticker price for landed cost, and accept that freshness will be compromised. for everyone else, the answer is clear: buy local, drink fresh, and explore the remarkable coffee from india that's already at your doorstep.
Key takeaway: A 40-euro order of European specialty coffee shipped to India typically lands at 68 euros after duties, IGST, and handling fees -- and the beans are already a month old.
frequently asked questions
Which European specialty coffee roasters ship to India?
NextDayCoffee in Motherwell and Mancoco Coffee Bar and Roastery in Manchester both offer international shipping but handle non-European orders case by case through manual quotes. Most other European roasters, including Ozone Coffee and Origin Coffee, do not ship to India due to transit times and freshness concerns.
How much does customs duty add to coffee imported into India from Europe?
India charges 30 to 40 percent customs duty on roasted coffee, plus 5 to 12 percent IGST, plus courier handling fees of 500 to 1,500 rupees per shipment. On a 40-euro order, the total landed cost can reach around 68 euros -- roughly 70 percent above the original invoice price.
How long does it take for European coffee to arrive in India?
Sea freight from Europe to India typically takes 18 to 28 days, and customs clearance can add further unpredictable delays. By the time the coffee reaches your door, the beans are often three to five weeks past roast date, well outside the window most specialty drinkers consider optimal for freshness.
Is it worth buying specialty coffee from European roasters and shipping it to India?
For most buyers, no. The combination of high customs duties, IGST, courier handling fees, and long transit times inflates the cost by 30 to 70 percent while reducing freshness. Indian specialty roasters sourcing directly from Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu estates offer fresher coffee at lower cost with nationwide delivery in days.
