Thanks to the efforts of G. Samyraj, you can now drink hot filter coffee when you are driving on the National and State Highways in Tamil Nadu
G. Samyraj and his fellow-villagers identified spots on the National and State highways in Tamil Nadu, sat there from six in the morning to eight at night to count how many cars passed that way per hour. If the math worked, they opened a coffee outlet there. Not just any coffee, but Kumbakonam Degree Coffee!
G. Samyraj who came up with this initiative belongs to Zameen Devarkulam, a village 10 kilometres away from Kovilpatti. He worked for nearly a decade in the Middle East before returning to his village, where, he was pained to see fellow farmers struggling and in debt. He decided to do something about it. Eight months ago he set up his first Only Coffee outlet at Mangalamedu. Today, he has eleven of them up and running, and manned by people from his village.
The outlets are called ‘Naidu Coffee in and as Only Coffee’. A dark blue board announces their presence. “We picked quiet spots where people in cars could stop and enjoy a refreshing cup. I am a coffee priyan and I love the idea of others like me enjoying a satisfying coffee, in the middle or end of a long drive. Kumbakonam Degree Coffee is a trade mark of Tamil Nadu and we serve that. It is like coffee made at home.” Frothy, piping hot, filter-coffee is served in gleaming pithalai davara tumblers. There is sugar-free substitutes for diabetics. “Sabari Malai pilgrims, and so on, are served in disposable cups,” explains Samyraj. The beans are procured from Chikamagalur and roasted at Virudhunagar from where they are delivered to the outlets where they are ground. Now Samyraj plans to go a step further to standardise flavours. He is working on setting up a unit where the decoction is centrally made. “So that the coffee will taste the same in all our outlets.” The R& D is underway and Samyraj hopes to get this plan off its feet soon.
Hot stuff
What’s coffee without an accompanying snack? “Vegetarian bajji bonda will also be available. And we plan to centralise the grocery supplies as well. Only the vegetables will be sourced locally,” says Samyraj. The outlet proudly declares that it uses sunflower oil for frying and that the oil is not recycled. There is also a telephone number on teh board in case anyone has complaints. “We want feedback. That way we are alert about the service we provide. And we have communication with our customers.”
Samyraj insists Only Coffee stands for transparency and quality. Along with his business partners R. Anandhan and A. Kalpana, he is now on the lookout for franchisees. “We will set up the outlet for them and even have two of our trained staff to be with them for a month to show them how the café is run. We will supply the coffee powder and the grocery items too. Investors need approximately two lakh rupees that includes a deposit.”
Samyraj hopes that not too long in the future there will be at least a hundred Only Coffee outlets in Tamil Nadu. Till that time, he says, he and his team members will ensure that hot filter coffee priced at Rs 15 is served to the customers with a smile.
For details email
akvfarms@gmail.com or call 9940627322/9443911011
Kudos to Mr. Samyraj. It is great to read people appreciating and encouraging locally grown produce instead of longing for the foreign goods. These are the type of ventures that help to improve the local economy through the use of local produce and through job creation, that need to be encouraged by local populace.
I too have noticed the coffee shop in udumalai - pollachi NH206, but haven't tried yet. Crowd was pretty decent. So next time will give a try, Good effort Mr.Samyraj. Thanks to editor for promoting entrepreneur, Good effort
My business responsibility take me to Tamil Nadu frequently. I will surely one of these outlets. Where have these 15 outlets come up ?
As we say, the BINDAAS attitude of Samyraj is a welcome change for AAM AADMI.........away from MNC's.
ONLY COFFEE should also make arrangements to sell its coffee powder to the interested public through its outlets like other suppliers.
all the best mr.samyraj . i wish you success in your endeavour
Kudos Samyraj! you have prooved what to be lucky.
Luck- preparedness meeting opportunity.
Recently I stopped at Kumbakanam filter coffee shop in Pongalur village on Highway 67, east of palladom. For fifteen rupees it was the best coffee one can get anywhere in Coimbatore. It is a welcome change to wayside bakeries. Seattle's coffee is no match for Kumbakonam filter coffee Hope MNC's are not visiting the Kumbakonam filter coffee shops.
Let's encourage coffee shops like these, instead of waiting in queues at
Starbucks !!
As a filtered coffee lover, hats off to the venture.
Will undoubtedly visit the spots when I am in India soon.
Cheers
Along with Hot Bajji and Bonda News Papers like The Hindu can also be sold on the highways to give Hot News
Well done Mr.Samyraj, a Starbucks coffee of Tamilnadu. May your enterprise envelop whole of India or at least the coffee loving southern states.
Really Cool. Do start some in Hyderabad, especially near Hyderabad Central University :).
It's an impressive business plan with scope for self-initiative.
But 'Naidu Cafe' could be disgusting. The names Brahmanal Cafe, Thevar Mess, Iyengar Bakery, Nadar Computers, etc. are not just identity or a tag used for the business. In the pretext of authenticity, it's a display of domination.
Congratulations and all the best; we need investment from indian
entrepreneurs like Samyraj instead of high priced starbucks and barista
My family members and myself enjoyed very much coffee and hospitality
served atONLY COFFEE.
I've seen these outlets and have coffee here too. Awesome idea and great
service. Coffee bars with more native touch. When we have entrepreneurs
like these, why do we have to go for Starbucks - which serves far more
substandard coffee anyways.
Another example is our own Cafe Coffee day, but more westernized.
Hope more small businesses come up soon in near future in TN and in
India. It is the small business that kick started the trading centuries
ago!
Jai Hind.
it's a very good effort. hope more outlets in all parts of
tamilnadu. wishes for great success.
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