Coffee-Kan, where customers order at their tables and receive full wait service, aims to open its first overseas outlet in India around 2027. The company plans to establish 60 stores across India and Southeast Asia by 2030, according to Nikkei Asia.
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A cup of latte topped with latte art is seen ahead of the International Coffee Day in Ankara, Turkiye, September 30, 2025. Photo by Anadolu via AFP |
Focusing on office workers and middle- to high-income customers in cities such as Mumbai and Bengaluru, the operator C-United expects average spending to exceed JPY2,000 yen (US$12.90), more than twice its figure in Japan.
The number of global cafe chain outlets in India rose 13% in 2024 from the previous year to roughly 5,300, according to U.K.-based World Coffee Portal.
Starbucks held the largest share, followed by domestic players Barista and Cafe Coffee Day, all of which provide only counter service. Industry observers say full-service cafes have strong growth prospects.
“Full-service cafes are becoming increasingly popular as spaces where office workers and university students can comfortably spend extended periods eating, reading and socializing,” said Takanori Higuchi of the Japan External Trade Organization office in New Delhi.
C-United President Yuki Tomonari has noted that “there is demand for higher-priced options in the full-service cafe format.”
Market researcher Euromonitor International forecasts that India’s mid- to high-income population will surpass 40% by 2030, up sharply from 10% in 2020.
Another Japanese company, Doutor Nichires Holdings, plans to open the first overseas branch of its full-service concept Kanno Coffee in Taiwan in March 2026.
The chain, which has 12 locations in Japan mainly in urban centers, will place special emphasis on matcha-based offerings in Taiwan and expects average customer spending of about 1,000 yen.
Doutor Nichires has already launched roughly 20 branches of its Hoshino Coffee brand across Taiwan and the Philippines.
“Kanno Coffee has many Japanese-style menu items using matcha,” said President Masanori Hoshino. “We believe it will be successful even at a higher price point than Hoshino Coffee.”
Komeda is also expanding its network in Taiwan and Indonesia, operating around 80 overseas stores compared with 18 at the end of February 2021.
