India, Dec. 13 -- India is a confirmed chai nation. In the north, east, and west, it is tea that is the most-ordered beverage on the streets, and in offices, and most-offered one at homes. Only in the south is there a prevalent, and large scale coffee culture, and that too filter coffee. But things have changed over the past few years. The entry of foreign coffee shops like Starbucks, growth of Indian ones, and the mushrooming of both premium (Blue Tokai), and less-expensive franchises across the country hint at a change in hot beverage consumption.

The sound of coffee machines, and the aroma of freshly-ground beans are slowly finding their way into Indian homes. From single-serve pod systems to fully automatic espresso makers, a new cla...