Colombian specialty coffee chain Libertario, which entered the Indian market last year, is expanding its operations here, betting on rising consumer interest in premium and specialty coffees. The company plans to open four more cafés in the Delhi-NCR region this year before expanding into Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru in early 2027.Founded in 2015, Libertario was created by a Colombian coffee-producing family to promote an experience-led specialty coffee culture, moving beyond the conventional ‘grab-and-go’ café model.“We have been coffee farmers, exporters and hospitality operators for many years before launching Libertario. We saw a gap for a quality-first, hospitality-driven coffee experience and built the brand around that,” said Miguel Villaquiran, Co-founder and India CEO of Libertario.The company now operates across six countries -- Colombia, Chile, Costa Rica, Mexico, the US and India -- and has businesses spanning cafés, B2B coffee supplies and e-commerce.Unlike many international coffee brands, Libertario follows a localisation strategy by sourcing most of its beans from the markets where it operates while showcasing select Colombian and other international specialty coffees. Around 70-80 per cent of the coffee served in Colombia, Mexico, Costa Rica and India is locally sourced.Maintaining a mix“In India, three of our five coffee profiles are Indian-origin coffees. We always maintain a mix of local and international specialty coffees to deliver the best flavour experience while supporting regional coffee growers,” Villaquiran said.The company has also begun promoting Indian specialty coffees globally. It recently showcased Indian coffees at exhibitions organised by the Colombian government in the UAE and Colombia, receiving an encouraging response from international buyers.“Consumers in Colombia were excited to try Indian coffees because they are something different, just as Indian consumers are curious about Colombian coffees. Specialty coffee consumers are increasingly looking for unique origins and flavour profiles,” he said.After partnering with two large Indian coffee estates during its first year of operations, Libertario plans to expand its sourcing network by working with more growers this year.Villaquiran said the growing curiosity among Indian consumers for Colombian specialty coffees has strengthened the company’s confidence in the market, while its blend of Colombian and Indian offerings provides a distinctive proposition in a café landscape dominated by domestic coffee brands.Published on July 8, 2026