Tanya

Hello! My name is Tanya, and I’m the founder of Kaveri Coffee Works, a woman-owned specialty coffee roasting company based in Berkeley, California. I grew up in Bangalore, India, where my family has roasted coffee for three generations (since 1941!). Coffee was always more than a beverage to me; it was a connection to family, tradition, and community. When I moved to the U.S. at seventeen, I missed that connection deeply.

After years of living in the Bay Area and witnessing a shift in coffee culture where coffee origins were being highlighted, I was surprised to find Indian coffee largely invisible. As the 7th largest coffee producer in the world, I found this to be a huge gap in the industry and also a great opportunity. Inspired by my father and supported by his legacy, I started Kaveri Coffee in 2019 to introduce American coffee drinkers to the distinctive flavors, stories, and people behind Indian coffee. Today, my motivation lies in honoring my roots, building equitable partnerships with small farms across India and creating meaningful work through coffee.

My vision is for Kaveri Coffee to become the leading voice for Indian specialty coffee globally – a bridge between my heritage and my current home in the U.S., and a platform that uplifts women across the supply chain. My path to entrepreneurship was one of rediscovery: of my roots, my purpose, and the power of coffee to bring people together.

I'm proud to be a second-time Kiva borrower. The first loan helped us expand our network of women-led farming partners and build lasting pathways to the U.S. market for Indian growers. As we continue to grow, this new loan will help us turn part-time roles into full-time positions, investing in people who will carry our mission forward.