[
 {
  "name": "r/IndiaCoffee",
  "platform": "reddit",
  "url": "https://www.reddit.com/r/IndiaCoffee/",
  "scope": "India",
  "members": "~161k members",
  "for": "The main place to ask about Indian roasters, beans, grinders and brew recipes, and to see what other home brewers are drinking.",
  "level": "enthusiast",
  "verified": "Multiple new posts on 27 Sep 2026 (subreddit RSS feed); member count from reddapi.dev"
 },
 {
  "name": "r/IndianCoffee",
  "platform": "reddit",
  "url": "https://www.reddit.com/r/IndianCoffee/",
  "scope": "India",
  "members": null,
  "for": "A smaller, more casual Indian coffee subreddit for general chat, cafe finds and first brewing questions.",
  "level": "beginner-friendly",
  "verified": "New posts on 24 and 26 Sep 2026 (subreddit RSS feed); member count not publicly retrievable"
 },
 {
  "name": "r/Coffee",
  "platform": "reddit",
  "url": "https://www.reddit.com/r/Coffee/",
  "scope": "Global",
  "members": "~2.45M members",
  "for": "Global subreddit with daily question threads, good for general brewing help and gear advice (not India specific).",
  "level": "beginner-friendly",
  "verified": "New posts on 27 Sep 2026 (subreddit RSS feed); member count from reddapi.dev"
 },
 {
  "name": "r/espresso",
  "platform": "reddit",
  "url": "https://www.reddit.com/r/espresso/",
  "scope": "Global",
  "members": "~1.04M members",
  "for": "Global subreddit for espresso machines, grinders, dialing in shots and troubleshooting (not India specific).",
  "level": "enthusiast",
  "verified": "New posts on 27 Sep 2026 (subreddit RSS feed); member count from reddapi.dev"
 },
 {
  "name": "Specialty Coffee India (Discord)",
  "platform": "discord",
  "url": "https://discord.com/servers/specialty-coffee-india-1373930773853507604",
  "scope": "India",
  "members": "~1.5k members",
  "for": "Real-time chat for Indian home brewers about roaster releases, brewing technique, where to buy gear locally, and a used-gear classifieds channel.",
  "level": "beginner-friendly",
  "verified": "Public Discord server listing shows 1,509 members and 79 online (Sep 2026); created May 2025"
 },
 {
  "name": "Specialty Coffee Lovers Community of India",
  "platform": "facebook",
  "url": "https://www.facebook.com/groups/483589509111370/",
  "scope": "India",
  "members": "~1.4k members",
  "for": "Public Facebook group about specialty coffee in India, with posts from enthusiasts as well as growers and bean sellers.",
  "level": "enthusiast",
  "verified": "Public group page shows 1.4k members and a post dated 17 Sep (2026)"
 },
 {
  "name": "Specialty Coffee Enthusiasts (WhatsApp, Bengaluru)",
  "platform": "whatsapp",
  "url": "https://chat.whatsapp.com/JHpzJ1EE5Lz3peCLDpuQCW",
  "scope": "Bengaluru",
  "members": null,
  "for": "WhatsApp group run by Bengaluru home barista @coffee.devout for hearing about tastings like Taster's Table and meeting other local brewers.",
  "level": "enthusiast",
  "verified": "Invite link is published in the bio of @specialty.coffee.enthusiasts on Instagram, which posted events in Aug and Sep 2026"
 },
 {
  "name": "Budan Community (Something's Brewing)",
  "platform": "whatsapp",
  "url": "https://chat.whatsapp.com/KwZPubps5ItG9PFAXrXtnh",
  "scope": "India",
  "members": null,
  "for": "WhatsApp community run by the brewing-gear retailer Something's Brewing, useful for news of their home brewer meetups, tastings and workshops.",
  "level": "beginner-friendly",
  "verified": "Join link is published on somethingsbrewing.in; the store's events feed lists meetups and workshops posted Jan to Mar 2026"
 },
 {
  "name": "Kokoro Community",
  "platform": "instagram",
  "url": "https://www.instagram.com/kokoro.community/",
  "scope": "India",
  "members": "~5.7k followers",
  "for": "Community account backed by Kokoro Coffee that posts brewing content and runs events such as AeroPress sessions, with a WhatsApp community linked from the profile.",
  "level": "beginner-friendly",
  "verified": "Posts and reels dated Sep 2026; partner account of the Indian AeroPress Championship 2026"
 },
 {
  "name": "@coffee.devout (Arpan)",
  "platform": "instagram",
  "url": "https://www.instagram.com/coffee.devout/",
  "scope": "Bengaluru",
  "members": "~12.8k followers",
  "for": "Bengaluru home barista who keeps a city coffee shop map and co-hosts community tastings like Home Baristas of India.",
  "level": "enthusiast",
  "verified": "Recent posts about Taster's Table tastings; co-presented Home Baristas of India Season 3 on 21 Jun 2026"
 },
 {
  "name": "ARAMSE",
  "platform": "youtube",
  "url": "https://www.youtube.com/@aramse",
  "scope": "India",
  "members": "~61k subscribers",
  "for": "Mysuru-based couple making reviews and tutorials that centre Indian coffee and filter coffee, with a global specialty audience.",
  "level": "enthusiast",
  "verified": "Videos uploaded May and 12 Jun 2026 (channel RSS feed)"
 },
 {
  "name": "amanwithcoffee (Aman Adhikari)",
  "platform": "youtube",
  "url": "https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrWBXPYt7xiaR0KSg3I2VgQ",
  "scope": "India",
  "members": "~38k subscribers",
  "for": "Uttarakhand-based creator explaining coffee simply for everyday drinkers, with brewing tips and AeroPress content.",
  "level": "beginner-friendly",
  "verified": "Videos uploaded 13 Aug and 21 Aug 2026 (channel RSS feed)"
 },
 {
  "name": "India International Coffee Festival (IICF)",
  "platform": "event",
  "url": "https://www.indiacoffeefestival.com/",
  "scope": "Bengaluru",
  "members": "20k+ visitors (2026)",
  "for": "India's largest coffee festival, with roaster stalls, open cuppings, workshops for home brewers and the national championship finals.",
  "level": "beginner-friendly",
  "verified": "2026 edition held 12 to 14 Feb 2026 in Bengaluru (press coverage); next edition announced for 26 to 28 Feb 2027"
 },
 {
  "name": "National Barista Championship and National Brewers Cup (IICF prelims)",
  "platform": "event",
  "url": "https://www.indiacoffeefestival.com/",
  "scope": "India",
  "members": null,
  "for": "The national barista and manual brewing competitions, with regional prelims in Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru that are open to watch.",
  "level": "industry",
  "verified": "2027-cycle prelims scheduled 2 to 5 Oct 2026 at Nexus Seawoods, Navi Mumbai; 2026-cycle prelims held Oct and Dec 2025"
 },
 {
  "name": "National Latte Art Championship",
  "platform": "event",
  "url": "https://businessnewsthisweek.com/news/national-latte-art-champion-crowned-at-iicf-bengaluru-2026/",
  "scope": "India",
  "members": null,
  "for": "National latte art competition run by Kaapi Machines, with prelims in Mumbai, Bengaluru and Delhi and finals at IICF.",
  "level": "industry",
  "verified": "2026 finals held at IICF Bengaluru in Feb 2026; winner goes to the World Latte Art Championship"
 },
 {
  "name": "National Filter Coffee Championship",
  "platform": "event",
  "url": "https://www.indiacoffeefestival.com/competitions/national-filter-coffee-championship",
  "scope": "India",
  "members": null,
  "for": "A competition built around South Indian filter coffee decoction, fun to watch for anyone who loves traditional kaapi.",
  "level": "industry",
  "verified": "Held at IICF Feb 2026 (press coverage); listed among the eight competitions for IICF 2027"
 },
 {
  "name": "Indian AeroPress Championship",
  "platform": "event",
  "url": "https://www.instagram.com/indianaeropresschampionship/",
  "scope": "India",
  "members": "~6k followers",
  "for": "Low-barrier brewing competition that home brewers can enter, feeding into the World AeroPress Championship.",
  "level": "enthusiast",
  "verified": "2026 national event on 10 Oct 2026 hosted by Benki Brewing Tools (World AeroPress Championship listing); Instagram posts Sep 2026"
 },
 {
  "name": "Mumbai Coffee Festival",
  "platform": "event",
  "url": "https://jioworlddrive.com/events/mumbai-coffee-festival-at-jio-world-drive",
  "scope": "Mumbai",
  "members": "45+ roasters and brands (2025)",
  "for": "Annual weekend festival in BKC where you can taste from dozens of Indian roasters and join brewing workshops.",
  "level": "beginner-friendly",
  "verified": "Fourth edition held 28 to 30 Nov 2025 at Jio World Drive (press coverage)"
 },
 {
  "name": "Home Baristas of India",
  "platform": "meetup",
  "url": "https://urbanaut.app/spot/home-baristas-of-india-2026",
  "scope": "Bengaluru",
  "members": null,
  "for": "Ticketed evening where home brewers each brew an Indian coffee they champion and attendees taste across regions and varietals.",
  "level": "enthusiast",
  "verified": "Season 3 held 21 Jun 2026 at Ner.lu, Bengaluru, presented by Nerlu Cafe and @coffee.devout"
 },
 {
  "name": "Something's Brewing home brewer meetups and tastings",
  "platform": "meetup",
  "url": "https://somethingsbrewing.in/blogs/events",
  "scope": "India",
  "members": null,
  "for": "Informal home brewer meetups and comparative tasting sessions at the retailer's Bengaluru (Indiranagar) and Mumbai (Jio World Drive) stores.",
  "level": "beginner-friendly",
  "verified": "Events feed lists a Home Brewers Meet-Up (Jan 2026) and tastings posted Jan to Mar 2026; Bengaluru event on 15 Aug 2026"
 },
 {
  "name": "Blue Tokai cupping and brewing workshops",
  "platform": "meetup",
  "url": "https://bluetokaicoffee.com/pages/events",
  "scope": "India",
  "members": null,
  "for": "Roaster-run paid workshops on cupping, manual brewing and espresso in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Pune, Hyderabad and other cities.",
  "level": "beginner-friendly",
  "verified": "Cupping sessions listed for 12 Sep 2026 (Bengaluru) and 19 Sep 2026 (Delhi)"
 },
 {
  "name": "Speciality Coffee Association of India (SCAI)",
  "platform": "organisation",
  "url": "https://www.scaindia.org/",
  "scope": "India",
  "members": null,
  "for": "Non-profit that organises IICF and the national championships, with a membership category for general coffee enthusiasts.",
  "level": "industry",
  "verified": "Organiser of IICF 2026 and the 2026 prelims; @sca_india Instagram posting 2026 prelim results"
 },
 {
  "name": "Coffee Board of India",
  "platform": "organisation",
  "url": "https://coffeeboard.gov.in/",
  "scope": "India",
  "members": null,
  "for": "Government body for Indian coffee that supports IICF and the championships and runs a postgraduate diploma in coffee quality management.",
  "level": "industry",
  "verified": "Site posted 2026-27 diploma admissions (Sep 2026) and Flavour of India Fine Cup Award 2026 results"
 }
]