The Starbucks Coffee Company has formed a 50:50 joint venture (JV) with Tata Global Beverages Ltd called `Tata Starbucks Ltd' to tap into the hot beverages market in India.

The new joint venture will own and operate Starbucks cafes across the country. The café chains will be opened with the brand name, Starbucks Coffee 'A Tata Alliance'. The company is planning to open 50 cafes in several Indian cities in 2012 and initially it will launch stores in Delhi and Mumbai.

The Starbucks cafes will compete with Costa Coffee, Cafe Coffee Day and Barista in the Indian market an will aim to get a pie of the growing Indian market with a significant young population. The country's coffee cafe market is estimated to be around Rs. 700 crore a year.

Under another agreement between Starbucks Coffee Company and Tata Coffee Ltd, the Indian company will supply roast coffee to Tata Starbucks in India as well as Starbucks Coffee Company in international markets. India is among the world's largest producers of coffee.

The two companies said that the opening up of Starbucks in India will allow Indian consumers to enjoy the premium Starbucks Experience and discovering the unique taste of high quality Indian Arabica coffee worldwide.