diff --git a/config.tpl.coffee b/config.tpl.coffee
index 9004ed97a..51ee0349d 100644
--- a/config.tpl.coffee
+++ b/config.tpl.coffee
@@ -20,6 +20,12 @@ module.exports = (config) ->
       %EXCLUDE%
     ]
 
+
+    # preprocess matching files before serving them to the browser
+    # available preprocessors: https://npmjs.org/browse/keyword/karma-preprocessor
+    preprocessors: %PREPROCESSORS%
+
+
     # test results reporter to use
     # possible values: 'dots', 'progress', 'junit', 'growl', 'coverage'
     reporters: ['progress']
diff --git a/config.tpl.js b/config.tpl.js
index 080bdbcfe..0cd79c0fe 100644
--- a/config.tpl.js
+++ b/config.tpl.js
@@ -24,6 +24,11 @@ module.exports = function(config) {
     ],
 
 
+    // preprocess matching files before serving them to the browser
+    // available preprocessors: https://npmjs.org/browse/keyword/karma-preprocessor
+    preprocessors: %PREPROCESSORS%,
+
+
     // test results reporter to use
     // possible values: 'dots', 'progress', 'junit', 'growl', 'coverage'
     reporters: ['progress'],
diff --git a/lib/init.js b/lib/init.js
index 17cedbdc0..c6b1db54c 100755
--- a/lib/init.js
+++ b/lib/init.js
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ var fs = require('fs');
 var util = require('util');
 var path = require('path');
 var glob = require('glob');
+var mm = require('minimatch');
 var exec = require('child_process').exec;
 var EventEmitter = require('events').EventEmitter;
 
@@ -315,6 +316,21 @@ var formatFiles = function(files) {
 };
 
 
+var pad = function(str, pad) {
+  return str.replace(/\n/g, '\n' + pad);
+};
+
+
+var formatPreprocessors = function(preprocessors) {
+  var lines = [];
+  Object.keys(preprocessors).forEach(function(pattern) {
+    lines.push('  ' + quote(pattern) + ': [' + preprocessors[pattern].map(quote).join(', ') + ']');
+  });
+
+  return pad('{\n' + lines.join(',\n') + '\n}', '    ');
+};
+
+
 var getBasePath = function(configFilePath, cwd) {
   var configParts = path.dirname(configFilePath).split(path.sep);
   var cwdParts = cwd.split(path.sep);
@@ -355,6 +371,15 @@ var getReplacementsFromAnswers = function(answers, basePath) {
     frameworks.push('requirejs');
   }
 
+  var allPatterns = answers.files.concat(answers.includedFiles || []);
+  var preprocessors = {};
+  if (allPatterns.some(function(pattern) {
+    return mm(pattern, '**/*.coffee');
+  })) {
+    installPackage('karma-coffee-preprocessor');
+    preprocessors['**/*.coffee'] = ['coffee'];
+  }
+
   return {
     DATE: new Date(),
     BASE_PATH: basePath,
@@ -362,7 +387,8 @@ var getReplacementsFromAnswers = function(answers, basePath) {
     FILES: formatFiles(files),
     EXCLUDE: answers.exclude ? formatFiles(answers.exclude.map(quote)) : '',
     AUTO_WATCH: answers.autoWatch ? 'true' : 'false',
-    BROWSERS: answers.browsers.map(quote).join(', ')
+    BROWSERS: answers.browsers.map(quote).join(', '),
+    PREPROCESSORS: formatPreprocessors(preprocessors)
   };
 };