Chikmagalur Coffee: The Story, the Estates and What to Buy

Chikkamagaluru is where coffee began in India. The story goes that the Sufi saint Baba Budan carried seven coffee beans from Yemen in the 1600s and planted them on the slopes of Chandra Drona Parvatha, a range many still call Baba Budangiri after him. Today the district is one of the biggest coffee growing areas in the country.

How coffee grows here

Coffee in Chikkamagaluru is shade grown. Tall silver oaks and native trees protect the coffee bushes from strong sun while pepper vines climb those shade trees. It is a layered, green ecosystem full of birds.

Arabica and robusta

• Arabica grows at higher altitudes, has a smoother, more aromatic taste and needs more care.
• Robusta is hardier, grows lower, has more caffeine and a stronger, bolder flavour. It is common in South Indian filter blends.

The coffee year

• March to April: blossom after the first rain. White flowers and a jasmine scent for a few days.
• June to September: berries grow during the monsoon.
• November to February: harvest. Berries turn red and are hand picked, then dried or washed.

See it for yourself

Our morning estate walk takes you through the coffee rows. You can see the plants up close. During harvest you will see the pickers at work.

Buying coffee

• Buy from local curing works and coffee shops in Chikkamagaluru town.
• Decide if you want pure coffee or a blend with chicory, which is common for filter coffee.
• Ask for a fresh grind suited to your filter or brewer, or buy whole beans.
• Pick up pepper and cardamom while you are there.