Karnataka Estate, India - July & August 2023

Limited Edition Specialty Coffee

Along the coast of Karavali in the Malenadu region, the western Ghats mountain range also known as the Sahyadri mountain range possesses a uniquely warm tropical climate perfect for cultivating the Kents, S.795, Catimor and Selection 9 varieties. Grown at 900-1,300 masl on the Karnataka Estate spanning 130 hectares, the mountain range acts as a barrier intercepting the rain-laden monsoon winds that sweep across from the south west. 

Our beans have been chosen based on screen size and cup quality. The coffee cherries are picked, pulped and sorted immediately with the beans undergoing electronic and manual colour sorting to separate the grades. 

Coffee beans are piled in 4 to 6 inches exposed to the monsoon winds and to equalise the moisture absorption, the beans are raked, bulked and rebagged at regular intervals. The process takes 12-16 weeks and the beans will absorb the moisture in stages expanding nearly twice their original size whilst developing colours that range from pale gold to a light brown. Bulking and rebagging is repeated as the coffee is sent to a drying facility to go into storage.

Due to the warm tropical climate and the monsoon winds soaking the coffee beans, these gold beans when ground release an incredible biscuit flavour with a hint of chocolate. The delicate mouthfeel once submerged into hot water is crisp and clean to the palate, with very intense black tea qualities and tangy lemon zest. As the coffee blossoms and cools, hints of herbs become apparent with strong flavours of velvet dark chocolate.