India has long played a crucial role in shaping coffee as a cultural and social symbol across the world.
From high-quality beans to unique processing methods and the spread of filter coffee, there’s a lot to know about why India is in the top 10 global ranks when it comes to coffee production.
With the bean belt passing right through the country, you can be assured that the coffee varieties it produces are of exceptional quality.
And it’s not just the atmospheric conditions that guarantee good output. Over the years, the coffee industry in India has seen several advancements that have boosted its coffee growth.
Keep reading to know more about India and its coffee journey.
History
There’s been much talk about how coffee first came to India. A saint, Baba Budan brought in 7 coffee beans from Mecca to Mysore, a city in the Southern state of Karnataka.
If not for the Sufi pilgrim, would coffee have eventually made its way here the way it did to the rest of the world? Probably.
This having occurred in the 17th century enabled the country to get started earlier. With India having been plunged into a period of colonial rule, no one would have thought that the coffee trade would see such progress, but the British made headways with it
In the late 1800s, coffee began to be commercially grown leading to the establishment of coffee shops, which thrived.
Although the Coffee Board of India was set up in the early 20th century to manage the production & distribution of coffee and to take care of farmers, it wasn’t until much later that coffee growers in India were able to exercise freedom in the trade.
The coffee grown in India is of both arabica and robusta kinds. In 2022, it was reported that 4 lakh tonnes were exported, which is a 2% rise compared to 2021.
Trends
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The monsooning process came about accidentally when the British were carrying coffee beans from India to Europe by sea.
When exposed to monsoon winds, the coffee beans lose a significant chunk of acidity. They expand in size and gain a nuanced flavour that is hard to come by in other coffees.
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Filter kaapi is the answer to all your espresso dreams. The South Indian filter kaapi packs a punch in flavour and is often compared to the Western espresso for its flavour, caffeine, style of consumption, etc.
It’s traditionally brewed in a tumbler-like coffee utensil through the process of percolation. The resulting brew is mixed with piping-hot milk and a sweetener.
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India was once known to be primarily a country of tea drinkers. From instant coffee to specialty coffee, households in India over time have become more open to the idea of drinking coffee on a daily basis so much so that they have coffee equipment at home.
More specialty coffee brands are cropping up every year, and exports are increasing steadily with Italy, Germany & Belgium being some of the largest importers of Indian coffee.
Characteristics
Indian coffees, in general, tend to have an earthy flavour with hints of chocolate and spice. The medium body and strong aftertaste surely makes Indian coffees memorable.
Many of these shade-grown coffees are also blended with chicory to further enhance the intensity of their flavours and add nutty notes to them.
If you are looking for coffees with low acidity, the Monsoon Malabar kind will be your favourite.
If you’ve never had the chance to try Indian coffee before, it’s high time that you did. Well, we’ll help you with that.
Treat yourself to our Indian single-origin coffee - Monsoon - which boasts nutmeg, tobacco, and maple tasting notes. It is a washed-processed coffee of the Kent variety, having a heavy body and a smooth finish.
Do you love delectable flavours? Maybe the Heritage blend is the one you should pick. It has tasting notes of cinnamon, orange, and molasses with a rich, buttery mouthfeel.
Comment and let us know what you think of the Monsoon single origin and the Heritage blend.