Coffee, a product which, as legend dictates, entered India smuggled secretly in the beard of Baba Budan, a Sufi Saint, has seen extensive evolution in the country. From a beverage of the rich and elite, to becoming a routine for the masses, to now being enjoyed as an experience. Coffee has slowly yet completely taken India by storm.
With large scale colonial plantations, coffee was initially received by Indians with reluctance but soon seeped into their everyday life and culture. The coffee houses of the 1900s became addas or spaces for dissent and debate and that linked coffee with conversations. Today, coffee is not just routine or a reason that people collect over, but something people wish to experience up close and in depth.
The booming café culture across India is a testament to the position coffee has acquired in our lives. But, are cafés the only location to enjoy the beverage? Well, we say no. If you are someone who perks up with just a whiff of that good old coffee scent, it’s time you move beyond the glass walls of your favourite coffee shop, up your caffeine game, and experience the beverage in all its glory with these 5 unique coffee experiences.
Enjoy A Stay At Dhanagiri Homestay
Placed in the midst of a 30 acre farm in Wayanad, this homestay lets you wake up to the scent of coffee. Stay in a cozy bungalow tucked away under green foliage and gulp down cups of coffee grown, dried, and stored on the working coffee estate. You can go on hikes through the coffee plantation where you might witness the harvesting process between November to March. Guided walks with the host or caretaker are also a viable option to explore the land. A quick tuk tuk ride is a great way to explore the estate and waterfall nearby.
Covered in jackfruits, chillies, fruits, cinnamon, cardamom and more, the plantation around the bungalow welcomes visitors to indulge in the freshly prepared, local Kerala cuisine. So you don’t just get freshly brewed coffee, you get a full epicurean experience!
Coffee aficionados can also please their tastebuds (and curiosity) by experimenting with different flavour profiles. The shade grown Robusta beans pair well with the natural spices grown on the estate. You can purchase fresh ingredients from the estate to lace your coffee with cinnamon for a cozy, comforting cup or aromatic cardamom pods for a richer taste. For those who like an extra kick, a bold Mexican mocha can be brewed by adding just a tinge of the locally grown bird’s eye chilli.
Home-brewing sessions can also be requested.
Try The Anaerobic Coffee At Ratnagiri Estate, Chikmagalur
Ratnagiri Estate, in the heartland of Karnataka, aspires to strike a balance: the perfect equipoise between tradition and experimentation. This effort percolates down to their coffee processing techniques, exemplified in the anaerobic fermented filter roast. Coffee cherries are deprived of oxygen in specialised tanks to trigger fermentation. This process extracts out additional sweetness through extension of fruit-bean interaction and manufactures a flavour which is truly layered. The end result is that the cup in your hand leaves a nuanced flavour that lingers even after you finish it.
For those who do not just want to try the tropical fruity coffee notes but want to witness the process itself, private tours through the estate are available on special request. Make sure you book these in advance since Ratnagiri is an active coffee estate. Ashok Patre, founder and owner of the estate, places quality experimentation at the core of producing good coffee which can compete with the global produce. The aim is to implement this in tandem with the surrounding environment. Organic fertilisers and waste processing are as important to Patre’s production process as quality coffee.
Trace Heritage At Araku Museum, Andhra Pradesh
If you’re a coffee connoisseur who truly wants to understand the process that allows your liquid life to reach your mug, then the Araku museum will surely be of interest to you. It not only traces the history of coffee cultivation in the valley, but also illustrates the journey of the beverage, from farm to cup.
In a multitude of ways, the museum (set up in 2006), spotlights tribal heritage and coffee farmers who have been employed at the plantations since the colonial era. Art installations on walls depict local wardrobes and the flora and fauna. Dolls emulate the coffee making process, marking each step and the close involvement of the tribal population in this process.
Chocolate lovers are in particular luck because the museum also houses a chocolate gallery where visitors can taste (arguably) the best complement to coffee. It would be unfair to talk about the history of coffee without mentioning the iconic filter kaapi even once. You can also get a taste of authentic filter kaapi here!
Join The Coffee Learning Community At Auroville
For those who wish to imbibe actual knowledge of Indian coffee, The Coffee Learning Community at Auroville gives you a chance to “transform your relationship with coffee”. They offer a range of pocket-friendly workshops that you can sign up for. You can explore the evolution of coffee from its ancient origins to modern applications, study domestic consumption, or engage in a comprehensive study of the fermentation process. They offer engagement with the behind-the-scenes works as well as you can explore coffee plantations and build actual relationships with the farmers.
The community is a wonderful starting point for beginners who are hesitant to start their journey. They offer a number of beginner-friendly courses which take you through the fundamentals of roasting, familiarize you with tasting frameworks, and actually teach you how to brew a cup. With their structured programmes and friendly approach, you’ll be making the perfect espresso shot in no time.
Read more: Know More About The Fast Brewing Coffee Tourism Market Of India
Also read: Here’s Where To Find The Best Artisanal Coffee In Mumbai
