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In India, the history of coffee is fascinating. While on a journey to Mecca, Baba Budan, an Indian Muslim saint, sneaked seven coffee beans from Mocha, Yemen, to Mysore, India, and planted them on the Chandragiri Hills. It was considered forbidden to take a green coffee seed out of Arabia. However, because the number seven is a sacred number in Islam, the saint's act of bringing seven coffee beans was considered a religious deed. To prevent coffee beans from germinating, Arabs strictly controlled their export to other countries, only allowing them to be shipped roasted or boiled. The first plantation was developed in 1840 around the Chandragiri Hills and the hills around it in Karnataka, following Baba Budan's first planting of the seeds in 1670 A.D.However, the narrative of Baba Budan may not be the first one to have introduced coffee to India. It is thought to have initially appeared near the Malabar Coast, thanks to Arab traders. Indeed, a quote from Edward Terry in the court of Jahangir in 1616 A.D. proves the availability of coffee in Mughal India. Soon after, the Ottomans took the lead in distributing coffee throughout the world. Mullayanagiri is Karnataka's tallest mountain peak, and it was the first spot in India where coffee was planted after it was brought from Yemen in the mid to late 1600s. This peak is part of the Baba Budangiri range of mountains, which are part of the wider Western Ghats and are named after the saint who smuggled the seeds.
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Coffee was a well-established commercial crop by the nineteenth century, and it was exported to Europe via London. India is the world's sixth-largest coffee grower, and coffee grown in India's forests is grown under dense canopies in the Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the world's most important biodiversity hotspots. Coffee was really grown long before tea, primarily in Northern India. This is a little-known fact because India is recognised as a tea-drinking country, with outstanding tea gardens in Darjeeling, Bengal, and Assam. India is known for its exceptional shade-grown coffee.
Arabica and Robusta, the two most economically important species of coffee, are cultivated under a dense shadow, which is thought to add to the flavour profile of the coffee, as well as other factors such as the monsoons, spices that grow surrounding coffee, and the varied fauna that flourish alongside it. If you are a coffee enthusiast, then your love for trying different coffee roaster blends from all around India is understandable. Each Indian coffee, locally grown, has a different kind of aroma and flavour aside from Arabica and Robusta. If you’re curious about the coffee roasters and you’re not sure where to start, try the following Indian coffee roasters that you can order at home:
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Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters
This one has to be on the list for sure, and if you have not tried it, this is your sign. Established a decade ago in 2013, it is a pioneering name in the Indian speciality coffee scene. With a focus on ethical sourcing and sustainable practices, they provide coffee lovers with single-origin beans from across the country. From the hills of Karnataka to the forests of Kerala, each batch of beans is carefully curated to offer distinct and rich flavours. Blue Tokai symbolises a generational change and is more than just a corporate success story. India's coffee culture was mostly restricted to instant blends and a few heritage cafés ten years ago. While having multiple cafes around the country, they also sell their coffees on online platforms and sell packets at their cafes as well. So even if you have not visited their cafes, you can still purchase them.
Flying Squirrel
This brand takes pride in its handpicked, premium coffee beans sourced from various Indian coffee estates. They follow a farm-to-cup approach, ensuring the freshest and highest-quality artisan coffee for consumers. Tej Thammiah, Ravi Dabreo, Laeeq Ali, Shriram G, and Ashish Dabreo make up the crew behind Flying Squirrel. Paramà, Sattva, Sunkissed, Aromatique, Cafè Chic, and Deep Bliss are the six blends that The Flying Squirrel offers. From soil to technology, Tej's experience ensures that quality remains the primary focus. The secret is to use vanilla or citrus patches to naturally infuse the beans with flavour. Fermented pulp is used in the Sunkissed variety to increase fruitiness and sweetness. The coffee, which is roasted and ground to order and is often sold online, reaches clients in 8 to 9 days for maximum freshness and aroma.
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Genetics Coffee
A micro-roastery situated in Bangalore, Genetics Coffee was founded on ingenuity, craftsmanship, and a passion for great coffee. The brand finds 100% traceable speciality beans from reliable farmers who prioritise sustainable, chemical-free, or certified organic farming in order to create exceptional cups for serious coffee connoisseurs. It explores terroir and post-harvest procedures in close collaboration with producers to fully realise the flavour potential of every bean. Their strategy combines science and obsession in equal measure; their goal is to unravel complexity while fostering a sense of camaraderie over coffee. Small amounts of each batch are slow-roasted, and each batch has a unique flavour that balances body, acidity, and sweetness. The outcome? Carefully roasted coffees that always have a unique flavour. You can purchase the coffee from their online website or just DM them on Instagram.
Ground Zero Coffee Roasters
Through fair trade policies and sustainable farming, they aim to improve the lives of both coffee growers and customers. They are well-known in India's coffee sector because of their dedication to sustainability and quality. The Bengaluru-based company alternates between blends and single-origin drops, but their limited microlots, each release with unique processing and taste narratives, are where the real flexibility is found. Essence adds a floral, citrussy brightness with a tea-like finish; Synergy leans fruity and fruit-forward with notes of tropical candy; Dark Lord II offers a deep, smooth, and non-bittering dark character, while advanced processing makes Prism clean yet layered. Lastly, Nightshade goes all out with powerful tropical, kiwi, and floral sweetness. Each coffee is unique, process-driven, and designed to highlight taste at its most subtle.
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Coorg Coffee Works
Coorg Coffee Works hails from the heart of coffee country, Coorg in Karnataka. This brand is known for its dedication to sourcing premium coffee beans from local estates. They offer a wide selection of single-origin, estate-grown coffee beans that showcase the unique flavours of the region. The brand is a favourite among coffee connoisseurs seeking a taste of authentic Coorg coffee. Stock up on coffee from Coorg ground according to your preference with honey, spices and more. Masalas for Coorg curries and the famed black Kachampuli vinegar, added to pandi curry is also available from the brand website.
Araku Coffee
Araku coffees are 100% Arabica, freshly roasted, and available in ground or whole bean form. For maximum freshness, they are nitrogen flushed. Araku Coffee's terroir-mapped approach is what really sets it apart. Unique microclimates with distinctive flavour profiles are produced by the valley's red loamy soil, immaculate streams, and thoughtfully designed canopy of shade trees. Every batch preserves the essence of its unique terroir while retaining the rich body and medium acidity that characterise quality Indian coffee, whether it is the characteristic naturals with notes of sweet berries and stone fruits or the washed types with bright citrus and flowery notes. With simple online ordering and direct delivery from the valley to your cup, Araku Coffee offers a comprehensive selection of freshly roasted, premium single-origin speciality coffee.
