Snapshot

Why Coorg & Chikmagalur are iconic:
Karnataka’s Coorg (Kodagu) and Chikmagalur districts form India’s coffee heartland, producing 70% of the country’s total coffee output. Known for their shade-grown, hand-picked, estate-processed beans, these regions are globally respected for specialty Arabica and bold Robusta coffees. The plantations, located at elevations ranging from 900 to 1,500 meters, benefit from Western Ghats biodiversity (UNESCO World Heritage Site), resulting in coffee with unique flavor notes and premium cupping scores.

These clusters are backed by the Coffee Board of India for R&D, GI traceability, and export promotion. Both regions are also home to heritage coffee estates with over 150 years of cultivation history, making them key sourcing hubs for global roasters.

Scale:

• Karnataka produces ~70% of India’s coffee, of which Coorg contributes ~40% and Chikmagalur ~30%.
  
• Coffee exports from India total $1B+ annually, with these districts as the largest contributors.
  

Product Range

Category	Key Products
Arabica Coffee	Single-origin, washed Arabica; specialty microlots
Robusta Coffee	High-altitude Robusta with bold flavor profiles
Monsooned Malabar Coffee	Specialty beans aged with coastal monsoon winds
Estate Coffees	Branded single-estate beans from 100+ plantations
Organic & Fairtrade Coffee	Certified beans with traceable supply chains
Value-Added Coffee	Roasted beans, ground coffee, cold brew blends
Gourmet & Specialty Microlots	High-scoring specialty coffee for third-wave roasters

Cluster Strengths

Feature	Details
Largest Coffee Cluster in India	70% of India’s coffee output; heritage estates
Global Reputation	High-scoring beans exported to Europe, US, Japan
Shade-Grown & Biodiverse	Western Ghats ecosystem; mixed-crop plantations
Coffee Board of India Support	Quality certification, traceability, R&D
Specialty Coffee Leadership	Microlots, estate branding, international auctions
Plantation Tourism & Brand Heritage	Legacy brands like Tata Coffee, Badra Estates, Balanoor

Materials & Sustainability

Key Practices:

• Shade-grown farming under silver oak, pepper, and cardamom plantations.
  
• Organic manure and natural pest management with neem and pepper crops.
  
• Hand-picking of red cherries ensures premium quality.
  
• Wet and dry processing facilities for both washed and natural coffees.
  

Sustainability Edge:

• Many estates are Rainforest Alliance, UTZ, and Fairtrade certified.
  
• Coffee cultivation supports forest preservation and agroforestry.
  
• Circular economy practices: pulp waste used as organic fertilizer.
  
• Strong emphasis on traceable microlots for specialty buyers.
  

Cluster Infrastructure

• Institutions:
  
  • Coffee Board of India (HQ in Bengaluru, regional offices in Chikmagalur & Coorg)
    
  • Coffee Research Station (CRS), Chikmagalur – R&D on varietals and processing
    
  • Coffee Quality Division, Bengaluru – cupping and grading labs
    
• Industrial Estates & Export Hubs:
  
  • Coffee curing works in Kushalnagar, Chikmagalur, and Hassan
    
  • Mangaluru Port & Cochin Port for bulk exports
    
  • Bengaluru International Airport for express specialty shipments
    
• Tourism & Branding:
  
  • Plantation stays and coffee trails promoting regional branding
    

Compliance & Certifications

• Coffee Board Certification for export traceability
  
• GI-tagged Monsooned Malabar coffee
  
• ISO 22000, HACCP for curing works and processing plants
  
• Organic certifications (EU Organic, USDA Organic, JAS)
  
• Rainforest Alliance, UTZ, Fairtrade certifications
  
• Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) cupping standards
  

Production Timelines & MOQs

Product Type	Sampling Lead Time	Bulk Lead Time	MOQ Guidance
Green Arabica Beans	1 week	3–4 weeks	60 kg bags (1 MT min)
Green Robusta Beans	1 week	3–4 weeks	60 kg bags (1 MT min)
Specialty Microlots	1–2 weeks	Seasonal (Nov–Feb)	30–60 kg lots
Roasted & Ground Coffee	2 weeks	4–6 weeks	100–500 kg per order
Monsooned Malabar Coffee	Seasonal	Seasonal (Jun–Sep)	60 kg bags (500 kg min)

Branding & Packaging

• Branding:
  
  • Estate logos, QR-coded traceability, single-origin certifications
    
  • GI labeling for Monsooned Malabar
    
• Packaging:
  
  • Jute or GrainPro-lined bags for green beans
    
  • Nitrogen-flushed packs for roasted coffee
    
  • Wooden or tin caddies for specialty gift collections
    

Quality Control (IndiaUnbox Protocol)

• Coffee Board-approved grading (AA, AAA, Peaberry, etc.)
  
• Moisture, density, and screen size tests for consistency
  
• Cupping and flavor profiling by certified Q-graders
  
• Residue testing for organic compliance
  
• SGS/Bureau Veritas pre-shipment inspection for large consignments
  

Price Drivers

• Altitude and microlot rarity (specialty coffee commands premium pricing)
  
• Organic/Rainforest Alliance certifications
  
• Seasonal fluctuations (harvest Nov–Feb)
  
• Processing type (washed Arabica vs. natural Robusta)
  
• Freight and logistics from remote plantations
  

Buyer Confidence Signals

• Coorg and Chikmagalur are India’s heritage coffee belts, trusted by global buyers for premium single-origin beans.
  
• Backed by the Coffee Board of India for authenticity, traceability, and export facilitation.
  
• Multiple estates with direct-trade relationships to roasters ensure transparency.
  
• Specialty microlots consistently score 85+ SCA points, attracting third-wave roasters.
  
• Certified supply chain with organic and sustainability credentials.