This month’s Specialty Estate takes us to the South Indian Western Ghats, where Ratnagiri Estate has built a global reputation for producing some of India’s finest washed Arabica. Grown in the Baba Budan Mountain Range of Karnataka, this coffee offers a smooth, balanced and quietly complex cup with plenty of character.
Known as Pearl Mountain, Ratnagiri Estate was established in 1923 and has been handed down through three generations. The region itself holds a special place in India’s coffee history, as it is said to be where coffee was first planted in the country by Baba Budan, a pilgrim from Yemen.
This washed Arabica is grown at 1150–1350 MASL and features Kents and SL varietals. Careful processing and drying play an important role in shaping the final cup, helping create a clean and polished profile that still carries warmth and depth.
In the cup, expect notes of cocoa nibs, fresh pear, walnut, juicy acidity and a biscuity sweetness. It’s smooth and approachable, with enough complexity to make each sip interesting without feeling too heavy.
Ratnagiri Estate grows coffee among black pepper, cardamom, native plants and shade trees. This intercropping helps provide shade for the coffee while supporting the natural environment around the farm. The result is a coffee that reflects both place and tradition. It carries the structure of a carefully washed Arabica, the softness of a balanced cup, and the quiet richness that makes Indian coffees so distinctive
This November Specialty Estate is a beautiful introduction to India’s specialty coffee offering: smooth, refined and full of understated charm.