India

India is one of the world’s major coffee producers, ranking among the top ten globally, with cultivation concentrated primarily in the southern states of Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, and smaller areas in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Arunachal Pradesh. The country grows both Arabica and Robusta, with Arabica accounting for roughly 70% of production and thriving at higher altitudes of 900–1,700 meters, while Robusta grows at lower elevations of 200–900 meters in warmer, humid climates. The Western Ghats provide fertile volcanic and lateritic soils, shaded environments, and a tropical monsoon climate ideal for coffee cultivation. Karnataka, contributing over 70% of India’s coffee, is known for regions like Coorg, Chikmagalur, Hassan, and Dakshina Kannada, where Arabica offer mild acidity, full body, and nutty, chocolaty flavours, and Robusta grow at lower elevations. Kerala, especially the Idukki, Wayanad, and Palakkad districts, produces both Arabica and Robusta, with the region famed for Monsooned Malabar coffee, a unique post-harvest process that exposes beans to monsoon winds, creating low-acidity, and heavy-bodied, earthy coffees. Tamil Nadu’s Nilgiri Hills, at 900–1,200 meters, produce Arabica celebrated for their bright acidity, medium body, and fragrant floral notes. Indian Arabica is mostly shade-grown, often intercropped with spices like pepper or cardamom, while Robusta, more heat- and disease-tolerant, is used in instant coffee and espresso blends. Processing methods include washed/fully washed for clean, bright cups, dry/natural processing for some specialty batches, and the distinctive Monsooned Malabar technique. India exports mainly to Europe, the Middle East, and the U.S., with a growing specialty market highlighting single-origin coffees from Coorg, Chikmagalur, Nilgiri, and Kerala. Smallholder farmers and cooperatives dominate production, increasingly emphasizing organic, fair-trade, and sustainable practices, while emerging trends include adoption of disease-resistant varieties, climate smart agriculture, and rising domestic consumption. Overall, India’s coffee is defined by high altitude; shade-grown Arabica, robust Robusta, distinctive processing traditions, and a growing focus on specialty and sustainability, giving it a unique place in the global coffee landscape.