Chikmagalur coffee
Chikmagalur is the birthplace of Indian coffee, where the Baba Budan hills were first planted. Its heritage single-estates are famed for clean, classic, chocolatey arabica.
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Frequently asked questions
Why is Chikmagalur called the birthplace of Indian coffee?+
Legend credits the saint Baba Budan with smuggling seven coffee beans from Yemen and planting them on the hills near Chikmagalur in the 1600s, the hills that now carry his name (Baba Budangiri). It's the oldest coffee-growing region in India and still home to some of its most heritage single-estates.
How old are Chikmagalur's coffee estates?+
Several listed here go back multiple generations: Baarbara Coffee has grown coffee on the same land since 1896 (4th generation), Hunkal Estate Coffee is on its 7th generation, and Kerehaklu has been farmed by the Thipaiah family for four generations.
Is Chikmagalur coffee mostly Arabica?+
Yes, more so than Coorg. Chikmagalur's higher elevations (often 1,000-1,500m+) favour Arabica, and most single-estate offerings here are 100% washed Arabica, though some estates also grow and blend in Robusta.