This month’s Yahava Specialty Estate has been released to coincide with the Purist, Junkie and Apprentice’s first trip to origin…..the magical highlands of Southern India.

Stay up to date with their travels on the Yahava Facebook page or our Travel Diaries page, and keep an eye out for photos of the adventure!

Located in the Chikmagalur region of India (250km NW of Bangalore), Kelagur Heights Estate is a 4th generation plantation, run by the Mathais family since 1868. Comprising a total of 1,000ha, the estate produces an annual crop of approximately 120 tonne of coffee from 150ha of Arabica and Robusta, and is highly awarded both within India and internationally. In addition, Kelagur Heights grows 150ha of some of India’s best tea, along with Arecanut, Cardamon, Black Pepper and Vanilla.

This high quality Arabica is grown beneath 2 levels of native tree species, providing shade for perfect growing conditions, before being carefully hand harvested, sorted and wet processed. Once pulped, the beans are fermented for 12 – 18 hours before drying on a combination of raised sun beds and the Estate’s tiled drying yard. In both cases the coffee is turned every hour to ensure even drying, before being covered in the evenings. Once the coffee has been dried, it is packed into gunny bags for storage in hardwood dunnage boxes for 2 – 3 months. This unique process is incorporated by Kelagur Heights in an effort to achieve extra body in their coffees, perfect for espresso.

The Estate’s commitment to the environment and their staff is also world class, and really speaks to the overall quality of their business. Blessed with a supply of fresh water from 14 springs located on the property, the estate ensures that all water used in processing is treated and recycled. Coffee pulp & skins are also composted before being returned to the plantations.

Employees live on the Estate and are provided with a hospital, crèche, recreational facilities, places of worship and 2 junior schools. Salary packages include bonuses and health insurance, while an educational trust has been developed to allow loans and scholarships for the generations of employees and families involved with Kelagur Heights. The estate even matches, dollar for dollar, employee savings up to a maximum of 12% of their salary.

But what about the coffee?
After several cuppings, we have decided to take the Kelagur Estate into the 2nd crack, to highlights it’s thick, syrupy body. Savoury spice, sweet melon, figs and stonefruit lead to a soft, buttery finish. A beautiful espresso-style coffee, it will also provide a sweet, rounded brew through filters and plungers.

ENJOY!
The Koffee Apprentice