India Garige Khan Estate

This is a shade grown estate coffee grown 3500 feet above sea level in the  Muthodi Reserve Forest in Chikmagalur, Southern India.  

All of the coffee produced at Garige Khan undergoes a washed process, utilizing the abundant water from streams and nearby lakes. The estate composts the by products generated from coffee bean processing and treats contaminated water to reduce environmental impact. Additionally, the estate provides fair wages, housing, sanitation, potable water, and medical care for both men and women.  

This bean hits the exact profile I love tasting in a washed process India. It has a spicy vibe to it like cinnamon and corriander, plus some chocolate, so it's like a mexican hot chocolate. In really dark roasts, it tastes much like you would expect from a Sulawesi bean, with some spice and smokiness. 

India is an underrated coffee. It is in close geographic proximity to Yemen and Africa, both of which command much higher prices for their coffees. Indian coffee has a clean, creamy taste that you would think would give it more credit in the coffee world, and often you find spicy notes in darker roasts and nutty notes in light roasts. What else would you expect from India? They grow coffee alongside their spices.

Sometimes I let it out right before the second cracks where I get a sweet nutty note, but usually I give it 15 seconds of 2nd cracks and pull it out as a medium-dark roast which is the best way to taste the spicy flavors. All in all, it is a versatile and forgiving bean to roast as you can enjoy it at a variety of roast levels.

At a medium to dark roast, you can also appreciate this coffee as an espresso. The flavors are enhanced and the crema it produces is quite nice. Slight bitterness if you go overboard on the roast level.

US Arrival: September 2024