India Veer Attikan

India is an underrated coffee. It is grown right there near Yemen, near Africa, and has a clean, gentle, nutty taste that you would think would give it more credit in the coffee world. This one is from the Attikan Estate in the Biligiriranga Hills in south India. The coffee (most commonly labeled as Veer Attikan) is grown in a wildlife reserve with elephants, tigers, and many birds. The workers are given access to free medical clinic on site. The coffee wins an award most years, either the Best Arabica of India award, or the Flavor of India Fine Cup award, or Best of Biligiri Region, or all of the above. It has a subtle spiciness to it, it’s not a dirty-tasting coffee, and actually has a creamy quality, and a sweet grain-like quality to it that reminds you of a high quality south american coffee.

The vast majority of the quality coffees from India are generically sold as Mysore Nuggets; but this one is a single lot worth separating out and selling at a premium.

You have a few roasting options. At a medium roast -- just before 2nd cracks -- you have a nutty grainy smooth India. 20 seconds into 2nd cracks, you have a more roasty smoky version of the same thing. 45 seconds into 2nd cracks you have a spicy smoky coffee with no earthiness or offending defects. This is our sweet spot, and its great both as drip coffee or espresso. The body holds up well, but it leaves a spicy feeling in your mouth making it addictive.

This is a washed process coffee, not the monsooned process coffee that India is often associated with.