Tasting Notes: Dried apple, nutmeg, malt

SCA Cup Score: 86 What does this mean?

Processing: Washed

Varietal: Catimor

Growing Altitude: 1800m - 2000m

What is it good for?: We have been loving this in the Clever Dripper but it shines as espresso too. A good allrounder. 

Additional Notes : Aside from Monsooned Malabar, India often gets overlooked as an origin. Most people tend to think of poor quality commodity coffee and not a lot else but there is a great deal more to Indian coffee and this lot from the Ratnagiri Estate is a fantastic intro if you are yet to dive in.

The Hindi word 'Ratnagiri' translates literally to 'Pearl Mountain', a reference to the dense silver oak canopy which crowns this farm. Ratnagiri was established in 1920 and is owned and operated by Ashok Patre, having been passed down from Grandfather, to father to son. This special washed includes an extended anaerobic fermentation period and is dried on raised beds for 20-21 days under 50% shade.

Ashok Patre is a progressive. Well-travelled and bursting with initiative, he has drawn inspiration from elsewhere to step beyond the boundaries of traditional Indian coffee cultivation and processing. Brix levels are tested before harvesting. Processing includes natural, honey and fermentation experiments alongside the traditional washed.

For all intents and purposes Ratnagiri Estate is an organic/biodynamic farm and also maintains official Rainforest Alliance Certification. Quarterly soil tests and organic corrections to soil are applied. Ionic seawater and sea weed extract are applied to improve plant immunity and sugar levels of the fruit. 

The estate is a lush shaded environment with 3 stories of shade. It is home to over 48 recorded bird populations, monkeys, leopards, wild boar, tigers, mongoose and - on occasion - elephants. The rich biodiversity demands that Ashok and his family have an approach to farming which places ecology and harmony with the environment at the forefront. This is a world class farm, truly one of the leading in India and a great example of Olam and the farmer working together to engineer excellence.