Indian rally champions Dean Mascarenhas and co-driver Gagan Karumbaiah of TSI Racing return to the World Rally Championship this weekend for their second WRC3 outing of the season, taking on Rally del Paraguay in a Ford Fiesta Rally3 prepared and serviced by PH Sport.
Mangaluru’s Dean partnered with Kodagu co-driver Gagan to make their WRC debut at Rally Islas Canarias this April, where they finished seventh in class.
The 2025 Indian National Rally champions gained further experience in the FIA European Rally Championship, finishing 12th in the Rally3 class at the demanding Rally di Roma Capitale in July. This WRC round in Paraguay will be their first on Gravel in the Ford Fiesta Rally3.
The rally covers 357.64km of timed competition across 22 special stages on soft red-clay gravel.
Mohan Nagarajan, MD of Sidvin Energy Engineering, which backs TSI Racing, said the European experience had strengthened the programme. “The ERC round and the training in Europe were extremely useful. The experience has helped Dean, Gagan and the entire team to better prepare for the WRC3 challenge.”
“Our journey so far has been very positive, with a lot of learning and valuable experience. We’re excited for our first gravel rally of the season. There is still a lot for us to learn from every rally,” said Dean after Thursday’s shakedown.
Founded in 2007 and backed by Sidvin Energy Engineering, TSI Racing was the first Indian team to enter the WRC in 2008 and has since provided an international platform for Indian drivers, including Gaurav Gill and Naren Kumar. Nearly two decades later, the team’s commitment to taking Indian rallying to the global stage continues with Mascarenhas and Karumbaiah.
–IANS
source: http://www.fmbharat.com / FM Bharat / Home> English / by IANS / August 08th, 2026
Two brothers with family roots in Kodagu and Mysuru have made their mark in American Ice Hockey after earning selection to competitive teams of the Frisco Hockey Association, Texas, USA.
While 15-year-old Mayon Machaiah Merianda has been selected to the Frisco Varsity Team, his 13-year-old younger brother Krish Machaiah Merianda has secured a place in the Frisco Varsity Junior Team for the Summer 2026 season.
Mayon, a Grade 10 student at Independence High School, Frisco, earned promotion to the Varsity squad following his performances in previous seasons. Krish, who recently completed Grade 8 at Nelson Middle School, secured his place in the Junior Varsity team after consistent performances at the developmental level.
The brothers belong to the Meriyanda family of Kodagu, with their ancestral roots tracing back to the historic Meriyanda Ainmane. They are the sons of Srikanth Thimmayya, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of SHIRO Technologies and Dr. Gangamma Chenenda, a Physician based in Dallas, Texas.
Their late grandfather Merianda K. Thimmayya, was an advocate, who had settled in Mysuru after moving from Kodagu several decades ago while their grandmother Sharada Thimmayya, continues to reside in Mysuru. Despite growing up in the United States, Mayon and Krish maintain close ties with Karnataka through regular visits to Mysuru and Kodagu.
Their success stands as an inspiring example of how young people with roots in Kodagu and Mysuru are making their presence felt in diverse fields and sporting arenas across the world.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / June 03rd, 2026
From the misty slopes of Kodagu to the boutique cafés of Melbourne, India’s specialty coffee is preparing to make another leap across continents. Biota Coorg Farmer Producer Company Ltd, a collective of 122 small and medium coffee growers in Karnataka’s famed coffee belt, is setting its sights on the Australian market in a bold move to expand its export footprint, boost value addition, and deepen its identity as a producer of traceable, sustainable, and high-quality beans.
Australia, with its sophisticated café culture, artisanal roasters, and rising consumer awareness of origin-based coffees, represents fertile ground for Biota’s next phase of international growth. The collective, headquartered in India’s largest coffee-producing district, has built a model that is part agricultural co-op, part ethical brand-builder. It assists its grower-members in post-harvest processing, collective marketing, and navigating international trade—functions that are traditionally out of reach for smallholder farmers operating independently. The result is a more stable income, higher returns per bean, and a stronger voice in the global value chain.
Biota’s ambition to enter the Australian market aligns with a broader shift in Indian coffee exports, which rose 19 per cent year-on-year in Q1 FY25, signaling sustained global demand for premium Indian arabicas and robustas. The group already sells to several countries including the United States, Canada, Germany, France, and Portugal, and exported around 80 tonnes last year, with a goal of surpassing 100 tonnes in the current fiscal. But beyond volume, Biota’s deeper play lies in branding and sustainability—two pillars increasingly shaping the premium coffee market worldwide.
Sustainability is not just a marketing veneer for Biota—it is embedded in its production ethos. Half of its member farms are already Rainforest Alliance certified, and the remainder are undergoing certification. The group has also positioned itself to comply with the upcoming European Union Deforestation Regulation, which will require rigorous traceability of agricultural imports into the EU. This compliance-readiness not only secures existing export channels but builds a strong foundation for expansion into regulation-conscious markets like Australia.
The push into Australia also reflects Biota’s evolution from being a commodity supplier to a brand-builder. With the global coffee industry undergoing a structural shift—from commodity to craft, from anonymity to traceability—Biota is working to develop its own identity that reflects the terroir of Kodagu, its ecological richness, and the collective power of its farmer members. Kodagu’s biodiversity, rainfall, and shaded agroforestry systems give its coffees a unique profile that resonates with discerning global consumers seeking both quality and ethical production.
Australia’s coffee culture, which prizes direct sourcing, sustainable partnerships, and taste-driven narratives, could prove a natural next step for Biota. The group is seeking to hold virtual cupping sessions with Australian roasters, and is actively pursuing connections with distributors, retailers, and promotional platforms in the region. The potential payoff is more than market access—it’s the chance to embed a South Indian cooperative directly into the fabric of a global specialty coffee community.
Biota’s strategy mirrors the broader ambition of India’s agricultural collectives: to shift from being price takers to value creators, from invisible nodes in a global chain to recognised origin brands. With a focus on certification, traceability, and producer empowerment, the Kodagu-based FPC offers a blueprint for how Indian agri-cooperatives can rewrite their roles in global trade—not by scaling up indiscriminately, but by scaling smart, sustainable, and strategic.
As India’s coffee exports find new momentum and global buyers seek transparent, climate-friendly sourcing, Biota’s bid to enter Australia is not just a market expansion—it’s a recalibration of how Indian coffee tells its story to the world.
source: http://www.biotacoorg.com/ Biota Coorg / Home> Value Chain> News / by Agro Spectrum / July 11th, 2025
While the main event spans 42 km, the 21 km race offered Bhavani a strategic platform to venture into long-distance racing and ski-marathon formats.
Madikeri :
In a notable achievement for Indian winter sports, Thekkada Bhavani from Kodagu has secured a silver medal at the Merino Muster cross-country skiing event held at Snow Farm in New Zealand.
Competing in the Women’s 30s age category for the 21 km race on August 22, Bhavani completed the course in 1:34:38, making her the first Indian woman to both participate in and win a medal at an official Worldloppet Skiing Federation event.
The Merino Muster stands as one of New Zealand’s premier long-distance cross-country skiing competitions and serves as a key leg on the international Worldloppet circuit.
While the main event spans 42 km, the 21 km race offered Bhavani a strategic platform to venture into long-distance racing and ski-marathon formats.
Bhavani’s remarkable finish in New Zealand is another addition to her recent international successes.
During the 2025-26 winter season, Bhavani earned distinction as the first Indian woman to win an International Skiing and Snowboard Federation (FIS) medal.
She also holds the honour of being the first Indian cross-country skier to qualify and race in the FIS Cross-Country Ski World Cup, expanding her competitive range from sprint and distance races into long-distance endurance circuits.
Bhavani is currently undergoing an extended international training program at Snow Farm. Her preparation and international exposure have been made possible through financial and logistical backing from the Reliance Foundation and the Government of Karnataka, which contributed Rs 10 lakh through its Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports to support her training.
Reflecting on her achievement, Bhavani noted that competing in her first Worldloppet race served as an important test of her endurance training.
She expressed that earning a category win in the 21 km event provides substantial confidence as she prepares for the upcoming international season.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home / by Express News Service / August 25th, 2026
Boxing needs a bigger push in South India, says Indian men’s boxing head coach C.A. Kuttappa.
Hailing from Kokeri village in Napoklu, Kodagu, the land known for producing Olympians and brave hearts, Chenanda Achaiah Kuttappa (C.A. Kuttappa) is an internationally known boxing coach who has been credited with shaping some of the best Indian boxers, including Olympic medallist Vijender Singh, Suranjoy Singh, Shiva Thapa and Amit Panghal, among others..
An ex-serviceman, Kuttappa, who retired as a Subedar from the Madras Engineering Group (MEG) earlier this year, is currently the head coach of the Indian men’s boxing team that won two gold and two silver medals at the recently held Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
Kuttappa training one of the boxers during the preparatory camp for Commonwealth Games-2026 which concluded recently.
A Dronacharya Awardee (2018), Kuttappa previously worked with the Indian men’s boxing team as head coach from 2018 to 2021, during which an Indian boxer won a silver medal at the 2019 World Championships.
Kuttappa (standing second from right) seen with the Indian men boxers at Glasgow, Scotland.
Kuttappa was also part of the Indian boxing support staff during the 2008 Beijing Olympics, when Vijender Singh won a bronze medal. He was also the head coach during the Paris 2024 Olympics.
After a break of a year, the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) re-appointed him as the head coach of the Indian men’s boxing team ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.
Kuttappa flanked by his wife P.U. Ashwini (right) and daughter C.K. Yudhi.
A resident of Gokulam 1st Stage in Mysuru city, Kuttappa is married to P.U. Ashwini and the couple has a daughter, C.K. Yudhi
Star of Mysore caught up with C.A. Kuttappa during his recent visit to Mysuru following the heroics of the Indian boxing team at the Commonwealth Games 2026. Excerpts:
Star of Mysore (SOM): Sir, firstly, thank you for talking to Star of Mysore. The recent achievements in boxing at the Commonwealth Games-2026 have been spectacular compared to previous Games. What do you have to say about that?
C.A. Kuttappa: The achievements have been remarkable. We have been able to achieve success because of our hard work and the efforts of the coaches and supporting staff, including doctors, physiotherapists, psychologists, nutritionists and others.
SOM: How was the preparation for the Commonwealth Games? Winning seven gold medals in boxing is a great achievement.
Kuttappa: After the Nationals, we went for build-up competitions in Spain and the Czech Republic, where we won a lot of medals. Later, we got good opportunities to participate in other international boxing events in which our top boxers selected for the Commonwealth Games took part. We also keep track of the progress being made by lower-ranked boxers who are in the No. 2 and No. 3 positions.
They play a crucial role as backups in case the top-ranked players miss the main event due to injuries or other reasons. We have been able to achieve good results because of the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Boxing Federation of India (BFI), as they provided us with the much-needed exposure and opportunities to prove our potential, which we did at the Commonwealth Games.
SOM: Compared to previous years, the Government of India has been encouraging sports. How do you think it has helped sportspersons?
Kuttappa: Yes, we are getting a good budget for boxing as well. People always compare other sports with cricket. It is a different sport. They have done extremely well and we cannot be compared with them.
We also need to do well at the international level. If we want to be considered at the same level as cricket, we need to work hard, plan well and execute those plans to win more medals at the international level.
SOM: What was the feeling when the boxers you coached were winning gold medals at Glasgow?
Kuttappa: As a coach, it is a completely different feeling. We always plan before the bouts. Watching videos of the opponents and discussing their styles, attacks and movements are some of the things we do. It is important as it helps our boxers understand the strengths and weaknesses of their opponents.
There are times when we change our strategies and tactics during the bout. When our execution goes according to our plans, the results will be satisfactory, just like at the Commonwealth Games.
SOM: With the Commonwealth Games mission accomplished, the next target is the Asian Games. How are the preparations?
Kuttappa: Yes, we are now preparing for the Asian Games to be held in Japan from Sept. 19 to Oct. 4. Compared to the Commonwealth Games, the Asian Games is a tougher competition. Countries like Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, which are among the top-ranked boxing countries in the world, will be competing as well.
They are really good in terms of technique and tactics. The intensity of the bouts will be high and mentally demanding. Come what may, we are confident of doing well in the Asian Games, similar to what we achieved in the Commonwealth Games.
SOM: Talking about boxing, most of our boxers are either from North or Northeast India. Where is South India lacking?
Kuttappa: Most of our boxers are indeed from the North or Northeast. People there think of boxing as a sport, but here it is considered fighting. I always tell my boxers not to take the punch but to hit the punch. We need to educate parents and children about boxing as a sport in South India.
In the North or Northeast, the situation is entirely different. People take up boxing as a profession. There are boxers earning a good Rs. 15 lakh to Rs. 20 lakh every month. The State Governments have been extending all necessary help, with sponsors also coming forward to support top-ranked and high-performing boxers.
In the South, importance is given to very few sports and people insist on getting their children educated rather than allowing them to pursue sports as a profession.
SOM: Speaking about yourself, you come from Kodagu, which is famous for hockey and producing soldiers for the Indian Army. How did boxing happen to you?
Kuttappa: I started my boxing career in 1992. Before that, there was a selection process for only three sports disciplines: Swimming, volleyball and boxing. Since I was good at athletics and sports, I passed the physical fitness test and they asked me to choose between the three games. I asked them for some time and told them I would like to try all three sports before making a choice. I tried all three and finally selected boxing.
In fact, one of my father’s cousins, C.C. Machaiah, who is an Arjuna Awardee in boxing, had also told me about how boxing as a profession would be useful and help me financially.
In the first year, there were no results as I was still in the learning process. In the next two years, I won the sub-junior and junior titles for Karnataka and the junior national championship. After joining the Indian Army, I represented Karnataka in many national-level competitions and also won a bronze medal at the National Games held in 1997.
After I was injured and stopped boxing, I was thinking about what to do next when my senior officers advised me to continue with boxing. So, I completed my diploma in boxing and joined the national camp as a coach. I have trained Olympic medallist Vijender Singh, Akhil and other top boxers and continue to train boxers even today.
SOM: How does it feel to be awarded the prestigious Dronacharya Award at a young age?
Kuttappa: It is satisfying. I believe it is a result of hard work and sacrifice. You should ask my wife and my mother. They both know the amount of time I have dedicated to my profession.
I only get to spend one or two months at home. Most of the time, I am travelling with the team, preparing them for competitions. I have taken up the responsibility of the national team and it is my duty to ensure they do well and bring laurels to the country.
SOM: Sir, thank you so much for your time and all the best for the Asian Games and the 2028 Summer Olympics.
Kuttappa: Thank you.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Columns> Special Interview / by S.N. Venkatnag Sobers / August 12th, 2026
Kruti Coffee has opened its first UK cafe on Tooting High Street in south London. The launch signals the Odisha brand’s global push and a wider showcase for Indian speciality coffee.
Kruti Coffee, a speciality coffee brand that began with tribal coffee farms in Odisha, has launched its first UK cafe in south London, marking the start of its global expansion. The company opened the outlet on Tooting High Street this week after receiving its first coffee consignment from Kolkata following the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement last month.
The cafe is designed to offer a full speciality coffee experience, with manual brewing methods and espresso-based drinks made using Kruti Coffee’s signature 100 per cent Arabica house blend. The company said the outlet is meant to introduce the diversity and quality of Indian speciality coffee to an international audience.
“What began as an effort to revive a forgotten coffee plantation in Koraput has grown into a journey of showcasing the incredible potential of Indian specialty coffee to the world,” co-founder Jeeta Mona said. “Opening our first international cafe in London is a proud milestone-not just for Kruti Coffee, but for the farmers and communities whose dedication makes every cup possible. We look forward to sharing the richness, diversity, and story of Indian coffee with coffee lovers from across the globe,” she said.
Founded in 2013 as an impact initiative to revive a neglected coffee plantation in the remote hills of Koraput in Odisha, Kruti Coffee describes itself as a farm-to-cup speciality coffee venture focused on quality, sustainability and social impact. Over the past decade, the company said it has partnered with some of India’s finest coffee producers while continuing to champion coffees from its home region.
The company said its coffees are roasted at the Select by Kruti Coffee roastery in Bhubaneswar, following standards set by the Specialty Coffee Association. Among its best-known offerings is Kindiriguda Naturals, which was recognised as Best Arabica Naturals at the Fine Cup Award during the World Coffee Conference. “Visitors to the new London cafe will now have the opportunity to experience this award-winning coffee alongside an extensive selection of Indian single-origin coffees, carefully crafted blends, and seasonal microlots,” the company said in a statement.
Mona said London was chosen for the brand’s first international store because of the city’s global influence, strong cafe culture and growing interest in speciality coffee. “The new outlet marks the beginning of the brand’s global expansion and its mission to establish Indian specialty coffee among the world’s finest coffee origins,” she added.
At a launch event attended by British Indian parliamentarians and community leaders on Thursday, Mona was joined by Kruti Coffee’s Head Roaster and Barista Pabitra Sahoo, who presented a series of speciality manual brews. With the opening of the London cafe, the Odisha-founded brand has taken its first step in showcasing Indian speciality coffee to a wider global market.
With PTI Inputs
source: http://www.indiatoday.in / India Today / Home> News> World / by India Today World Desk / with PTI Inputs / August 21st, 2026
The third edition of IICF will bring together growers, roasters, café brands, baristas, equipment manufacturers, and coffee consumers on a farm-to-cup platform.
Visitors check varieties of coffee during the India International Coffee Festival (IICF) 2026 in Bengaluru on February 12, 2026. | Photo Credit: ALLEN EGENUSE J
Organised by the Coffee Board of India in association with the Specialty Coffee Association of India (SCAI), the third edition of IICF will bring together growers, roasters, café brands, baristas, equipment manufacturers, and coffee consumers on a farm-to-cup platform.
The event comes as domestic coffee consumption shows significant room for expansion. While cities account for nearly 70% of consumption and southern India contributes 75-80% of the country’s coffee consumption, coffee is gaining popularity in northern, western and eastern markets. India’s per-capita coffee consumption remains at just 0.07 kg annually, compared with the global average of 1.3 kg.
“IICF has become an important platform for India’s coffee community at a time of remarkable growth,” said Kurma Rao M., CEO & Secretary, Coffee Board of India. “As café culture spreads across India and a new generation embraces coffee, the home market holds enormous potential, even as Indian coffee earns its place on the world stage.”
“India has grown some of the finest coffee on Earth for generations, and now, at last, India is drinking it,” said Hamsini Appadurai, President, SCAI and organiser, IICF.
A key attraction at the conference will be the National Coffee Championships, including the 26th National Barista Championship, Brewers Cup, Indian Filter Coffee Championship, Latte Art Championship, and, for the first time, Coffee in Good Spirits. Winners will represent India at corresponding World Coffee Championships.
The championship qualifiers will be held in Bengaluru, Delhi and Navi Mumbai between August and October 2026, ahead of the national finals in Bengaluru.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News>India> Karnataka /by The Hindu Bureau / August 20th, 2026
Roy Coffee Co., a specialty coffee brand founded by Mounika Devakonda, has launched direct-to-consumer with small-batch, single-origin coffees sourced from India and select global origins. The brand sold out its initial inventory within 48 hours of launch and has announced a second production run.
Roy Coffee Co. launches with two SKUs, both small-batch roasted in Los Angeles and fully traceable from farm to cup. The Signature Espresso Blend ($25 / 8.7 oz) is sourced from India, Guatemala, and Colombian Pink Bourbon. The Rotating Single Origin Subscription ($29 / 8.8 oz) features hand-selected beans curated at peak harvest and rotates seasonally. A decaf SKU is in development. All subscription orders ship free, as do purchases over $50.
Devakonda founded the brand after tasting Indian-origin specialty coffee for the first time on a trip to India in 2022, an experience that led to 18 months of research before launching. The brand is currently evaluating retail and wholesale partnerships, with a New York City presence under consideration for 2026.
“Even if nothing comes of this business, I’m just glad I can get a really good, consistent cup of coffee that I know is ethically sourced and high quality. If people love it as much as I do, that’s just a bonus.” – Mounika Devakonda, Founder & CEO, Roy Coffee Co.
About Roy Coffee Co.
Roy Coffee Co. is a specialty coffee brand founded by Mounika Devakonda, focused on exceptional coffees from unconventional origins, starting with India. Small-batch roasted in Los Angeles, every product is fully traceable from farm to cup and built for the coffee drinker who treats their morning ritual as something worth protecting. Available online at roycoffeeco.com with subscriptions starting at $25/month and free shipping on all subscription orders. Follow @roycoffeeco on Instagram and TikTok.
source: www.bevnet.com / BEVNET./ Home> BevNET / by Press releases posted by Roy Coffee Co & MPR Studios- PR Agency / June 04th, 2026
Anvith S. of Madikeri has won the Champion Trophy in the junior category at the 15th International Brainobrain Abacus Competition held at Dubai.
8 year old Anvith S. is being trained by Mapangada Kavitha Karumbaiah at the Brainobrain Madikeri Centre. Anvith was one of the 6 contestants from Karnataka State.
The Abacus competition was held at Sheikh Rashid Hall, Dubai. Over 1,800 children, from 16 countries participated, and it was a very proud moment for Kodagu, when 8 year old Anvith S. representing India won the Champion Trophy.
Anvith S. is the son of Srinivas V., who is a Lecturer in Made Maheshwara P.U. College and Pavithra M.N., who is working in National Highway Department. Anvith S. is studying in 3rd std in BGS. Public School, Made.
Anvith received the Champion Trophy from from Mr. Arul Subramanian, Director Technical of Brainobrain and Mr. Anand Subramanian, MD Brainobrain.
Faculty Kavitha Karumbaiah attributed the entire credit to Anvith S. for his determination to participate and to his parents and family, for their unwavering support, that made this huge accomplishment possible.
Anvith has won the Gold Topper Medal in the State Level Competition and also the Champion Trophy, in the National Level Competition in Chennai.
source: http://www.clnews.in / CoffeeLand News / Home> General / by CLN Newsdesk / December 13th, 2025
Get the inside story as MacBeans Aberdeen launches its Indian coffee trilogy.
All Indian coffee from MacBeans is farmed organically.
MacBeans in Aberdeen explores the world of Indian coffee, offering fresh blends, single origins and new flavour experiences.
MacBeans Coffee Roasters in the corner of Little Belmont Street in Aberdeen has been open for 37 years. It’s now one of the oldest surviving High Street coffee roasters in Scotland. And unlike most other retailers, it roasts its coffee right on its premises.
For the past several weeks, MacBeans has been roasting coffee freshly delivered from India, which the proprietor, Brian Milne visited early this year.
About 20% of the coffee sold at MacBeans is sourced from India. The shop carries single origin coffees from the South Asian country. But it also uses Indian coffee in many of its own MacBeans blends.
As a former oilfield chemist with a passion for coffee, Brian Milne does not source his coffee blindly. With direct connections to producers all around the world, Brian is able to work closely with them to deliver the highest quality beans to use in every customer’s cup of coffee.
A Passage to India
MacBeans’ proprietor, Brian Milne (center) meets with coffee producers in India
Last January, Brian went on a ten-day trip to South India, facilitated by MacBeans’ coffee importer, to visit different coffee plantations and meet with local producers.
Brian says: “A big part of my drive with our coffee is to make sure I understand where the coffee comes from. Going on these trips is a good opportunity to learn more about what’s happening in each country and finding things that we can support.”
In Bangalore, he met with agricultural communities and local cooperatives, even India’s coffee minister.
Brian shares: “We got to tour The Coffee Board of India’s facility and that really appealed to my background in analytical chemistry. I got very excited over some of the lab equipment because they were doing a lot of work to develop and standardise the quality of the coffee that comes out of India.
“They had an artificial nose and an artificial tongue – analytical instruments designed to analyse the coffee for the compounds that contribute to its aromas and its flavour profile.
An electronic nose analyses coffee for compounds that contribute to its aroma.
“They are building a library of their coffees to keep track of the quality, which was very interesting.
“They also do a lot of agricultural training. A lot of the agronomists who support the farmers have all been trained by or worked with the Coffee Board of India. So there’s a lot of governmental support at that level to help the local coffee producers.”
Caring for the environment
Coffee beans are handpicked by workers in India.
Brian observed that Indian producers followed strict environmental practices. This aligns with the principles of MacBeans, where all the coffee is free of pesticides and farmed organically.
Brian notes: “They reuse a lot of the biomaterials like leaves that have dropped. When they pulp the coffee cherries, all the fruit flesh is composted. That’s what they put back onto the land to help fertilise the crop.
“Because water can be scarce, the processors also collect and recycle the water used from washing the coffee. That’s purified through reed bed processes and reused. So they’re very considerate of the environment.”
People at the heart of the business
Hundreds of people are employed in Indian estates to produce coffee.
Before his visit, Brian knew that India was among the top 10 coffee producers in the world. But he didn’t understand the scale of the production until he saw it for himself.
“During harvest time, the estates we visited would employ about 1,000 people – pickers, processors. But even outside the harvest, there would be 600 or 700 people employed to tend to the land and maintain the plants.
“People are at the heart of the whole process. There are estates owned by families or cooperatives working with small landowners. They all work together to produce their coffee to manage it and support it. It’s a people business.”
The story behind the Monsoon Malabar
Indian workers dry coffee beans in the sun.
On his trip, Brian discovered more about one of MacBeans’ more popular coffees – the Monsoon Malabar.
“What I knew about it was that it was just an aged coffee. Apparently, that came about a hundred years ago when they were shipping coffee from India on long journeys on sailing ships.
“Researchers found that when the coffee got to Europe, it tasted a lot more mellow than it did when it was at origin. They worked out that it was attributed to the damp environment in ships and the extended time the coffee spent in that environment.
“Today, coffee makers in India are replicating that aging process now called monsooning. They harvest the coffee then wash and dry it as normal. But afterwards, it is aged in the monsoon rains then dried in warehouses on the Malabar coast, resulting in a very smooth and mellow coffee.”
This ageing method as well as the production zones are strictly defined by regulations to protect the production and authenticity of the Monsoon Malabar. It’s a system that’s similar to the DOC system for Italian wines.
Busting the Robusta myth
Brian also travelled to Chikmagalur, the heartland of coffee production in South India, right at the tail end of the Robusta crop harvest and the beginning of the Arabica harvest.
MacBeans does not sell Robusta as a single origin coffee. It’s so intensely flavoured that it can be bitter and even unpalatable.
“In India, producers are investing a lot of time and effort into how they treat Robusta coffee when it’s harvested to improve its flavour and develop it into a specialty coffee.
“There’s a method sometimes called the honey process where you pulp the cherries. But you don’t wash off the little bits that stick. So then you still get all kind of fruitiness to the coffee, but it’s a much milder effect.
“They’re also co-fermenting coffees with other fruits in barrels from a few days to a few weeks. The amount of time makes a huge difference to the flavour.
“The trip was an eye-opener for me. I always thought of Robusta as a low-grade coffee that we added to some of our blends to make them stronger in caffeine and in flavour. But we had to be careful about how much we put in because it can affect the taste detrimentally.
“Now I have a much bigger appreciation for the quality of Indian Robusta and its potential to broaden people’s profiles and expectations of coffee. So I’ve committed to use only Indian Robusta. The coffee that I saw being harvested is now in the shop, ready to sell.”
A reminder, though, to those who favour the milder Arabica coffee but would like to explore speciality Robusta. Brian says: “It’s like tasting wine and comparing it to beer; they’re very different – different in the mouth, different flavour profiles.”
The taste of coffee depends on the beans and roasting methods used.
Try MacBeans’ new India coffee trilogy
Of course, Brian was also able to sample Arabica coffee produced at many of the estates.
“There was a huge variety in the flavours that we tried. Some were very fruity, sharp, distinctive flavours that would be great to try.
“We’ve now got Indian Mysore, an Arabica coffee that forms part of our blends. We also roast it as a single origin Indian coffee. The coffee we have now is from the harvest period that started from the end of 2025 and finished up in February this year.”
The Mysore will be combined with Monsoon Malabar and India Tiger Stripes to form MacBeans’ newest coffee trilogy. Inspired by Brian’s recent trip to India, each bag is bursting with flavours just waiting to be explored by eager coffee aficionados.
