Category Archives: Coffee News

Brewing Treasure

Coffee News, Records, All, World Opinion
An Ethiopian woman roasts a pan of green coffee beans in their traditional technique
An Ethiopian woman roasts a pan of green coffee beans in their traditional technique

Stepping into a small unassuming villa on the backstreet of Al Fahidi district in Bur Dubai, I feel I am embracing the cultural ethos of several centuries. The aroma of freshly brewing coffee wafts in the air. I walk past a gift shop to reach the centre of a unique wind-tunnel house named the Dubai Coffee Museum, which was set up in October 2014. My journey into the history of coffee begins as soon as I enter the creator and owner of the museum, Khalid Al Mulla.

I accompany him on a round of the ground floor where each space provides a glimpse of different coffee-drinking cultures. As we step in his favourite zone, he says, “Here is the coffee from Ethiopia where coffee drinking reputedly began at first.” Here, a stylish Ethiopian lady is roasting a pan of green coffee beans in a traditional technique. Next to her is Egyptian barista Abdul, dressed in an Egyptian ‘galabeya’ and skull cap, standing guard on a customised silver and gold coffee machine.

An ancient coffee grinder
An ancient coffee grinder

The small exhibition rooms, where coffee beans from countries across the world are neatly stacked, are also home to coffee artefacts and antiques. Khalid’s collection is huge. Prominent among the pieces are distinctive 300-year-old jug-shaped clay coffee pots known as ‘jebena’ (the Yemeni equivalent is ‘jamena’), which were historically used by the Ethiopians .

Steps inside the museum lead up to a literature room displaying texts from 18th century to the present day. One such text, Johann Friedrich von Pfeiffer’s 1784 encyclopaedia, is believed to be the oldest printed text on coffee, with 177 pages dedicated to ‘kaffee’ as Johann would have called it. There is also a custom-built brew bar, where one can sip acup of caffeine powered rocket fuel brewed in the traditional Japanese siphon method.

The tour ends with a cup of Ethiopian coffee at a cosy Emirati-style ‘majlis’ on the ground floor, drunk in the local Bedouin coffee tradition. Khalid says, “As the director of Dubai-based coffee importers and roasters, Easternmen and Co., I participated in trade shows. I was surprised to see visitors’ interest in these objects, which forced me to create the first-of-its-kind coffee museum in Dubai. The concept is to showcase global coffee history.”

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Magazine / by Sharmila Chand / Dubai, UAE – October 21st, 2017

Brewing Up Nagaland

Coffee News

September Edition, Special Story, NET Bureau, Sayantani Deb

Nagaland, even though is one of the most beautiful states of the Indian sub-continent, however, generally grabs the headlines for all the wrong reasons- especially due to the insurgency-related issues. Shedding off the negative colours, the state on July 27, 2017, made took a step forward when the Nagaland government signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the South Africa-based Nobel Cause Company in order to promote the state’s coffee at an international stage. The initiative, in the next few years, is certain to alleviate Nagaland coffee to an all new height.

Chronicle of Coffee

Even though coffee development programme in the Northeast initially began in the 1960s, however, commercial cultivation of coffee began only in 1976. The main aim of initiating coffee plantation in the region was to wean out the age-old practice of jhum cultivation and prevent soil erosion. Jhum or shifting cultivation was mainly practiced among the various tribal groups of the region. In Nagaland, large scale coffee plantation was first introduced in 1980. The Nagaland Plantation Crops Development Corporation (NPCDC), in collaboration with the Coffee Board of India, was the pioneer agency to establish 2811 hectares of coffee- land in Nagaland in 1981. The initiative however failed due to lack of market avenues.

After the gap of over 35 years, the Nagaland government is again on its mission to revive its coffee sector. With Land Resource Department (LRD) as nodal department, government is taking up a number of coffee plantation drives in various districts of the state.

Nagaland produces two types of coffee— Arabica and Robusta. Arabica suits the higher altitude while Robusta (specie) suits in lower altitude areas. Over 760,000 coffees have been planted throughout the state with the target of another 700,000 in 2017.

Coffee Plantation in 1980s

In 1985-86 coffee cultivation was tried in Nagaland, but unfortunately due to lack of proper market linkage it could not succeed. Many villagers in all the districts have tried coffee plantation but they were discouraged as they couldn’t sell their product, also there was no motivation, they were not taught properly. As, a result many of the farmers destroyed their coffee plantation and went back to their jhum cultivation.

Coffee Board’s Version

Speaking to NET, Joint Director of Coffee Board of India (CBI) Extension, Guwahati Dr VR Gudde Gowda, said, “Nagaland is one of the first states in the Northeast to come forward in taking up coffee cultivation and thus gradually making a mark in world coffee map.”

According to Gowda, coffee cultivation will also protect forests and will conserve soil and water. “Coffee being a shade loving plant provides economic stability as alongside coffee other vegetables and crops could be easily grown,” says Gowda.

He also adds that he is quite hopeful that Nagaland will become a coffee producing state within a span of 4 to 5 years.

“Due to its default organic nature, Nagaland coffee has a huge scope. In this regard, we will see that Nagaland coffee gets recognition among coffee drinkers in the world. We will work out and do our best,” he added. Further getting candid, Gowda also shares the success story of Vietnam.

“In 1990s, Vietnam used to produce around 1 million ton of coffee per year. However, with various high-tech initiatives they went on to produce around 12 million tons in 2001,” he said. Presently Vietnam produces around 1,300,000 tons per year, which makes it the second largest producer of coffee in the world, only next to Brazil which produces about 2,249,010 metric tons of coffee per year.

Y. Kikheto Sema, DoLR Secretary

While speaking about the socio-economic impact of coffee plantation in Nagaland, LRD Secretary Y Kikheto Sema, says, “In Nagaland there is no possibility of large and medium scale industry. There is only possibility of agro-based industries.

“Nagaland is a blessed state. In spite of the fact that along with coffee, rubber cultivation in the state is also quite high, but interestingly the place where rubber is viable it is not viable for coffee, because rubbers grown in low altitude places while for coffee production high altitude are required,” Sema added.

In 2016, Nagaland earned around Rs 100 crores from rubber cultivation, and out of this around Rs 90 crores were collected from rural areas. Most of the rubber cultivators earlier were engaged in jhum cultivation. After switching the farmers are now earning far better and with this the transformation of socio-economic condition has been taken in rural areas.

Sema believes his transfer from Finance Secretary to LDR secretary was a blessing in disguise.

“I served Finance Secretary for 10 years, during a meeting with Chief Minister we came to know that the Land Resource Department of Nagaland was doing pretty well as compared to other departments. It was the wish of the Chief Minister TR Zeliang that the coffee plantation should be taken over by Land Resource Department from Horticulture department.”

In May 2016, Sema took over the charges of LDR secretary.

“During then, I was aware that this is a performing department and I also tried to motivate the officials, farmers through various trainings, awareness campaigns, visits etc,” he said.

During an interaction with officials Coffee Board of India (CBI), Sema requested them to provide technical assistance, seed coffees.

“Earlier, CBI provided us with 500 to 600kg seed coffee, but paying attention to our appeal, this year they have sent around 2400 kgs of seed coffee, these were distributed among the coffee farmers in all the 11 districts. Coffee seeds were mostly.”

Presently, LRD is maintaining a nursery of 2400kgs coffee seeds, which is giving over 60 lakhs saplings. The saplings will be planted in next May and will cover around 4200-4300hectares.

In order to encourage the coffee growers and provide them market linkage, Y Kikheto Sema on behalf of Nagaland government has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the South African based, Nobel Cause Company for a period of 30 years.

“Post completing all the formalities, around 7 metric tones which was purchased from coffee growers in Nagaland and stocked in Kolkata will offshore from Kolkata by September and is likely to reach Cape Town by November. Our main motto is to hit world market so that the Nagaland coffee receives the best price,” he said.

Planted and Bearing Area in the year 2016-2017

Planted Area
Arabica : 1751.65 H
Robusta : 223.90 HA
Total : 1975.55 HA

Bearing Area :
Arabica : 600 HA
Robusta : 50 HA
Total : 650 HA

Employment Opportunity

With the increase in coffee production, the employment opportunity will increase in the state, “Per hectare will direct give employment to at least 2 persons. According to CBI, soil and weather condition in Nagaland is very favourable for coffee production, so we feel that by 4th year coffee will start harvesting, which will generate employment to large number of young employed youths.”

LRD Secretary is also encouraging his officials to take up value additional crops, “Coffee is shade loving plants, Arabica requires about 60 percent of shades, we are also working out in the shade tree like black pepper, beetle nuts etc for sustainable development. We are hopeful that with this development there will be transformation in rural areas, living standards of the villagers will be improved, also will be able to give employment opportunity to educated youths.”

He further reveals that educated or semi educated Nagaland youths are now not interested in Jhum cultivation, but coffee is like a forest which can attract a lot of people.

Assistance from Coffee Board

• Expansion of coffee: To facilitate afforestation in Jhum lands and help the tribals on permanent footing, a subsidy of 50% were given to coffee growers. Normal unit cost is Rs 70,000 per ha.

• Consolidation of Coffee: To increase the productivity of the existing coffee holdings by gap filling, rejuvenation and improved cultivation methods like application of compost, bush management, shade management, pests and disease control, a subsidy of 50% were given to coffee producers. Normal unit cost is Rs, 40,000 per ha, while with subsidy cost is Rs 20,000 ha.

• Support for Group Nurseries: To provide the growers with good quality coffee seedlings to ensure proper establishment of plantation. Coffee board distributes per seedlings at Rs 5.

• Supply of baby pulpers at 75% subsidy. Actual cost of baby pulpers is Rs 16,000 per unit.

• Water Augmentation: To improve the productivity and quality of coffee by facilitating the creation of infrastructure for water augmentation for irrigation and wet processing of coffee.

source: http://www.northeasttoday.in / NorthEast Today / Home> Lifestyle / by North East Today / October 21st, 2017

Karnataka needs international coffee trade fairs

Business & Economy, Coffee News, World Opinion
PTI file photo for representation.
PTI file photo for representation.

The Coffee Board of India, under the administrative control of the Ministry of Commerce, Government of India, has to contribute to the coffee economy, which is in crisis with three years of near-drought, untimely rains and poor crop yields in Karnataka.

Coffee plantations also have pepper vines inter-planted among them to supplement income, which makes the crash in pepper prices since February this year, worsen the financial hardship of coffee planters.

Moreover, flaws in crop insurance and revenue protection insurance schemes have not really benefited 90% of the coffee-growers, who own plantations of 25 acres or below. The Rainfall Insurance scheme has been discontinued due to lack of adequate modalities in place. Moreover, the newly introduced Revenue Protection Insurance scheme which was initiated as a pilot project in Chikkamagaluru has not evinced much interest among the insurance companies. Therefore, the coffee plantation sector, which employs an estimated 11,00,000 skilled workers, finds that their livelihoods are at stake across the coffee districts of Kodagu, Hassan and Chikkamagaluru.

While coffee growers are confronted with high input costs in terms of labour wages and fertiliser prices, they have to endure low prices for coffee and pepper, which makes it financially unviable to manage plantations. If coffee plantations begin to suffer losses, then the coffee economy will become unsustainable and small growers will find it more remunerative to sell their plantations or convert them into holiday or health resorts — a development which has already taken shape over the last five to seven years. That will surely herald the beginning of the end of the coffee plantation sector and its related industries. Therefore, the Coffee Board needs to transform to a market support role in addition to its R&D functions.

Till the mid 1990s, the Coffee Board functioned in a regulatory role. However, the Coffee Board now needs to adapt to a free market economy since the 1991 economic liberalisation and transition to that of a facilitator. It would need to support the coffee economy through the organisation of trade fairs and help small growers and international buyers to comply with the various statutory requirements towards coffee trade and export.

The Women’s Coffee Alliance India, Bangalore, successfully conducts a vibrant Coffee Santhe or Coffee Fair in Bengaluru annually, and involves all the stakeholders of the economy. For instance, much like the Ministry of Defence organises Aero India at Bengaluru to connect foreign aeronautics majors with the domestic industry; the Ministry of Commerce can also conduct a coffee trade fair under the aegis of the Coffee Board.

The small coffee grower is unable to attend international coffee trade fairs overseas due to cost constraints of airline travel. Therefore, the Coffee Board should hold international trade fairs in Kodagu and Chikkamagaluru for buyers and sellers as a platform to interact with each other. The Coffee Board has large tracts of land with established infrastructure and research stations at Balehonnur, Chikkamagaluru and Chettalli in Kodagu, which can be utilised as centres for international coffee trade fairs and as integrated coffee parks.

Moreover, the boom in coffee tourism over the last decade has developed the hospitality and travel industry resources in these plantation districts to be able to hold the proposed trade fairs. Besides, the two international airports in the proximity are at Mattanur, Cannanore district in Kerala, which is a 90-minute drive from Kodagu and at Mangaluru, which is a two-hour drive away from Chikkamagaluru. As airline connectivity to these two coffee plantation districts, which are also internationally acclaimed biodiversity hotspots exists, these districts are ideal locations to organise trade fairs.

It will make the grower aware of the requirements of the discerning international consumer. The buyer will see for himself the journey of the Indian coffee bean from the plant to the cup. It will incentivise the grower to produce the kind of coffee that the buyer desires. Only a grower knows the trials and tribulations of coffee cultivation and only he can market his coffee with passion and obtain the best price possible for his crop.

Considering that 70% of the coffee grown in the country is exported, the small grower should market his coffee overseas. An important point to note is that Indian coffee is grown under shade, which uses ecologically sustainable methods and adoption of fair trade practices in the eco-sensitive zone of the Western Ghats, which can command premium prices in the international markets. To make Indian coffee competitive in the world market, the Coffee Board must publish a list of internationally-banned pesticides, which will also make the environment safe for plantation workers.

The outcome of such international trade fairs would lead to a demand for ‘Single Origin Estate Specific and Area Specific’ coffees, which will start to gain importance. Today, these fairs held at foreign locations are not inclusive of all stakeholders and have become the exclusive domain of a few elite coffee growers and traders. The Coffee Board should aim to democratise the sale of coffee and enable the small grower to export coffee to international markets rather than allow a select few to prosper at his expense.

(The writer is Chairman of Karnataka Planters Association, Chikkamagaluru)

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Supplements> Economy & Business / by Maneypanda Madaiah Chengappa / October 22nd, 2017

Mumbai Food: Try Experimental Coffees At Chembur’s All New Koffee Works

Coffee News

For someone trying to open a cafe in a city that doles out cappuccinos at every street corner, Ishanee Amar Haware knew she had her task cut out for her. Haware, born in Mangalore and brought up in Bengaluru, did not know either Hindi or Marathi when she moved to Mumbai three years ago. However, coming from the 13th generation of a family that owns a coffee plantation in Chikmanglur, she seems to know what they mean when they say ‘wake up and smell the coffee’.

With The Koffee Works, a café and bakery she has started in Chembur, Haware aims at ushering a serious coffee culture in Mumbai, a city, which she is told has a “largely chai soul”.

The 25-seater is done in shades of yellows, pinks and white, a departure from the sober blacks, greys and browns that tarnish most cafes
The 25-seater is done in shades of yellows, pinks and white, a departure from the sober blacks, greys and browns that tarnish most cafes

“Everyone told me that this is a city that loves its chai. Coffee, despite the number of cafes that continue to spring up, is still a fringe and a premium beverage. I realised that I could start catering to this segment through a boutique coffee experience.” The 25-seater could be a chip off your living room. Its vibrant shades of yellows, pinks and white is a departure from the sober blacks, greys and browns that tarnish most cafes. Quiet and cosy, this could be a perfect place to sit and read a book or work privately. That her family owns a coffee plantation came in handy for Haware, who wants to make the experience as artisanal and customised as possible. For starters, the coffee beans are ground only once an order is placed. “We import our coffee machines from Italy, and these are semi-automatic machines. How your coffee tastes depends a lot on who makes it, the art of the barista, the person who operates the machine. If the entire process is automated, then you have little control on how the beans blend and how they end up tasting.” The Koffee Works has developed its own blend in consultation with the Coffee Board of India and it has taken them several rounds to arrive at what everyone felt was perfect.

The Turmeric Latte
The Turmeric Latte

Besides the usual cappuccinos, lattes and Americanos, their experimental brews manage to cut through clutter. Take the Vietnamese Coffee, for instance. It’s a blend of Americano (black coffee) and condensed milk, served on the rocks. They also have the haldi-doodh’s modern interpretation, the Turmeric Latte. “But it’s a fun drink,” she adds.

Ishanee Amar Haware
Ishanee Amar Haware

The Koffee Works also has its own bakery that produces pastries, macaroons, cakes. “We have a centralised kitchen and none of what we serve here is outsourced. Even the coffee in your cup, right from picking the beans to their processing in our factory, to the coffee in our kitchen, the entire process is controlled by us. This, you could say, is our USP.” “We are the first privately owned coffee estate in the country. There was a time when my father controlled 40 per cent of the exports — we used to export to Coca Cola as well. This is the first time that we have chosen to have a retail outlet. My dream is to make them interested in coffee, and who knows, even convert people into coffee drinkers and coffee lovers.”

source: http://www.mid-day.com / Mid-Day / Home> Life an Style News / by Kusumita Das / October 12th, 2017

Rwanda Scoops International Coffee Award

Coffee News, World Opinion
Ambassador Valentine Rugwabiza poses for a photo with an award winner
Ambassador Valentine Rugwabiza poses for a photo with an award winner

Rwanda coffee has won one of the international coffee award conferred to the best coffee growers in the world.

“The second Ernesto Illy International Coffee Award 2017” was offered to Rwanda in the ceremony held in New York City, United States of America (USA).

Out of 27 contestants, three nationals; Jean Bosco Ngabonziza, Tumwamini Ndamwemera Jean Paul and Faustin Nzabarakize were awarded for their coffee’s unique aroma.

Their prizes were handed to Rwanda’s ambassador to the United Nations, Valentine Rugwabiza.

According to National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB) statistics, Rwanda exported 18.4 tons of coffee and earned $58.5 million in 2016-2017 fiscal year compared to 19.5 tons made $60.7 million in 2015-2016.

It is projected that there will be an annual average export growth rate of 29 per cent translating to $104.3 million by 2018.

The annual coffee event organized by Illy Family recognizes 3 best coffees from 9 most important producing countries; Brazil, Columbia, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Nicaragua and Rwanda.

Founded in 1933, the Ernesto Illy Family owns coffee business in 140 countries across the globe with estimated net worth $432.1 million in 2015.

Contact the Author: @nshimiyimanaleo

source: http://www.ktpress.rw / KT Press / Home> Business – Economy / by Leonard Nshimiyimana / October 18th, 2017

Lavazza launches Made-in-India premium filter coffee

Business & Economy, Coffee News

Zaccareo said the company inaugurated Coffee Training Centre last year which was the first largest centre outside Italy.

Italian coffee brand Lavazza today announced the launch of its first made-in-India premium filter coffee “II Mattino Vivace”, produced at its manufacturing facility near here, a top company official said today.

The facility at Sri City in Tada began its commercial operations a few weeks ago, Fresh and Honest Cafe Ltd Managing Director Silvio Zaccareo said.

Fresh and Honest Cafe Ltd is a 100 percent subsidiary of Lavazza.

“The factory began commercial operations a few weeks ago. We are launching the Made in India product today..” he told reporters after unveiling II Mattino Vivace.

Zaccareo declined to reveal the size of investment made at the factory or the number of employees working in it.

II Mattino Vivace meaning ‘lively morning’ is made from blends of Arabica and Robusta coffees roasted for the “at home” segment.

The beans were sourced from plantations in Coorg and Chikmagalur in Karnataka. A 200 gm packet is priced at Rs 150, he said.

“Lavazza is known the world over for its expertise in art of blending for over four generations. II Mattino Vivace is a result of combining that expertise and our understanding of the unique consumer preferences in Indian market”, he said.

The domestic coffee market was around 70,000 tonne in which 80 percent comprises “at home” (residential) segment.

To a query, he said the coffee powder would be available in retail outlets across the country. “We are planning to complete first stage distribution by end of this month”.

Zaccareo said the company inaugurated Coffee Training Centre last year which was the first largest centre outside Italy.

The centre trains professionals, carries out research and explores new forms of taste. “We have trained more than 1,000 people,” he said.

source: http://www.moneycontrol.com / MoneyControl / Home> News> Business / by PTI / October 13th, 2017

Coffee Board pegs output for 2017-18 at record 3.5 lakh tonnes

Business & Economy, Coffee News

CoffeeCropsKF06oct2017

Rise in bearing area of the bean attributed to the bumper crop

Bengaluru :

India is heading for yet another record coffee crop in the year 2017-18 starting October 1 on increase in the bearing area under the bean crop. State-run Coffee Board, which released the post-blossom or the initial estimates on Tuesday, has placed the 2017-18 crop at 3.5 lakh tonnes (lt) — an increase of 12.31 per cent over 2016-17’s final output of 3.12 lt.

Rise in acreage
The crop size of arabicas, the mild and premium bean variety, is seen rising by around 8.53 per cent in 2017-18 over the previous year, while the production of robustas is seen growing by around 14 per cent.

The projected growth in 2017-18 post blossom output is mainly on account on increase in bearing area of about 13,500 hectares in the traditional growing States of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Though the Coffee Board had assessed the 2017-18 post-blossom crop size during May 2017, the estimates were released on Tuesday.

Crop losses, if any, after May 2017, will be taken into account at the time of post-monsoon estimation, the Board said in a statement.

India is the fifth largest producer of coffee and Karnataka accounts for about two-thirds of the coffee produced in the country.

State-wise crop size
The post-blossom estimate for Karnataka is placed at 251,760 tonnes comprising 75,300 tonnes of arabica and 176,460 tonnes of robusta. The post-blossom forecast represents a 13.5 per cent increase over last year. All the three main growing regions of Kodagu, Chikamagalur and Hassan districts are seen registering an increase in output over last year.

In Kerala, mainly a robusta producer, the post-blossom estimates for the year 2017-18 are placed at 68,520 tonnes, an increase of 8.31 per cent over the previous year’s final estimate of 63,265 tonnes. In Tamil Nadu, the post blossom forecast for 2017-18 is placed at 19,160 tonnes, up 17.29 per cent over last year’s 16,335 tonnes.

In the non-traditional areas of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha as well as in North Eastern Region, the post-blossom forecast is placed at 10,960 tonnes as against previous final estimate of 10,655 tonnes. The higher forecast has come mainly from Andhra Pradesh due to increase in bearing area.

The Board also said that the 2016-17 crop size had shrunk by around 10.34 per cent over the previous year to 3.12 lt mainly on account of poor rains last year.

In 2015-16, India had produced a record crop of 3.48 lakh tonnes.

(This article was published on October 3, 2017)

source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com / Business Line / Home> Economy> AgriBusiness / The Hindu Bureau / October 03rd, 2017

Wake-cup to a new brew!

Coffee News, World Opinion

Paying homage to International Coffee Day, Café looks at the trend of a rise in knowledgeable consumption of coffee, doing a little trail of some places known to serve a good brew, in the process

BrewKF06oct2017

Coffee is probably man’s best friend, even ahead of canines.

Much like alcohol (although seemingly less sinister), it often guides many people through relationships, breakups, stressful times, late nights, early mornings…well, you get the drift. In more recent times, beyond the advent of the chains that glorify it with glitz, glamour, strange names and exorbitant price tags, there is a section of the population that craves it’s good ‘cuppa’, a section that has only been growing ever since quality of coffee available in Goa has improved.

But why look at this trend now, one might perhaps inquire. Simply put, International Coffee Day is an occasion to promote and celebrate coffee as a beverage, with events now occurring in places across the world. The first official date of October 1 was announced in 2015, as agreed by the International Coffee Organisation, and was launched in Milan. This day is also observed to promote fair trade coffee and to raise awareness for the plight of the coffee growers. So what better day to address this trend than today, with a little trail pointing out some of the places that provide quality coffee?

Formerly popular by the name of ‘Tamarin’, the new ‘gusto!’ delicatessen is setting a benchmark for itself by becoming the only stockist in Goa of the renowned ‘Black Baza’, 100% biodiversity-friendly, coffee. Set in the heart of Calangute’s ‘Gauravaddo’ at ‘Literati Bookshop’, the establishment has opted to work closely with this coffee because, as the good people at ‘gusto!’ say, Black Baza’s vision fits perfectly with their concepts. It’s a world where coffee farms conserve biodiversity, and all producers have secure and stable livelihoods. Working with over 200 farmers in the BR Hills and Kodagu, Baza is the largest specialty coffee collective in India.

Conservative agreements ensure that farms protect water sources, are chemical free, maintain 60% tree cover, reforest, are fair trade and have 100% traceability. As a result, ‘gusto!’ serves its own blend of Italian style beans and also retails Wanderoo/Otter/Fiscus/Black Baza. A variety of Arabica and/or Robusta beans and ground coffee are available to meet your specific tastes.

Also in Calangute is the new property that everyone is all abuzz about: ‘Le Meridien Goa’. There, at their outlet called ‘Longitude 73’, until October 3, people can satiate their coffee cravings with coffee flavoured cocktails, special éclairs, a latte-art workshop that can help you to impress your guests at your next hi-tea, and a series of other offerings. For art-enthusiasts, the coffee bean art-display at ‘Longitude 73’ is definitely worth a visit.

Another place that works closely with coffee offerings in Goa is ‘Caravela Café’, in Panjim. The little establishment is a breath of fresh air as far as independent cafés in Panjim go, since they serve and are distributors for the artisanal Flying Squirrel Coffee that comes from coffee estates in Coorg. All their coffee is micro-lot, handcrafted, and taken through some unique, creative and natural process for that perfect taste and aroma. Flying Squirrel is available in three variants: Aromatique, Sattva and Parama. Using speciality machines, ‘Caravela Café’ then churns these out in the form of cappuccinos or lattes, if you prefer your coffee with milk; or espressos or americanos, if you like your coffee without the additional flavour that milk adds to it. Only recently, ‘Caravela Café’, along with Flying Squirrel, organised a coffee appreciation session, where around 15 people increased their knowledge about the types and different tastes of coffee. The café has a charming environment for coffee drinking too, with its homely and quaint interiors.

‘The Chikoo Tree Project’ in Margao draws its roots from its founder’s ties to south India, which ensures that coffee is a subject that is always close to the heart. The establishment has partnered with popular brand Devi Coffee and as a result, serves gourmet coffee from the estates of Coorg and Chikmaglur, Mysore Nuggets AAA Arabica, Wayanad Robusta and Madagascar Vanilla. For those who need to beat the heat, there is also an interesting variant known as the Iced Jaggery Coffee on offer. Interestingly enough, the Devi brand grew in Goa itself, after Devika Dutt, MD of Sussegado Coffee India Pvt. Ltd. and an avid coffee consumer, along with her husband decided to retire from the financial world in 2010 and leave behind the business in Singapore. They opted to move to Goa and open a small café where they would freshly roast coffee. Today, they are busier than ever, and the small café became what is today known as the Devi brand.

At the end (or is it beginning) of the day, coffee is almost a way of life, a part of the daily routine. Whether Java, Colombian or French Roast, there is little doubt that every one of its flavours, you’re likely to toast. And on that note, may it be a good weekend, old bean.

source: http://www.heraldgoa.in / Herald / Home> Cafe / by Fernando Monte Da Silva – cafe@herald-goa.com / October 01st, 2017

More the forest trees, the better the coffee

Agriculture, Coffee News, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, World Opinion

Plantations with native trees produce more coffee which is also of better quality

Forest trees are good, not just for the environment but for your coffee too: having more forest trees in coffee plantations maintains tree diversity and also increases coffee production and quality, shows a study. This could be vital information as native trees are being replaced with exotics in coffee-growing landscapes to increase coffee production.

India, the world’s sixth largest coffee-producer, grows ‘shade’ coffee, under the canopies of naturally occurring native trees such as jackfruit, Black dammar (dhup) and Magnolia (champa) which are legally-protected. However, some planters now replace dead native trees with exotics like Silver oaks which are not protected and can be felled for timber. Silver oaks also serve well as pepper stands, and cultivating pepper on them supplements planters’ incomes. This ‘intensification’ – reducing and replacing native shade tree cover – contributes to forest loss in the tropics, where coffee is cultivated.

Scientists at ETH Zurich (Switzerland) and the College of Forestry (Kodagu) examined whether this intensification affects native tree biodiversity and coffee productivity in Karnataka’s Kodagu district, which produces more than one-third of India’s coffee. They studied tree species diversity in 25 coffee plantations varying in native shade tree cover, with some having only non-native Silver oaks as canopies.

The benefits

Their results, published in the journal Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, show that 95 native tree species offer shade for coffee in Kodagu; and intensification decreases this tree diversity. Some plantations, which still retained native trees, even had red-listed tree species (designated as threatened by the IUCN), and some of them in high numbers. The team found that such plantations produced more coffee, which was also of better quality . Silver oak-dominated plantations showed more single-seeded fruits and attacks by the Coffee berry borer, a major pest.

“This is likely due to reduced predators such as ants, birds, or parasitoids, in Silver oak-dominated plantations,” says lead author Maike Nesper (ETH Zurich). Protecting native trees could be crucial, she adds.

“Some regions are re-diversifying tree canopy cover in coffee agroforests, as consumers are increasingly interested in biodiversity conservation and ready to pay premium prices…but to gain the same level of native diversity by reforestation is nearly impossible, and it is crucial to diversity in the first place.”

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Sci-Tech> Environment / by Aathira Perinchery / September 30th, 2017

Subsistence coffee farmers in India unite to transform lives

Business & Economy, Coffee News, Coffee, Kodagu (Coorg), Records, All, World Opinion

Speciality coffee products, support and shared value are key to success

Ten years ago, the residents of Kabada Boddaput — in southeastern India’s remote Araku valley — were impoverished subsistence farmers, living in mud huts and getting by on the millet, yams, pumpkin and greens they grew on their one- to five-acre plots.

Cash was scarce and emergencies meant borrowing from friends and family — debts that might take years to repay. “It was a very terrible situation,” recalls Sanyasi Gullela, a farmer. “There were not enough clothes and no money for cattle.”

But life has changed dramatically for Kabada Boddaput’s tribal farmers — along with around 13,000 others in the Araku valley — since they began cultivating coffee, encouraged by the Naandi Foundation, a Hyderabad-based philanthropic organisation.

Last year, Mr Gullela earned Rs105,000 ($1,640) from coffee, which he grows on 1.3 of his three acres of land, and additional funds from the pepper vines coiling around the surrounding shade trees. In recent years, these earnings have financed four cattle for ploughing and an auto-rickshaw for his son. His neighbour has purchased a second-hand tractor.

Daily life has improved, with the newfound cash used to buy more nutritious food, such as lentils, and new clothes. Some locals have upgraded their mud homes with cement and tiles. “Nowadays, I have a lot of choices,” says G. Tirupati Rao, who grows coffee on two of his 3.5 acres. “What we want we can easily buy from the market. Earlier, we had to compromise.”

While around the world coffee has developed a reputation for bringing few tangible benefits to those toiling to grow it, the view in the Araku valley is different. The crop — grown bio-dynamically without costly fertilisers or agrochemicals — has become an unlikely stepping stone to socio-economic progress for some of India’s most neglected and marginalised peoples. “Coffee has given dignity to farmers,” says Chiranjeevi Naidu, a board member for the Small and Marginal Tribal Farmers Mutually-Aided Co-operative Society, set up in 2006 to process the coffee grown through the Naandi project.

The Araku valley has a history of coffee production dating back to the colonial era, when British planters grew thousands of acres. After independence, India’s government-run Coffee Board took over the plantations, employing local people. And the board gave coffee seeds to farmers, although few flourished in the absence of other support.

But many Araku farmers were eager to keep trying. “They said: ‘Anything that was valuable in India, the British took control of, so coffee must be valuable’,” says Manoj Kumar, Naandi’s chief executive officer.

Naandi’s corporate donors were less enthusiastic, he recalls. “I’ve never heard of anyone coming out of poverty through coffee,” one told him. But Mr Kumar — who had rather stumbled into the coffee business when he was asked in 2004 to develop “livelihood projects” to help Araku farmers — was undeterred. Naandi promised technical support with cultivation and offered to market the farmers’ produce overseas.

Since then, Naandi’s agricultural experts have taught Araku’s novice growers to produce top-quality organic coffee, some of which is being sold as “speciality” coffee to select roasters and traders from Japan, Korea, and Europe. These high-end buyers — who taste and rate each lot before purchasing — are willing to pay up to Rs700 per kg for the best of the beans. The bio-dynamic agriculture practised by the Araku farmers is labour intensive but requires no costly cash inputs. Farmers enrich the soil through mulching, using leaves, fallen fruits and other freely available organic matter. They use inexpensive, herbal soil additives to enhance soil fertility and fight pests.

They have learnt the discipline of harvesting beans only when they are bright red and fully ripe. For these efforts, co-op members last year received a guaranteed price of Rs375 per kg of top quality, fully-ripened beans.

From that, the co-op — where the beans are processed within 12 hours of being harvested — deducts Rs90 per kg for transport and processing, with Rs280 per kg profit left for the farmer.

This compares with Rs90-Rs110 per kg that Indian farmers typically receive for bulk coffee to be sold on the New York Commodity Exchange.

“If you want to do sustainable coffee at scale, it has to be speciality coffee,” says Mr Kumar. “When they buy, they pay more than anyone else will pay.”

Problems remain, especially in finding enough buyers willing to pay a premium for all the high-quality coffee the Araku farmers can produce. Last year, co-op members grew 100 tonnes of coffee, but Naandi is working with another 7,000 farmers whose saplings will mature soon, and other villages are pleading to join the initiative.

Mr Kumar believes Araku’s coffee output could easily rise to 500 tonnes or more. But the total world market for speciality coffee was just 10m tonnes in 2011 — although it is said to be growing fast — and speciality coffee buyers tend to buy in small lots from diverse regions around the world. “I don’t have enough high-quality buyers,” Mr Kumar admits.

To expand the market for its own speciality coffee, Naandi recently raised $5m from its Indian philanthropists for Araku Originals — its dedicated, for-profit, coffee marketing arm — to market its wares in Europe.

Araku Originals has opened a flagship store in Paris and is also selling its coffee though 34 other gourmet food shops and other upmarket retail outlets across France. The coffee that does not make the grade as speciality coffee is sold as organic, fair trade coffee elsewhere in Europe. “We are a benevolent link to the international market,” Mr Kumar says. “It can’t just be procured and dumped.”

Despite the challenges, Mr Kumar is convinced that coffee can be made a sustainable cash crop for farmers — but only if those involved across the industry are willing to share the profits more generously.

“You need a very clear-cut, shared-value business model with the farmer,” he adds. “Otherwise, it won’t work.”

source: http://www.ft.com / Financial Times / Home> Agricultural Production / by Amy Kazmin / September 24th, 2017