The specialty coffee from January 2025 is: India Venkids Valley
Venkids Valley Estate is managed by married couple Pavan and Shilpa Nanjappa. Together, they began taking over the coffee plantation from Pavan's late father in 2013. The plantation contains more than 40 species of jungle trees and therefore cultivation is done in the shade. In addition to coffee, spices such as pepper and cardamom, and fruits such as oranges and avocados are also grown. Because the region has fertile soil with a balanced climate, it lends itself well to growing a variety of crops.
By planting and cultivating both arabica and robusta varieties, Pavan and Shilpa revitalized the plantation. Their robusta coffee has gained international recognition for its unique flavor that is often mistaken for a monsooned arabica. With migrating birds, bees and other fauna keeping the natural balance, the plantation encourages biodiversity.
Harvesting the coffee berries is done in up to five rounds to collect only the ripe fruits. The pulping process takes place on the same day and this is done by fermentation without water. The mucilage is removed and the coffee is dried on patios covered with UV-resistant plastic sheeting.
After harvesting and drying, the coffee is roasted using a 1965 Probat UG22 machine. The roasting process takes 10 minutes.
Aroma
Hazelnut, spices
Body
Powerful and full
Acidity
Light to moderate
Aftertaste
Pepper, hazelnut