This Indian Kaapi Royale Robusta is a fully washed AA grade (screen 18) coffee cultivated in the Coorg region of Karnataka's Western Ghats. The Coorg region produces more than 50 percent of India's Robusta and is recognized as an important hub for coffee production, with ideal growing conditions that create exceptional quality in this often-underappreciated species.
The coffee is produced by smallholder farmers who cultivate less than 4 hectares each, following traditional intercropping practices. Coffee plants grow alongside pepper, cardamom, and other spices, as well as orange, banana, and arecanut trees. This biodiversity contributes to soil health and creates the unique flavor characteristics that distinguish Indian Robusta from other origins.
India's coffee history traces back to 1670 when Baba Budan smuggled green beans from Arabia and planted them in the Chikmagalur region near Coorg. After coffee leaf rust devastated Arabica crops in the mid-19th century, many producers transitioned to Robusta by the late 1800s. Today, Robusta comprises half of India's total production, with Kaapi Royale representing the finest expression of Indian Robusta quality—clean, smooth, and surprisingly complex.
Cupping Notes: Vanilla, walnut, and nut shell notes with honey undertones; gentle candy corn sweetness; smooth body with clean finish.