Coffee culture

How to Brew Indian Monsoon Malabar Coffee? Historical Stories and Flavor Differences of Coffee Beans from Various Indian Regions

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee
Last Updated: 2026/01/27, Coffee from India's southern Malabar region uses the monsooned natural processing method, which FrontStreet Coffee will introduce to everyone in the upcoming knowledge sharing session. This coffee has lower acidity and a very distinctive mouthfeel. Next, we'll introduce how to brew this type of coffee. Recommended brewing method: Pour-over Dripper: KONO dripper Water temperature: 87-88°C Coffee dosage: 15g Coffee-to-water ratio: 1:15

Coffee from the Malabar region of southern India is processed using the monsooned natural method, which FrontStreet Coffee will introduce to everyone in the upcoming knowledge sharing sessions. This coffee has low acidity and a very distinctive taste. Next, we'll introduce how to brew this type of coffee.

Recommended Brewing Method: Pour-over

Dripper: KONO Dripper

Water Temperature: 87-88°C

Dose: 15 grams

Ratio: 1:15

Grind Size: Medium grind (78% retention rate on No. 20 standard sieve)

Brewing Technique: Poured extraction

Use 30g of water for blooming, with a blooming time of approximately 30 seconds. Using a small water flow, pour in a circular motion in the center with 95g of water,分段 at 125g of water. When the water level drops and is about to expose the coffee bed, continue pouring water until reaching 225g to finish. When the water level drops and is about to expose the coffee bed, remove the dripper (timing starts from the beginning of blooming). Extraction time is 2'00".

Coffee brewing process

Tamil Nadu

The wildlife sanctuaries in this region are habitats for spotted leopards, while the plantations are home to high-quality, high-grown Arabica coffee, including exotic Kent.

Altitude: 1000-1400 meters MSL

Rainfall: 2500-3000 mm

Main Coffee Type: Arabica Coffee

Total Area: 2,500 hectares

Average Yield: 1,500 metric tons

Main Varieties: S.795, Cauvery, Sln.9

Main Intercrops: Pepper, oranges, bananas

Araku Valley (Andhra Pradesh)

Home to colorful parrots, in this picturesque valley, you can often see flocks of chattering red and green birds darting through the trees.

Altitude: 900-1100 meters MSL

Rainfall: 1000-1200 mm

Main Coffee Type: Arabica Coffee

Total Area: 20,000 hectares

Average Yield: 3,100 tons

Main Varieties: S.795, Sln.4, Sln.5, Cauvery

Main Intercrops: Pepper, mango, jackfruit, vegetables

Bababudangiris (Karnataka)

Bababudan brought seven "magical" beans from Yemen and planted them on the high mountains of this region. Deer are often found here, grazing near plantations with rich Arabica coffee.

Altitude: 1500-2000 meters MSL

Rainfall: 1100-1200 mm

Main Coffee Type: Arabica Coffee

Total Area: 800 hectares

Average Yield: 700-800 metric tons

Main Varieties: S.795, Sln.9, Cauvery

Main Intercrops: Oranges, bananas, pepper

Biligiris (Karnataka/Tamil Nadu)

In addition to rich Arabica coffee, this region is also famous for sambar deer, the largest Indian deer with huge antlers.

Altitude: 1500-2000 meters MSL

Rainfall: 1100-1200 mm

Main Coffee Type: Arabica Coffee

Total Area: 800 hectares

Average Yield: 700-800 metric tons

Main Varieties: S.795, Sln.9, Cauvery

Main Intercrops: Oranges, bananas, pepper

Brahmaputra

The mighty Brahmaputra River flowing through the northeastern states is the lifeline of the region, home to the one-horned rhinoceros. These sturdy animals are found in large numbers in Kaziranga National Park in eastern Assam.

Altitude: 800-1200 meters MSL

Rainfall: 1500-2000 mm

Main Coffee Type: Arabica Coffee

Total Area: 5,000 hectares

Average Yield: 300 metric tons

Main Varieties: S.795, Cauvery

Main Intercrops: Pineapples, pepper, jackfruit, vegetables

Chikmagalur

The forests and wildlife sanctuaries of Chikmagalur are rich in India's national bird—the beautiful peacock. Peacocks love to show off their colorful feathers, especially in their elaborate courtship dances.

Altitude: 700-1200 meters MSL

Rainfall: 1000-4500 mm

Main Coffee Types: Arabica, Robusta

Total Coffee Area: Arabica - 37,000 hectares, Robusta - 23,000 hectares

Average Yield: Arabica - 29,000 tons, Robusta - 30,000 tons

Main Arabica Varieties: S.795, Sln.5B, Sln.9, Cauvery

Robusta Varieties: Peridenia, S.274, CxR

Main Intercrops: Pepper, cardamom, areca nuts, oranges, vanilla

Coorg (Karnataka)

Lush coffee plantations are filled with bees that produce delicious Coorg honey, collected by agile tribes.

Altitude: 750-1100 meters MSL

Rainfall: 1000-2500 mm

Main Coffee Types: Arabica, Robusta

Total Coffee Area: Arabica - 26,000 hectares, Robusta - 56,000 hectares

Average Yield: Arabica - 24,000 tons, Robusta - 69,000 tons

Main Arabica Varieties: S.795, Sln.6, Sln.9, Cauvery

Robusta Varieties: S.274, CxR

Main Intercrops: Pepper, cardamom, oranges, bananas, areca nuts

Manjarabad (Karnataka)

Gentle slopes, small streams, and coffee trees provide natural habitat for jungle fowl. This yellow-headed bird with red comb and multicolored feathers usually appears in pairs near coffee plantations.

Altitude: 900-1100 meters MSL

Rainfall: 1000-2500 mm

Main Coffee Types: Arabica, Robusta

Total Coffee Area: Arabica - 31,700 hectares, Robusta - 9,400 hectares

Average Yield: Arabica - 21,000 tons, Robusta - 9,400 tons

Arabica Coffee Varieties: S.795, Sln.6, Sln.9, Cauvery

Robusta Varieties: S.274, CxR

Main Intercrops: Pepper, cardamom, oranges, areca nuts, bananas

Nilgiris (Tamil Nadu)

The wildlife sanctuaries in this region are habitats for spotted leopards, while the plantations are home to high-quality, high-grown Arabica coffee, including exotic Kent.

Altitude: 900-1400 meters MSL

Rainfall: 1600-2600 mm

Main Coffee Types: Arabica, Robusta

Total Coffee Area: Arabica - 3,600 hectares, Robusta - 4,000 hectares

Average Yield: Arabica - 1,400 tons, Robusta - 2,800 tons

Main Varieties: Arabica - S.795, Kents, Cauvery; Robusta - Peridenia, S.274, CxR

Main Intercrops: Pepper, oranges, bananas, ginger, vegetables

Pulneys (Tamil Nadu)

A famous feature of this region is the bright hyacinth-like Kurinji flowers that appear once every 12 years. However, high-grown Arabica coffee dominates year after year.

Altitude: 600-2000 meters MSL

Rainfall: 1000-1600 mm

Main Coffee Type: Arabica Coffee

Total Area: 14,000 hectares

Average Yield: 7,500 metric tons

Main Varieties: S.795, Sln.5B, Sln.9, Sln.10, Cauvery

Main Intercrops: Oranges, bananas, pepper, cardamom, vegetables

Sheveroys (Tamil Nadu)

The magnificent Gaur or Indian bison embodies vitality and strength, much like the bold Arabica coffee that grows here. This massive animal with a huge head and strong limbs grazes in the lower mountain regions of this picturesque area.

Altitude: 900-1500 meters MSL

Rainfall: 800-1500 mm

Main Coffee Type: Arabica Coffee

Total Area: 5,000 hectares

Average Yield: 3,000 metric tons

Main Varieties: S.795, Cauvery, Sln.9

Main Intercrops: Oranges, bananas, pepper

Coffee beans

Travancore (Kerala)

India's national flower, the lotus, symbolizes purity and beauty. These bright, fragrant flowers with floating leaves and long stems grow in the shallow waters of this region, known for both Arabica and Robusta coffee.

Altitude: 400-1600 meters MSL

Rainfall: 2000-4000 mm

Main Coffee Type: Robusta Coffee

Total Area: 13,000 hectares

Average Yield: 9,000 metric tons

Main Varieties: S.274, CxR

Main Intercrops: Pepper, bananas, ginger, medicinal plants

Wayanad (Kerala)

Wayanad is home to India's national treasure, the Indian tiger, a symbol of bravery and courage.

Altitude: 600-900 meters MSL

Rainfall: 1100-1200 mm

Main Coffee Type: Robusta Coffee

Total Area: 67,000 hectares

Average Yield: 54,000 metric tons

Main Varieties: Peridenia, S.274, CxR

Main Intercrops: Pepper, bananas, ginger

These wonderful and exotic coffees are made from washed Arabica coffee grown in the Chikmagalur, Coorg, Biligiris, Bababudangiris, and Shevaroys regions. The beans are very large, uniformly blue-green, with a clean and polished appearance. In the cup, the coffee presents rich aroma, medium to good body, good acidity, and excellent flavor, with a hint of spice. This is a rare premium coffee that truly represents India's finest coffee.

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