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India’s coffee renaissance from Baba Budan Giri to global cup of fame
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Monday, 01 December, 2025, 14 : 00 PM [IST]
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Our Bureau, New Delhi
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The humble beginnings of coffee cultivation in India date back to the 1600s, when the legendary Sufi saint Baba Budan planted seven coffee seeds carried from Mocha (Yemen) on the slopes of the Baba Budan Giri hills in Chikkamagaluru, Karnataka. From those modest roots as a garden crop India’s coffee journey has blossomed into a globally respected industry with a unique identity in the world coffee map.
Today, coffee in India is grown under a distinctive two-tier shade system of evergreen and leguminous trees, across nearly 4.91 lakh hectares spread over the Western and Eastern Ghats and parts of the Northeast. The sector sustains the livelihoods of over two million people, most of whom are smallholder farmers around 99% of coffee growers in India who contribute about 70% of national coffee output.
Beyond coffee beans, many plantations double up as spice gardens, cultivating crops like pepper, cardamom, vanilla, orange and banana enhancing biodiversity and offering additional income streams to farmers.
Geographically, major cultivation happens in states like Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, which together contribute nearly 96% of India’s coffee production. Arabica thrives in cooler highlands, whereas Robusta grows better in warmer, humid zones. Indian Robusta already commands premier prices globally.
Quality and uniqueness are further recognized through geographical indication (GI) tags granted to several regional coffee varieties, including Coorg Arabica Coffee, Wayanad Robusta Coffee, Chikmagalur Arabica Coffee, Araku Valley Arabica Coffee and Bababudangiris Arabica Coffee. The specialty segment also features celebrated names like Monsooned Malabar AA, Mysore Nuggets Extra Bold and Robusta Kaapi Royale each offering distinct flavour profiles that cater to global consumers and fetch premium value.
The transformation of Indian coffee from regional gardens to global acclaim is driven by the robust support of the Coffee Board of India. Through research, promotion, export facilitation and value-addition initiatives, the board has helped improve yields, quality, and farmers’ income while positioning Indian coffee strongly in overseas markets.
With its blend of tradition, ecological sustainability, inclusive rural livelihoods and global competitiveness, India’s coffee sector is brewing prosperity from farm to international fame.
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