Ever on the hunt for the wild and unique, we first came to know Ratnagiri Estate on little more than a whim when we decided to buy several lots sight unseen. Afterall, it’s not every day that you encounter specialty grade arabica from India. It was clear after our first batch that it was unlike any coffee we had worked with before and y’all knew it too as these beans genuinely flew off our shelves.

Situated in the foothills of Bababudangiri (birthplace of Indian coffee) and the Sahyadri mountains, Ratnagiri Estate is surrounded by lush rainforests rich in biodiversity that are nourished largely by seasonal monsoon winds. Established in 1927 by the Patre family, it has thrived under Ashok Patre’s stewardship ever since he took over his family’s operations in 1989. Initially continuing his family’s tradition of utilizing washed processing methods, Ashok noticed the rising demand for single-origin and specialty coffees in 2010 and decided to re-imagine their operations. Starting with selective harvesting and the meticulous sorting of cherries in 2016, he produced his first honey-processed coffee, gradually transitioning the farm to focus on specialty production. Though finding customers initially proved a challenge, the shift has allowed Ashok to mitigate the myriad challenges of rising costs, labor demands, and climate pressures. Since then, Ashok has continued to invest in their operations by building key infrastructure including mills, drying houses, washing stations and even stainless steel fermenters. These efforts have positioned Ratnagiri Estate as a leader in specialty coffee production, not just in India, but the world over.

In the ever changing landscape that is specialty coffee, it can be challenging to stand above the crowd and produce something truly original. In our many years of turning green beans brown, few offerings have excited and challenged us in the way that this exceptional micro-lot have managed to do. Representing our second year of partnership, we are pleased to share with you the lush flavors from Ratnagiri Estate. Trust us when we say, it’s like lightning in a bottle.