INDIA - SHANKAR & ANKITA

Espresso Roast

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A BIT ABOUT THIS COFFEE

This Microlot coffee comes from Shankar and Ankita’s 1-acre farm in the Araku Valley of India’s eastern Ghats.

It's here that coffee has become a powerful catalyst for environmental regeneration, and improved opportunities for the communities that call Araku home. 

Organic, biodynamic and shade-grown coffees are the standard here and the coffee quality gives clear evidence of the benefit of this style of farming.

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WHY YOU'LL LOVE IT

This coffee has a dreamy full mouthfeel paired with a pleasantly juicy sweetness.

Deep, yet soft flavours of Butterscotch, Navel orange, Pear, & Stone fruit hints meld into a nicely balanced yet syrupy brew.

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HOW TO BREW

Black Espresso

21g In 

44g Out 

27-30 Seconds

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THE STORY

With just 325 kg produced on Shankar & Ankita’s beautifully shaded 1-acre farm, This coffee is the true definition of a ‘micro lot'. Shankar & Ankita live and farm organic coffee in The beautiful Araku Valley in India's Eastern Ghats. 

In this region, coffee is a catalyst for environmental regeneration and improved opportunities for the communities that call Araku home. Almost all of the farms here are owned by smallholders ranging between 1-3 acres and they implement strictly organic and Biodynamic agriculture practices. The level of quality is world-class and a true testament to the farming style and regenerative practices that are in operation here.

Coffee was first introduced to Andhra Pradesh by the British in the 1920’s. During the 80’s & 90’s, the region began hitting a breaking point. Once a biodiversity hotspot, Araku came under immense environmental pressure and the people who called the valley home were experiencing deep poverty, low literacy levels, poor medical outcomes, and a high infant mortality rate.

After a period of civil unrest in the late 90s, the Naandi Foundation (one of India's largest non-profit organisations) intervened. Over the last two and a half decades Naandi has been engaging with the tribal farmers of the Araku valley, which is now over 300,000 farmers from 1460 villages. Because of this, the region has dramatically transformed.

The goal has been to create biodiverse, organic, and climate-resistant farms and create sustainable avenues for long-term profits for the farmers who call Araku home. The Araku Valley is now one of the world's largest 100% certified organic coffee-growing regions. Both ecological and financial poverty are a thing of the past.

Shankar Rao and Ankita use regenerative, biodynamic, and organic practices to produce wonderfully healthy coffee trees, resulting in some seriously delicious beans. Yep, you read that right. Recent tests have shown that the health of the soil and trees is increasing the flavour compounds in the coffee leading to better quality coffee. What's good for the environment is also great for coffee! A win-win!

These sustainable techniques have become a cornerstone for the valley’s coffee farmers and are an important part of an awesome story of transformation. Thanks to ongoing training and support from the Naandi Foundation, the farmers of the Araku Valley have been building resilience, independence, and a long-term sustainable future for themselves.

This coffee offers the perfect introduction to Indian specialty, with its wonderfully defined flavour profile.