India Monsoon Malabar
Distinct, strong, AA-grade coffee from the Karnataka state in south-western India.
Roast: French (6/7) (Dark)
Tasting Notes: Cedar, Cocoa, Leather, Tobacco
Altitude: 985 MASL
Variety: Kent, S19
Processing Method: Monsoon
Story:
Whilst India may not spring to mind when thinking about growing coffee it is considered to have some of the finest shade-grown coffee in the world. It is primarily grown in the countries southern states namely Karnataka (71% total production), Kerala (21% total production), and Tamil Nadu (5% total production). India consists of around 250,000 coffee growers, around 98% of which are small growers and as of 2009 Indian coffee accounted for 4.5% of global production.[34]
It is believed coffee was introduced to India around the 17th century by an Indian Muslim saint, Baba Budan. Whilst returning from a pilgrimage to Mecca, he smuggled 7 coffee beans (by hiding them in his beard) from Yemen to Mysore in Karnataka and planted them in the region. At the time it was considered illegal to take green coffee seed out of Arabia, but as the number 7 is a sacrosanct number in Islam, this was considered a religious act. Most production was from private native Indian farmers until British colonial presence in the mid 19th century, after which coffee plantations flourished for export.[34]
Monsoon Malabar is possibly the most well-known Indian coffee due to its unusual processing method. This started as the British exported coffee by ship to Northern Europe in 3-masted East Indiamen. The journey took around 6 months and during the Monsoon season, this gave a long time for the beans to absorb the additional moisture and swell. This caused the beans to lose their original acidity and gain the distinct flavour we know today. The coffee is unique to the Malabar Coast of Karnataka and is protected under India's Geographical Indications of Goods Act. Nowadays, the coffee is left in open-sided warehouses and subject to the effects of humidity during the monsoon season. This occurs over a period of 3-6 months on the west coast of India between June/July and September.[34][35][36]
This coffee is from the Manjarabad region within Karnataka, which spans from Chikmagalur to Coorg. The monsoon process results in a sweet, woody coffee with deep earthy flavours, full-body, mild acidity and intense aroma.[36][37]
There is no warehouse. That is rather the point, and it does have consequences.
Every brand here packs and posts its own orders, in its own boxes, with tracked delivery. The brands you can see are the ones that ship to your country, so your parcel is usually making a fairly short journey: a potter in Bristol posting to Britain, a studio in California posting within America.
Which does mean that an order from three brands arrives as three parcels, posted by three different people, on three different days. Whether that is an inconvenience or a small extended birthday rather depends on your temperament. It also means three lots of postage, shown before you pay, because we would rather mention it here than at the till.
Roughly how long
UK Domestic: 2–5 business days
Coming from further afield: 7–14 days. Usually quicker, but let's not prmise and it will be a lovely surprise!
Estimates, not promises. Each brand sends its own tracking, so you will be kept extremely well
Need help? Just ask.Our small team is here.
Fourteen days from delivery to tell us you have changed your mind, and fourteen more to get it back to us. No reason required, and we will not make you give one.
You are allowed to open it and try it on. Handle it as you would in a shop, and we will not quibble. Handle it as you would a rental car and we may deduct something for the difference.
Return postage is yours to pay, because the brand at the other end is a workshop rather than a warehouse. Some cover it themselves, and if yours does you will not be charged. Whatever you paid us to send it out, we refund either way, and the money goes back the way it came within fourteen days of the parcel reaching the brand.
A few things cannot come back, and only these: anything made or personalised to your order, sealed beauty products once the seal is broken, and anything perishable.
If something arrives damaged, faulty or not as described, none of the above applies. It costs you nothing, and we sort it.
Just email mail@brixbailey.com — we'll guide you through it.
Bought together
Handpicked brand
Curated by us personally
Ships direct from the brand
Straight from maker to you
Secure checkout
Encrypted & safe
Independent & original
Not on the high street