Legend says coffee was discovered by a goat. Or rather, by goats.
A young shepherd named Kaldi noticed his flock behaving like teenagers after three espressos — dancing, head-butting, generally having a great time. He traced the energy spike to some bright red cherries on a shrub. Coffee was born… at least, that's the version historians allow at parties.
Whether Kaldi existed or not, people quickly figured out the important part: roasting, grinding, and brewing the seeds made for a delicious drink that turned sleepy mornings into productive ones — and occasional overthinking sessions into full-blown “new business idea” meetings.
From Ethiopia, coffee traveled to Yemen, where it became a trade and spiritual staple, then spread through the Ottoman Empire, Europe, and eventually became the global “let’s catch up” beverage we all rely on.
But what about India?
Enter Baba Budan, who is said to have smuggled coffee seeds from Yemen into South India in the 1600s. Apparently he hid seven seeds in his beard — a strategy I would not recommend now that airport security exists. Those seeds (or the legend of them) helped set off a journey that brings us to Coorg.
Coorg’s misty hills, cool temperatures, and generous shade trees made it the perfect place for coffee plantations. With the rise of estates, coffee became less of a miracle and more of a science: pruning schedules, moisture control, picking cycles, and the glamorous life of checking drying patios like an overprotective parent.
And then… our family joined the story.
At some point, our patriarch looked at Coorg — with its monsoon clouds, gorgeous slopes, and extremely opinionated coffee plants — and thought, “Yes. This is definitely a manageable lifestyle decision.” (It was not.)
He bought a plantation anyway, fueled by optimism, curiosity, and perhaps a miscalculation on how much time humidity takes up in a day.
It turns out that coffee isn’t just a drink. It’s a culture, a routine, a little daily ceremony — and in our case, a family legacy. A very muddy, slightly chaotic, extremely satisfying legacy.
So here we are: growing coffee where the story of plantations in Coorg continues — one harvest, one roast, and one carefully brewed cup at a time.
