MOOLEH MANAY, 48hr Yeast Fermentation

Mooleh Manay Estate is located near the beautiful backwaters of the Harangi Reservoir in Coorg, Karnataka. The farm is now managed by Komal and Akshay who took over from 4th generation coffee planter, Ms. G.G. Padmashree.

They take a data-driven approach to farming and coffee processing, believing that data is essential for optimizing agricultural practices and ensuring the highest quality coffee production. The farm cultivates a variety of coffee species, including Arabica, Robusta and Excelsa, and uses meticulous processing methods.

Komal’s also runs the exporting company, South India Coffee Company and together they have founded a research and development wing, SICC Labs, focussing on low intervention Coffea species for the future.

Chandragiri is a cross between Villa Sarchi, a natural mutation of bourbon, and Hybrid de Timor, the result of a spontaneous cross between arabica and canephora (robusta) on the island of Timor in the 1920s. This semi-dwarf variety was introduced to India in 2007 by the Central Coffee Research Institute (CCRI) and is characterised by drooping branches with loose clusters of cherries which facilitate uniform development. The plant produces relatively long seeds for arabica and exhibits great tolerance to both leaf rust and white stem berry borer as well as a good quality cup profile.

Ripe coffee cherries are selectively hand-picked and then floated in water. Ripe, denser cherries sink, while unripe or damaged ones (lower density) float and are removed.

The sorted coffee cherries are dried on raised beds for 60 hours before being added to sealed tanks for a controlled, anoxic fermentation for 48 hours where a custom yeast culture is introduced.

After fermentation, the coffee is transferred to a polyhouse and spread on raised drying beds where it is frequently raked to ensure even drying. The drying process continues until the coffee reaches a moisture level of around 12%.

Once dry, the coffee is bagged and stored for 2 months before being sent to the dry mill to be hulled, colour sorted and prepared for export.