Coffee Producing States in India
A complete guide to India's coffee growing regions — from Karnataka's Western Ghats to Kerala's Wayanad and Tamil Nadu's Nilgiris.
India's Coffee Belt
India is the world's sixth largest coffee producer and one of very few origins where coffee is grown entirely under shade — producing naturally low-acidity, complex cup profiles that are sought after by roasters across Europe, Japan, and North America.
Indian coffee is grown predominantly in the southern states, with the Western Ghats — a UNESCO World Heritage biodiversity hotspot — forming the backbone of the country's coffee belt. Three states (Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu) account for over 98% of total production.
Emerging growing regions in northeastern India (Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram) and tribal belt states (Odisha, Andhra Pradesh) are increasingly attracting specialty buyer attention for their unique terroir and smallholder traceability.
~3.7 Lakh MT
Total Production
2023–24 estimate
~30%
Arabica Share
of total output
~70%
Robusta Share
of total output
3.66 Lakh+
Farms
registered growers
The Three Major Coffee States
Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu together produce over 98% of India's coffee. Each state has a distinct terroir, elevation profile, and dominant coffee type.
Karnataka
71% of India's coffeeKarnataka is the undisputed centre of Indian coffee. The state's three main coffee districts — Coorg (Kodagu), Chikmagalur, and Hassan — sit within the Western Ghats at elevations between 900m and 1,800m. Coffee here is grown under natural forest shade alongside spices like pepper, cardamom, and vanilla, contributing to the complex cup profiles that buyers value.
Kerala
~22% of India's coffeeKerala is India's second largest coffee producing state and the country's primary source of Robusta coffee. The Wayanad district alone accounts for a significant share of Kerala's output, with high-canopy shade cultivation and reliable monsoon rainfall producing full-bodied, low-acid Robusta beans ideal for espresso blending.
Idukki district produces high-altitude Arabica with notable cupping quality, increasingly attracting specialty buyers. Kerala's Robusta is popular with European commercial roasters for its consistent quality and competitive pricing relative to Vietnamese Robusta.
Tamil Nadu
~5% of India's coffeeTamil Nadu's coffee is grown in the Nilgiri Hills, Anamalai (Etiyurnoolam), and Yercaud hills at some of the highest altitudes in South Indian coffee cultivation. The cool temperatures, heavy mist, and rich laterite soil of these regions produce Arabica with a distinct brightness and floral complexity not commonly found elsewhere in India.
Tamil Nadu's Nilgiri Arabica is particularly valued in the Japanese and Scandinavian specialty markets. Yercaud estates produce smaller micro-lot volumes with distinctive terroir character.
Other Coffee Growing States
Beyond the traditional coffee belt, India has several smaller but growing coffee producing regions attracting increasing specialty and development interest.
Andhra Pradesh
Araku Valley (Visakhapatnam)
Tribal belt Arabica grown by Girijan cooperatives. Araku coffee has GI tag status and a growing international reputation in the specialty segment, particularly in France.
Odisha
Koraput district
Tribal farmers cultivate Arabica under forest cover in Koraput's high-altitude plateaus. Small volumes with high traceability, supported by state government development programs.
Assam
Golaghat, Karbi Anglong
India's northernmost significant coffee region, benefiting from the same tea-growing terroir. Assam coffee remains low volume but is gaining recognition for its unique cup character.
Meghalaya
Ri Bhoi, West Khasi Hills
High-altitude Arabica from the northeastern highlands. Supported by government schemes to diversify the region's agricultural exports beyond broom grass and turmeric.
Manipur
Senapati, Churachandpur
A very early-stage coffee growing region with significant future potential. Small tribal farming communities producing Arabica under shade with minimal processing infrastructure.
Mizoram & Nagaland
Various hill districts
Northeastern states with active government-supported coffee cultivation programs. Collectively part of India's ambition to develop a '7 Sisters' coffee region with specialty export potential.
Arabica vs Robusta from India
Understanding which Indian origin and variety type suits your roasting needs.
Indian Arabica
Indian Robusta
Monsooned Malabar — India's Unique Coffee
Monsooned Malabar AA is India's most distinctive and internationally recognised coffee. Originally a byproduct of the pre-refrigeration sea voyage from India to Europe — where the green beans absorbed monsoon moisture and swelled — the process is now deliberately replicated in open warehouses along India's Malabar coast.
During June–September, green coffee is exposed to monsoon winds blowing in from the Arabian Sea for 12–16 weeks. The beans swell to double their original size, turn pale golden, and develop a uniquely low acidity, musty, full-body character that is entirely unlike any other coffee origin in the world.
Monsooned Malabar AA is GI-tagged and produced primarily in Karnataka and Kerala coastal districts. It is especially popular in Germany, Scandinavia, and Japan, and is increasingly used by specialty roasters as a distinctive single origin or blend component.
Indian Coffee Export Grades
Indian coffee is graded by the Coffee Board of India based on bean size, defect count, and moisture content before export.
| Grade | Type | Screen Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plantation A | Arabica | Screen 17/18+ | Highest grade washed Arabica. Premium export grade. |
| Plantation B | Arabica | Screen 15/16 | Second grade washed Arabica. Good for blending. |
| Parchment AB | Arabica | Screen 15+ | Unwashed parchment-on Arabica. Specialty focus. |
| Parchment C | Arabica | Screen 13/14 | Smaller bean Arabica parchment. |
| Cherry Robusta | Robusta | Natural / FAQ | Dry-processed Robusta. Full body, widely exported. |
| Robusta Parchment A/B | Robusta | Screen 15+ | Washed Robusta. Cleaner cup profile. |
| Monsooned Malabar AA | Arabica/Robusta | Screen 17/18 | GI-tagged. Unique monsooned process. Premium grade. |
| Specialty Micro-lot | Arabica | Varies | Traceable estate lots. SCA-scored. On-request. |
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Indian Coffee — Frequently Asked Questions
Which state produces the most coffee in India?
Karnataka is India's largest coffee producing state, contributing over 70% of total output. Coorg (Kodagu), Chikmagalur, and Hassan are its three primary coffee districts.
Which states in India produce coffee?
The main producers are Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu (over 98% of production). Smaller volumes come from Andhra Pradesh (Araku Valley), Odisha (Koraput), and northeastern states including Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh.
Does India produce Arabica or Robusta coffee?
India produces both. Robusta accounts for approximately 70% of total output (primarily from Kerala and Karnataka). Arabica (30%) is grown at higher altitudes in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh, with growing specialty production in the northeast.
What altitude is Indian coffee grown at?
Indian coffee grows at 500m–2,200m ASL. Arabica is typically grown above 1,000m; Robusta at 500–1,000m. Tamil Nadu's Nilgiris reach the highest elevations, with some estates above 2,000m.
What makes Indian coffee different from other origins?
Indian coffee is almost entirely shade-grown under native forest or spice trees, producing a naturally low-acid, complex cup. The Monsooned Malabar process is unique to India. The country also produces both Arabica and Robusta from the same geographic belt, giving buyers flexible sourcing options from a single supply chain.
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View our full coffee export overview or Karnataka exporter page.
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