We source both Arabica and Robusta coffee from Hoysala Coffee & Spices . You can find this in our Out of the Dark or in Wilderer , among other places. It was only at the beginning of 2024 that we visited the farmers in Karnataka, India, and saw for ourselves the working and cultivation conditions on site.
Hoysala Coffee – the farms
As mentioned above, both Arabica and Robusta grow on the Hoysala Coffee & Spices farms. The Hoysala farms have been around since the late 19th century. They have been in the hands of the same families for many generations, who are always striving to improve their growing conditions. The farms are located in the Western Ghats, an area on the edge of the Deccan plateau. This area is not only a UNESCO World Heritage Site , but also has extremely fertile soil and is one of the eight places in the world with the highest density of biodiversity. In addition to coffee plants, the farmers there also cultivate pepper and cardamom. The farms are located at altitudes of between 900 and 1,350 meters.
Hoysala Coffee – cultivation
The plants are grown on slopes with two-tiered shade, consisting of native jungle trees and Erythrina lithosperma trees, also called coral trees. The canopy not only supports more than 200 species of animals, birds, insects and reptiles, but also creates a unique micro-environment.
The farm soil is rich in humus and organic matter with many naturally occurring minerals that support a wide variety of rare microbes and soil fungi. Good practices are used, using organic and inorganic raw materials, and no chemicals are ever used on the farms.
Hoysala Coffee - Rosedale Estate and Sunil
One of the farms we visited is Sunil's Rosedale Estate. There we got an insight into the cultivation methods and processing of coffee. The green coffee that Hoysala supplies is available washed, natural and honey. The concept of Sunil and Rosedale Estate is not to add anything to the soil. This means, above all, absolutely no chemicals, but also no naturally produced fertilizers whose raw materials do not come from the estate. Sunil and his team's greatest strength is also the ability to cover the entire soil with plants and legumes .
Hoysala Coffee – Jeelan Estate and Mohan
Mohan works just like Sunil chemical-free , so he does not use any purchased pesticides, not even biological ones. Mohan works with a principle that is similar to Terra Preta: bark mulch, composted and fermented plant residues, animal feces and charcoal are processed into fertilizers . The charcoal then ensures that the nutrients stored in it are released into the soil via a
be released into the soil over a longer period of time. It is also a 5M farm. These 5 M's are:
- Mindset
- management
- Minerals
- Microbes
- Soil Organic Matter
The most important thing is that nothing from outside the farm gets into the farm's soils, creating a unique, sustainable and organically sound soil.
Hoysala Coffee – Modernity and Sustainability
During our visit to India, we learned a lot about the sustainable and organic-biodynamic cultivation of coffee. They also have the latest technology and are in some respects further ahead than some other coffee-growing countries. We will of course stay in touch with our farmers and look forward to high-quality coffee and possibly new developments.
