India: Monsooned Malabar AA, Karnataka

Monsooned coffee is one of the most distinctive processing traditions in the coffee world, tied to India’s west coast and the seasonal winds coming off the Arabian Sea. This coffee begins as top grade arabica cherry AB that has already been processed by the natural method. From there, the beans are moved into well-ventilated warehouses with brick or concrete floors and stacked in thick piles, then exposed to moisture rich monsoon air for 12 to 16 weeks. During that time, the coffee is raked frequently and re bulked and re bagged at consistent intervals to keep moisture absorption even across the lot. As the beans absorb moisture in stages, they swell dramatically and shift in color toward pale gold and light brown. After the monsoon rest, the coffee is re graded, bagged, and moved to a drier region for long term storage. Roasted to a medium dark profile, the intent is a round, low sharpness cup with a heavier feel and a distinctive, old-world character. This is a strong option for customers who prefer body and smoothness over bright acidity, and it performs well as a comfort cup across brew methods.