FARM: Venkids Valley Estate

LOCATION: Kandankolli Village Karnataka, Coorg, India

CULTIVARS: Coffea canephora (robusta): congensis and old peredinia

FARM SIZE: 115 hectares

ALTITUDE: 950 - 1,150 meters above sea level

EXPORTER: South India Coffee Company

IMPORTER: This Side Up Coffees

ROASTER: Special Roast

About venkids valley

Venkids Valley Estate is run by husband and wife Pavan and Shilpa Nanjappa who started their coffee journey in 2013 when they inherited Pavan’s late father’s estate. Their first harvest was a mere 480 kilos but they approached coffee growing in a fresh way. They grow both arabica and robusta varieties, meticulously block planted with single varietals. It was their robusta that especially caught our attention: at various official cuppings at SCA events, not one jury member could not determine that they were tasting a robusta, confusing the Nanjappa’s coffee with a monsooned arabica. The Venkids Valley farm is home to over 40 varieties  of jungle trees, where the coffee is shade grown. Spices such as pepper and cardamom, and fruits including oranges and avocados are also grown. Between 50 - 60 varieties of resident and migratory birds and the scattering of wild bees balances the eco - system. The region boasts of fertile soil, diverse vegetation and balanced climate.  

what to taste for

Aroma: cacao nibs, spices.

Body: full mouthfeel, nutty.

Acidity: slightly, with hints of dried fruits.

Aftertaste: white pepper, chocolate.

PROCESSING your coffee

Workers have been trained to pick only the ripe fruit in several rounds, up to five per harvest. The coffee is pulped the same day and fermentation is done without the use of water, afterwards the coffee is either washed to remove the mucilage and dried on patios lined with UV resistent plastic for washed coffees.

ROASTING YOUR COFFEE

Special Roast uses a 22kg Probat UG22 roaster, that has been built in 1965. The roast time is 10 minutes. After the first crack, the coffee is roasted for a remainder of 25% of the time.

Relative PRICE BREAKDOWN

50%

Half of the green coffee price goes to the farmers of Venkids Valley. This price includes a +100% quality premium compared to the normal local robusta price.

12%

of the price goed to the exporter for the handling to get the coffee from the estate to Rotterdam.

13%

total shipping costs from Coorg, through customs and to our warehouse. We fill our containers with as much coffee as we can or hitchhike with other importers to keep these costs to a minimum.

20%

This Side Up compensation for spending time and resources bringing this relationship and coffee to life. Our work includes building relationships with origin partners in the field, finding markets for the coffees, linking farmers to rural banks and NGO partners, arranging the export and import channels, Q grading, sampling.

5%

Average financing cost we have to pay lenders - simply because we don’t have the money in the bank to buy such large amounts of coffee all at once. This ensures immediate payment to the farmers when the coffee leaves the farm or port.