India's largest coffee-producing district, growing roughly a third of the national crop on the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats.
Kodagu (long known in English as Coorg) is a 4,102 km2 district on the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats and India's largest coffee-producing district, contributing about 33% of national output out of Karnataka's roughly 70%. Elevations run from about 50 m to 1,750 m at Tadiandamol. By volume Coorg is predominantly robusta, though its specialty lots are mostly arabica micro-lots. Coorg Arabica Coffee is a registered GI (2018-19). The district also produces nearly a quarter of India's black pepper and is nicknamed 'The Coffee Cup of India'.
Field notes
- i
In 2022-23 the Coffee Board's two Kodagu zones held 107,721 ha of coffee, with Virajpet almost all robusta (50,057 of 52,595 ha) and Madikeri split between arabica (25,300 ha) and robusta (29,826 ha).
- ii
By volume Coorg is mostly robusta (about 69,000 MT a year against about 24,000 MT of arabica), yet nearly all of the Coorg lots in ICB's specialty catalog are arabica micro-lots.
- iii
The district produces nearly a quarter of India's black pepper.
- iv
Kodagu was annexed by the East India Company in 1834, and Wikipedia credits British rule with the introduction of scientific coffee cultivation there.
- v
Kodagu now has five taluks, not the three older sources list: Ponnampet was carved out of Virajpet and Kushalnagar out of Somwarpet.
In the cup, according to guides
- ChocolateOften notedCaramel and dark chocolate are commonly reported for Coorg lots, alongside citrus, plum and jasmine notes.
Processing
Elsewhere in Karnataka
Sources · 7 Every sentence here was checked against a source we read. Taste notes are what guides describe, not promises about your bag. Last revised 2026-11-10.
- Kodagu district · Wikimedia Foundation
- Geographical indications in India · Wikimedia Foundation
- Coffee Regions of India: A Complete Guide · Indian Coffee Beans (roaster/retailer)
- 12 new taluks in State: Kodagu to have two more · Star of Mysore
- Database on Coffee, July 2023 · Coffee Board of India, Market Intelligence Unit
- Coffee Board of India: coffee regions and grades · Coffee Board of India
- Winners list, Flavour of India Fine Cup Award 2014 · Coffee Board of India