Coffee origin, India (Karnataka)

Chikmagalur

Chikmagalur in Karnataka is the birthplace of Indian coffee, set in the hills of the Western Ghats.

Taste Mild and sweet, with notes of chocolate, nuts and spice, and a smooth body.
Where India (Karnataka)

Written by the KAIVO team, Mumbai. Last updated 4 November 2026. Cite as: KAIVO, "Chikmagalur", kaivo.in/pages/origin-chikmagalur

Chikmagalur is a district in the Western Ghats of Karnataka, and it is widely called the birthplace of coffee in India. Coffee grows here under shade trees at medium to high altitude, often together with pepper and cardamom. Both Arabica and Robusta are grown. A well known story says a Sufi saint, Baba Budan, brought the first beans to India from Yemen around the 1600s.

Questions

Is Chikmagalur only for Arabica?

No. Both Arabica and Robusta are grown, and many estates grow both.