Coffee Production in India – Growing Conditions, Types and Coffee Producing States

Table of Contents

• Coffee Plantation in India
• Growing Conditions of Coffee in India
  • Why Shades are Important for Coffee Production in India?
• Varieties of Coffee in India
• Coffee Producing States in India
• Scope of Coffee Plantation in India

Coffee Plantation in India

Coffee plantations in India on a commercial scale began in the 18th century during British rule. But coffee history in India dates to 1600 AD when the legendary saint Babu Budan planted "seven seeds" of "mocha" from Yemen in the Chandragiri hills of Karnataka. 

Today, India is the world's sixth largest producer of coffee, with a 3.41% share in global coffee production. India is the only country where coffee is cultivated under shade; its coffees are the best shade-grown mild coffees in the world. 

Coffee is an important cash crop in India that provides direct employment to 2 million people and contributes to remote hilly areas' social and economic development. 

Further, coffee is an important export commodity, and according to FAO Statistics, India was the 8th largest exporter of coffee by volume in 2021-22. India exports 70% of its coffee, and Robusta coffee beans are the major exports.

Growing Conditions of Coffees in India

Coffee plantations is important plantation agriculture in India. The climatic conditions for coffee in India vary depending on the variety of coffee cultivated. The requirements for growing the best coffee beans in India are:

• Soil: Deep, fertile, well-drained, rich in organic matter, and slightly acidic, with a pH value of 6 – 6.5.
• Temperature: Arabica coffee requires a cool and equitable temperature of 15 – 20°C, whereas Robusta requires hot and humid temperatures of 20 – 30 °C.
• Rainfall: An annual rainfall between 1600 mm and 2500 mm is adequate for Arabic coffee, whereas Robusta coffee requires a yearly rainfall of 1000 – 2000 mm.
• Altitude: Regions with a high elevation of 1000 – 1500 m are ideal for cultivating Arabica, and regions with an elevation of 500 – 1000 m are suitable for cultivating Robusta coffee.

Why Shades are Important for Coffee Production in India?

Apart from climate and soil requirements, the most essential growing condition for coffee in India is the availability of adequate shade. It is because:

• They help control soil erosion on sloppy terrains.
• They recycle the nutrients from deeper layers, enriching the soil.
• They protect coffee plants from fluctuations in temperature.
• Inter-cropping is possible in these shades; thus, coffee plantations are home to the rich spices of India.
• They also help preserve diverse flora and fauna.

That is why India grows all its coffee under a two-tier mixed shade canopy of evergreen leguminous trees. Coffee plantations consist of about 50 different types of shade trees.

Coffee Varieties in India

India produces two varieties of coffee, namely Arabica and Robusta. Let us understand these two coffee plants in India through a table.

Coffee Producing States in India

Scope of Coffee Plantation in India

India is the third largest producer and exporter of coffee in Asia. Globally, India is the 6th largest producer and 8th largest exporter of coffee. In 2023, India's coffee market size was estimated to be 1.18 billion US dollars, as per Stellar Market Research.

At present, coffee plantations in India are limited to the Western and Eastern Ghats states, such as Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. These three states together account for 96% of the country's total coffee production. 

Further, 70% of the coffee produced in the country is exported, and only 30% is consumed domestically.

With the increased demand for coffee and its growing popularity among youths, the coffee market size is expected to increase to 2.43 billion US dollars by 2030, according to Stellar Market Research.

Further, the Coffee Board of India has emphasised organic coffee production to meet the demand for chemical-free coffee beans.

Thus, there is a vast scope for coffee plantations in India, and the Indian government must take steps to increase coffee production by enabling its spread in the Northeast region.