Behind the Beans: The Story of the Harley Estates’s Coffee Heritage

Ever wondered about the journey your coffee takes before it reaches your cup? Let’s take you on a fascinating journey through the story of your coffee from the KarkuKaad estate in Kodagu.

Today, the estate is managed by Mr DM Purnesh and his daughters Chandini and Tapaswini. Mr Purnesh inherited the estate from his father and grandfather, who bought the plantation from British cultivators. In its early days, the Harley Estate was more than just a coffee plantation; it was a community. Workers and families lived on the estate, children studied in a small government school nearby, and knowledge was handed down from father to son. Mr Purnesh grew up on the estate, spending his childhood among the coffee scrubs, witnessing his family's dedication to cultivating each plant. He developed a strong appreciation for the land and a thorough understanding of the patience needed to grow coffee of superior quality.

The plantation is situated at approximately 3,000 to 4,500 feet, where the cool air, frequent mists, and rich soil create ideal conditions for growing coffee beans, both arabica and robusta. The estate’s forests, which the family has carefully preserved, shade the coffee trees, resulting in slower bean development that enhances flavour complexity. Rich in flora and fauna, the estate's canopy includes indigenous species like silver oak and jackfruit, framing the lush plantations below.

Today the Harley Estate is a well-known label in specialty coffee, selling beans to domestic and foreign markets. The family’s dedication to the land and community is evident in their cultivation practices, combining traditional farming techniques with modern methods, such as selective hand-picking and wet processing, to ensure the highest quality beans. Their innovative processing methods define the rich flavour profiles as distinctive to the microclimates of Sakleshpur and Chikmagalur.