7 places to explore Chikmagalur's iconic coffee legacy

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. A four-and-a-half-hour drive from Bengaluru takes you to Chikmagalur, believed to be the coffee capital of India. Ironically, I discovered it’s easier to buy liquor than quality coffee beans there, although its estates grow some of India’s finest high-altitude beans.

For coffee aficionados, a visit to Chikmagalur is enlightening and enjoyable in equal parts. Here’s what you should do: Stay at The Serai Chikmagalur
This luxury resort seeks to raise awareness about Indian coffee through immersive experiences. The "Bean To Cup" journey includes a plantation walk through enchanting estates boasting 120 plant species, with a naturalist explaining the intricacies of coffee cultivation and contrasting practices in Chikmagalur with those in other coffee-producing nations.

You'll learn how coffee's flavours vary depending on the plants it's grown alongside, such as pepper, cinnamon, and lime. The ensuing Cuppa Session includes a tour of an external curing and roasting unit, culminating in coffee sampling to try fresh-ground Arabica and Robusta, prepared using French press, AeroPress, South Indian filter, and Moka pot to demonstrate how brewing techniques affect flavours and textures. The resort bar also features coffee-accented creations, like Roasted (Gin, black coffee, coriander seeds, and honey) and Filter Crème Café (Baileys, Scotch Whisky, filter coffee, fresh coffee, chocolate syrup, and fresh cream).

Do pick up the fabulous Black Forest coffee from the souvenir shop. To book: theserai.in Visit the Chikmagalur Coffee Museum
This museum, with just two rooms, provides a whirlwind history of Indian coffee via a video presentation. An interesting historical narrative explains how chicory came