Raker coming closer |
and closer |
and closer |
and even closer. |
Pulp Natural Robusta This is how the robusta we buy is prepared, a pulp natural that is so sticky metal blade scrapers must be used to turn it on the drying screens |
Pulp Natural Robusta A close-up of the dry Pulp Natural Robusta parchment |
Agitation in the fermentation tank At this farm, they move the coffee around to ensure even fermentation |
Stinky Work It occured to me that (as a home beer brewer) I never really looked at the evidence of fermentation, that is the foamy head on the coffee. Or perhaps I never saw it as dense as this. |
Coffee Fermentation Foam The fact is, fermenting coffee creates a very dense thick foamy head that smells like you would expect; slightly rotting fruit. |
Disc Pulper This is a standard disc pulper, to remove the outer skin of the coffee cherry. |
Old Style Brooms Everywhere in India they make simple brooms from dried grasses. They use them on the coffee patios to keep the stacks organized and clean. |
Young Robusta Coffee Flower Coffee flowers just getting ready to open. They stay open around 4 days. These will probably be open tomorrow. |
Worker's Housing, Sethuraman The housing looks decent and the buildings well cared-for. |
Rohan Rohan is Ujwala's son, and my partner in crime. We were trying to take the grossest picture we could to show his mother. |
Rohan in the air The Rohan decided he wanted me to take pictures of him jumping. I don't know why. |
Mohan and Sharon - Jeelan Estate Next we went to Jeelan Estate, which has quite a lot of Robusta and some Arabica. It was almost sunset, the coffee was in full bloom, the air filled with the unbelievable sweet scent of coffee flower. |
Coffee Flowers- Jeelan Estate I just couldn't help myslef, and filled my camera disc with photos of these remarkable plants. |
Coffee Flowers- Jeelan Estate Ripe cherry in the background, next years crop coming in the form of flower buds. This is a coffee farmer's dream |
Me at Jeelan Estate Sherri was nice enough to take a picture of me. Jeelan was owned by the family, they lost it some time back, and now it's back in the family once again now that Rohan and Sharon bought it. |
Compost- Jeelan Estate A long mound of composted coffee skins waits to be blended and used. |
Sunset at Jeelan Estate The sunset was beautiful, and the coffee was beautiful. While the others had a talk about the farm, I snuck away to shoot photos |
Plastic Robusta Robusta cherries in their typical cluster form, so artificial looking and uniformally ripe, they seem fake. |
Holy Statues Plus Green Batman All things sacred, one thing American |
The Planter's Club, Chikmagalur We woke up next evening at The Planter's Club, Chikmagalur, an old British whites-only club that kept on under Indian rule. |
Typical Atlas Bike Outside the office, the ubiquitous Atlas |
The Planter's Club, Chikmagalur In the great hall, trophies of the hunt, and the smell of privilege. |
Who Shot the Yak ... that wasn't very sporting of you, now was it. |
Race Day 1909 A drawing on the wall from 1909 |
Dusty Boar Wild Boar taxidermy, probably also from 1909 |
Oddest of all the Tiger The tiger skin and head was kind of shocking, because it was so beautiful, and so wrong. |
amazing, beautiful and sad A taxidermied tiger on the wall of the "coffee planter's club" in chikmagalur, karnataka state, india. |
Waiting Around We waited at a rendevouz point for the others, but only cows came along. |
The Three Gowdas - Thogarihunkal farms Our next visit was to the vast Thogarihunkal Estate. It's been in the family since 1850! L to R: Nandan, and the two brothers, Chenna and Mallanna. |
Wild Monkeys on the Farm It was the first place we saw monkeys, who were eating native figs and other fruits on the farm. |
Mandalkhan This was one of my favorites from last year, because it is from a higher altitude part of the farm. It's mostly 795 but in some parts of the farm there is still Cavery catimor and 10% San Ramon, a cultivar from Central America. |
Managing Shade The men have little fear of heights, as they climb trees to trim branches and manage the shade over the coffee. |
Science Speaks The main field scientists for Ranade, Dr. Ashok and Dr. Biradar discuss their approach to assisting the estate. |
Buggy Friend I took off on a little walk, and saw some wild chickens in the brush, heard all the birds and monkeys, but had to settle on photographing this accessible yet colorful little guy. |
Up to the top! This is one of the higher farms in Chikmagalur area, and since coffee produces less as you go higher, so it's not practical to plant to the top. That's impossible too, since it is protected land. |
Frog Buddy Little frogs in the creek on my walk, indicating the good water quality. |
Coffee Truck As we departed, I noticed the coffee branch designs added to the truck that hauled us up and down the hill. |
Cupping Time Next up, a cupping. We used some awkwardly large glasses, but things went pretty well. Maybe next time the "jury" should go over the protocols a little, for our own protection. I saw someone suck up a spoonful of grinds, but they pulled it off without gagging. pretty funny stuff |
Producers and Roasters Cup It was more of an educational session and a time to share comments. It went well, and there were some decent mild coffees presented. |
A difference of Style No further comments |
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