1. Coorg, Karnataka
India’s very own coffee district, Coorg is home to several coffee plantations that produce a sizeable volume of the country’s Arabica and Robusta varieties. There are a lot of homestay options within these plantations, including Tata Coffee’s Plantation Trails, Silver Brook Estate, and Comfort Homestay — so make sure you book one if you are looking to wake up just a few meters away from the fields. November is a great time to visit if you want to go berry picking. If you want to take a break between all the coffees, try some fresh Coorg honey.
2. Wayanad, Kerala
This Malabari destination is filled with homestays as well as some fantastic resorts for all coffee lovers. When you are here, walk through the lush green plantations here and enjoy some bird-watching.
3. Chikmagalur, Karnataka
This was where coffee was first introduced in India during the Raj. Just a few hours’ drive from Coorg, Chikmagalur is also one of the biggest contributors to India’s coffee production. With slopes almost entirely covered with verdant plantations, Chikmagalur can never disappoint coffee lovers. Trekking is a great way to explore this place. Also, keep your eyes open for the peacocks which can be found loitering around the plantations.
4. Yercaud, Tamil Nadu
It’s called the Jewel of the South for a reason. This extremely picturesque place is home to numerous coffee and orange plantations. It is also home to MSP Coffee, which was the first ever Indian-owned coffee plantation. Glenrock Estates, which also doubles up as a resort, is a great place to stay. Stay options offered in this include regular cabins and dormitories for groups.
5. Araku, Andhra Pradesh
What makes the high-quality plantations in this area unique is that thousands of tribals from the region are also an integral part of the coffee cultivation process, either working as small farmers or as farm hands. Don’t leave this place without trying the brilliant Araku Emerald, which is a brand of organic coffee grown by the local tribe.
