India Riverdale Estate Espresso

Tasting notes: Malt milkshake, peach, coconut and shortbread.

Coffee breakdown:
Country: India
Process: Champagne Natural
Varietal: SL9
Riverdale Estate in the region of Shevaroys Hills
Elevation: 1450 masl

Riverdale Estate is located in Yercaud, a hill station high in the Shevaroy Hills of South India. Sitting at 1,450 metres above sea level, the farm is surrounded by forest reserve and nourished by natural spring water. The region is rich in biodiversity, though it faces ecological challenges - namely the overuse of silver oak trees for shade, which can deplete the land. Riverdale takes a more sustainable approach, planting a variety of native shade trees like sandalwood, jackfruit, orange and peppercorn to help prevent soil erosion and support the surrounding ecosystem.

The estate has been in the Balaraman family for around a century, and today it’s run by Prakashan Balaraman, a young and innovative producer with a clear vision for the future of Indian specialty coffee. With a deep respect for nature and a commitment to progress, Prakashan focuses on plant nutrition, biodiversity, and modern farming techniques - while his brother Mohan manages sales and drives the estate’s ethos of quality, transparency and innovation. “We aspire to be a leader in the global coffee industry by creating an environment where innovation, quality and transparency all coexist,” says Mohan.

This microlot, the Champagne Natural, showcases Riverdale’s creative approach to processing. Cherries with a Brix level of 25 or higher are carefully handpicked, triple-washed, and then fermented with Italian champagne yeast for 80 hours. The coffee is then sun-dried on raised beds for up to 30 days before being stored in climate-controlled conditions to maintain quality.

The result is a clean, fruit-driven and creamy cup with notes of malt milkshake, peach, coconut and shortbread. It’s vibrant, textural, and a beautiful example of what’s possible from India’s emerging specialty scene.