6 places in India every coffee lover must visit

Love coffee? Travel to these destinations to fulfill all your coffee dreams.

A cup of great coffee in the morning sets us up for a fantastic, or at the least, a tolerable day. Black, decaffeinated, super sweet, or cold -- your preferred way of taking coffee may vary, but its origins don't. So, leave your coffee beans at home, and pack your bags to travel to these places where the most important ingredient of your favourite beverage is born.

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 metres 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.

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.

 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.

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.

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.

Daringbadi, Odisha

 

 Daringbadi is a newbie as compared to the traditional coffee growing areas in India. Surrounded by thick forests, Daringbadi's location ensures that your coffee expedition will turn into a jungle safari. There are two coffee and black pepper plantations here, which are maintained by the region's forest department.