illycaffh brews quality awareness among local growers

illycaffè testing procedures in India has shown that Indian coffee producers have begun to focus on quality to get higher price realisation.

And this was proved in toto when the winning coffee trader of the 'India coffee quality prize for Espresso', which is instituted by illycaffè, secured an absolute score of 3 on a scale of 3 for quality standards.

"The focus on quality by Indian coffee growers holds great promise for the Indian coffee economy, which has shown an upsurge in the last two years, after the end of global slowdown in coffee markets that lasted several years," said Dr Andrea Illy, CEO illycaffè after announcing finalists of the competition.

Through this coffee contest, the Italian company plans to step up activities in India, recognise excellence in agronomic practices, quality of produce and reward growers of quality Arabica Plantation A coffee beans.

Globally, illycaffè has been at the forefront of the quality movement. The India Coffee Quality Prize is modelled on the decade-and-a-half old Brazilian Quality Award, also instituted and administered by illycaffè, which revolutionises the coffee market in the country it operates.

The annual exercise enables Indian producers of quality Arabica to become suppliers of coffee beans to illy, for processing and marketing under its own brand. Every day over 5 million cups of illycaffe's blend of espresso Arabica coffee are served around the world.

For illycaffè, the contest is also a means of identifying plantation owners, with whom the company sets up direct partnerships, providing training and technical know-how. The aim is to raise quality over a period of time by introducing the growers to better agronomic practices, said Illy.

This year's contest saw overwhelming response from growers from all the coffee growing regions in India.

"The quality of the coffees which came up for the finals of the illycaffè competition during this season, was astounding. The chocolate and caramel notes, which are synonymous with washed Indian Arabica coffee, appeared refined and with clarity, on a base of sweetness and strong texture," said Sunalini Menon, chairperson of the Jury Panel that identified the finalists.

"It was exciting to find the winning coffee securing an absolute score of 3 on a scale of 3, which is saying something on the quality ascent of Indian Arabica Coffee," she added.

The finalists were selected after a shortlisting process that lasted for three months from coffee growing regions of Chikamagalur, Kogadu in Karnataka and Kodaikanal.

Along with the finalists, the winners of the Certificates of Merit are also to join the ranks of suppliers to illycaffè. Under illycaffè's purchasing strategy, the award enables the company to encourage growers to produce better quality.

With an assured supply meeting their standards, illycaffè can offer growers of quality coffee beans higher than prevailing international rates, ensuring that the coffee farmers are not only able to survive, but are motivated to produce coffee of the highest standard.

Following are the 15 finalists: Annapurna Plantation (Chikamagalur, Karnataka), Badnekhan Estate, Devon Plantations & Industries (Chikamagalur, Karnataka) Bhagavathy Plantations (Chikamagalur, Karnataka), Cowcoody Estate, Joonktolle Tea and Industries (Somwarpet, Karnataka), Gangecool Estate (Chikamagalur, Karnataka), Hiregudda Estate (Chikamagalur, Karnataka), Kalledevarapura Estate (Chikamagalur, Karnataka), Kaskemane 'A' Estate (Chikamagalur, Karnataka), Kondakhan Estate, Sangameshwar Coffee Estates (Chikamagalur, Karnataka), Netraconda Estate (Chikamagalur, Karnataka), S R Plantation (Chikamagalur, Karnataka), Sanjignekhan Estate, Giri Coffee company, St. Joseph's Agri Farm and St. Michael's Estate (Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu), and Valparai Coffee Estate, Tata Tea (Valparai, Tamil Nadu).

Along with the finalists, the winners of the Certificates of Merit are also to join the ranks of suppliers to illycaffè. Under illycaffè's purchasing strategy, the award enables the company to encourage growers to produce better quality.

With an assured supply meeting their standards, illycaffè can offer growers of quality coffee beans higher than prevailing international rates, ensuring that the coffee farmers are not only able to survive, but are motivated to produce coffee of the highest standard.

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Quality focus

• Through the coffee contest, illycaffè plans to step up activities in India, recognise excellence in agronomic practices, quality of produce and reward growers of quality coffee beans
• The India Coffee Quality Prize is modelled on the Brazilian Quality Award, also instituted and administered by illycaffè