Gundikhan Yeast Fermented Washed Sarchimor | India

India — Saif Ulla Gundikhan Estate Sarchimor (Yeast Fermented, Washed)

Tastes Like — 🍏 Green Apple • 🍬 Brown Sugar • 🍋 Loumi (Black Lime)

DETAILS

• Producer: Saif Ulla
• Farm: Gundikhan Estate (Kaad Kaapi collective)
• Region: Chikmagalur, Karnataka, India
• Varietal: Sarchimor
• Process: Yeast Fermented, Washed
• Altitude: 1,300–1,400 masl
• Roaster: Manhattan Coffee Roasters (Rotterdam), available as espresso or filter roast

INTRO
A yeast-fermented washed coffee that brings together the fresh taste of green apple and the gentle sweetness of brown sugar, complemented by the citrusy spice of black lime ("loumi") and a sticky, rich, lingering finish. In the cup: green apple, brown sugar, and loumi.

THE PRODUCER
Gundikhan Estate, part of the Kaad Kaapi collective, stands out for its dedication to both conservation and coffee quality. In Karnataka's Chikmagalur district at 1,300–1,400 masl, it produces some of the highest-grown coffee in India. Saif Ulla's farm emphasises meticulous processing, preserving native tree diversity, and cultivating coffee in a way that protects local wildlife.

Manhattan divides Indian producers into two broad groups: those elevating Indian coffee through experimental processing (such as Ratnagiri and Kerehaklu) and those prioritising wildlife conservation through specialty coffee, who market their coffees collectively as Kaad Kaapi so that coffee farming doesn't disrupt the habitats or movement of native wildlife. Gundikhan is home to elephants, tigers, Indian gaur, and numerous bird species. Maintaining the dense tree canopy these animals depend on takes significant investment, reduces yields, and large animals can sometimes damage the plants, so Kaad Kaapi producers focus on high-quality coffee that earns premium prices to help cover these costs.

Sarchimor is a Timor Hybrid and Villa Sarchi cross bred for disease resistance.

THE PROCESS
This lot is Yeast Fermented and Washed: the cherries are fermented with an added yeast culture, then washed and dried. The page doesn't give further steps.

The yeast fermentation is the defining step. It builds the green apple freshness and the sticky, rich sweetness.

THE CUP
Fresh and spiced: green apple and brown sugar sweetness, with the citrusy spice of black lime and a sticky, rich, lingering finish.

Flavour Notes
🍏 Green Apple 🍬 Brown Sugar 🍋 Loumi (Black Lime)