MS Estate – Arabica – Washed

Producer – Ashok Kuriyan

MS Estate is a part of Balanoor Plantations — a mixed crop plantation that grows not only coffee but also pepper, arecca nut, timber and tea. There is a strong focus on the environment with a policy that every acre should have at least two jungle trees beside mixed trees. These trees will never be uprooted or sold which in turn enables them to enhance the activities of micro-organisms on the estate. Balanoor has a 50 acre Certified Organic (certified by IMO) Arabica division which has been increasing in yield over the years and is also Rainforest Certified.

Wet Processing at the estate is done using Pinhalense pulpers which require a very limited amount of water to ensure nearly zero loss of parchment coffee with the pulp that is discarded. These wet mills also ensure minimal or no physical damage to the coffee. All beans from MS Estate are cured at Balanoor’s own curing facility — Kotordie Curing Works. This integration across the supply chain enables them to control quality all the way up to the end product that is delivered to coffee roasters.

The staff and their dependents are provided with free medical facilities and the children of staff are provided with a crèche where they are looked after while their parents are at work. All old labour lines have been transformed into modern buildings with each housing unit comprising of two bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen and an attached bathroom. All houses are provided with electricity and running water.

We source both organic and conventional coffees from MS Estate. We have been consistently impressed with the quality of coffees coming from this plantation over the years with each lot exuding unique notes ranging across chocolate and spice to fruity expressions.