Arabica versus Robusta, what the AA/A/AB screen grades mean, the Monsooned Malabar story, and packing for green beans versus instant.
India's coffee comes off the hills of Chikmagalur and Coorg in Karnataka and from Kerala. The first decision is the obvious one — Arabica or Robusta — and it sets almost everything that follows about cup, grade and price.
Arabica, Robusta and screen grades
Arabica (washed/plantation) gives the cleaner, more aromatic cup and is graded by screen size — AA largest, then A and AB. Robusta is stronger, lower in acid, big on crema, and the workhorse for espresso blends and instant. AA does not mean "best coffee" in the abstract; it means bean size, which buyers pay up for in roast-and-ground because of the even roast.
- Arabica washed/plantation: cleaner cup, AA/A/AB by screen
- Robusta cherry/parchment: strong, crema-rich, espresso & instant
- AA/A/AB = bean screen size, not a quality verdict on its own
- Cup score matters for specialty lots
Monsooned Malabar
Monsooned Malabar is the one buyers ask about by name. Green beans are exposed to the monsoon winds on the west coast until they swell and pale, giving a mellow, low-acid, almost woody cup. It is a specialty in its own right — not a defect, though it looks unusual to anyone expecting bright green beans.
Forms, specs and packing
We supply green beans, roasted whole, roast & ground, and instant — spray- or freeze-dried, solid only; no liquid coffee. Figures below are indicative, with exact values agreed on contract and confirmed on the CoA per lot, out of Mundra or Nhava Sheva.
- Grade/screen and Arabica vs Robusta
- Moisture, typically below ~11%
- Defect count per sample
- Cup score for specialty
- Packing: 60 kg jute or GrainPro for green; cartons/jars for instant
Tip: For green beans destined to travel through humid transits, ask about GrainPro liners — the extra barrier protects moisture and cup far better than bare jute, and it is worth the small premium on longer routes.
Frequently asked questions
Can you supply retail coffee packs or instant jars under our brand?
Yes. Alongside bulk green-bean packing, our single-window private-label service designs your pack and label, fills supermarket-ready retail — roast-and-ground packs, instant jars or sachets and cartons (solid only, no liquid) — and delivers on DAP terms to your warehouse. Roasting, grinding and packing are at our audited partner facility under our oversight; import duties and taxes remain your account.
What coffee types and screens do you offer?
Washed Arabica by screen such as AA, A and AB, Robusta cherry and parchment, and Monsooned Malabar. Screen size, defects and moisture are confirmed on the CoA per lot.
Do you supply roasted or instant coffee?
We supply green beans, plus roasted, ground and solid instant. We do not handle liquid coffee. Roasting and grinding are done at the partner facility under our oversight.
How is it packed for export?
Standard is 60 kg jute bags, with GrainPro liners available to protect the beans on longer sea legs. Moisture is held under 11%.
Can we start with a trial lot?
Yes, trial quantities on LCL are fine for a first order before moving to full FCL.
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