Brewing Change, One Bean at a Time

India's coffee culture is undergoing a quiet revolution. And at the heart of this transformation are incredible women leading the charge, from the lush hills of Coorg to the misty Nilgiris. These women are not just preserving tradition; they are rewriting it, adding innovation, sustainability, and bold leadership into every cup. This article celebrates five visionary women who are shaking up the Indian coffee industry and inspiring a new era of conscious coffee, from farm to cup.

Komal Sable—South India Coffee Company (SICC)

Legacy Reimagined

A fifth-generation planter from Coorg, Komal Sable is a torchbearer of India's specialty coffee revolution. In 2017, she co-founded the South India Coffee Company (SICC) with her husband, aiming to bridge Indian farms with global coffee markets.

What Makes Her Stand Out:

• India's first female coffee exporter
• Connects small-scale growers to global roasters
• Promotes sustainable and equitable trade
• Certified Q Processing Level 2 assessor

Komal is focused on sustainability, ensuring that every bean is grown, processed, and traded with care. Her company exports to the USA, UK, Europe, and Singapore. Her coffee, especially suitable for dark roast coffee beans, is a top pick for cafes and coffee aficionados looking for strong, ethical brews.

Looking to buy espresso coffee beans with a conscience? Komal’s produce hits the mark with flavor and fairness.

Chandini Purnesh – Harley Estate, Sakleshpur From Plantation to Experience

Chandini has turned her 150-year-old family coffee estate into an immersive agro-tourism destination. Located in the Western Ghats, Harley Estate, under her leadership, is now a coffee-themed homestay, Golden Wood, offering eco-friendly stays and hands-on coffee education.

What Makes Her Stand Out:

• Pioneered sustainable coffee tourism
• Rainwater harvesting and waste management practices
• Promotes Malnad culture through food and design

Guests at Harley Estate learn the bean-to-cup process while enjoying rich coffees grown under dense canopies. Her espresso beans are known for their smooth, bold notes, a result of the region’s rich biodiversity.

Perfect for those who enjoy their espresso coffee beans with a side of experience and eco-awareness.

Poornima Jayaraj – Amruthavarshini Estate, Chikmagalur A Banker Turned Coffee Visionary

Poornima transitioned from finance to farming, proving it’s never too late to follow your passion. After purchasing a century-old estate in 2004, she introduced cutting-edge sustainable practices and even started a local school.

What Makes Her Stand Out:

• Uses solar-powered pulping and water-efficient processing
• Recovers used coffee grounds from cafes for compost
• Promotes regenerative farming with local biodiversity

Her beans—Arabica and Robusta—are ideal for both filter coffee and dark roast coffee beans, offering depth and complexity. Poornima’s work is an example of how farming and social good can thrive together.

Whether you love a bold dark roast or care about where your coffee comes from, Poornima delivers both.

Hamsini Appudurai – Sangameshwar Group, Karnataka Ethical Coffee, Elevated

A third-generation coffee grower, Hamsini manages the Sangameshwar Estates alongside her husband. She combines marketing expertise and a Q Processor certification to turn their estate into a quality and ethics benchmark.

What Makes Her Stand Out:

• Focus on pesticide-free, shade-grown coffee
• Rainforest Alliance and UTZ certified
• Provides free housing, education, and retirement plans to workers
• Innovates with yeast fermentation and bean varietals

Their coffees are known for consistency and clarity of flavor, making them top picks for premium espresso coffee beans and dark roast lovers.

Great coffee starts with great care—for the land and the people. Hamsini proves that every step counts.

Unnamala Thyagarajan – Balmaadi Estate, Nilgiris Farming with Nature

High in the Nilgiris, Unnamala runs Balmaadi Estate using biodynamic agriculture. Her estate, dating back 170 years, is a haven of biodiversity and natural farming practices.

What Makes Her Stand Out:

• No chemicals; uses aloe vera extracts for plant health
• Solar fencing to co-exist with wildlife
• Coffee intercropped with spices and heirloom trees
• One of India’s highest-elevation coffee estates

Her beans are slow-grown and nutrient-rich—perfect for espresso enthusiasts who want smooth complexity in every sip. Balmaadi’s coffees are also praised internationally for their unique profiles.

Unnamala’s story is proof that great coffee can come from working with nature, not against it.

The Bigger Picture

These five women aren’t just producing great coffee; they are building a future where Indian coffee is ethical, high-quality, and inclusive. Their journeys show that women are no longer just part of the background—they’re front and center, driving change.

Their beans make excellent dark roast coffee and espresso coffee beans, but what they truly brew is impact.

FAQs About Women in Coffee and Indian Coffee Culture

1. Where can I buy coffee from these estates?

Many estates, including South India Coffee Company and Harley Estate, sell directly or through specialty online platforms like Coffeeverse.

2. Are dark roast coffee beans good for espresso?

Yes! Dark roast coffee beans produce strong, bold espresso with low acidity, ideal for milk-based drinks or straight shots.

3. What is biodynamic farming?

It’s a holistic farming method that treats the farm as a living system. It avoids chemicals and follows natural rhythms to grow crops, including coffee.

4. Are women well-represented in the Indian coffee industry?

While the industry has been male-dominated, women like Komal, Chandini, Poornima, Hamsini, and Unnamala are proving that leadership knows no gender.

5. Can I visit these estates?

Yes! Estates like Harley and Balmaadi offer coffee tourism experiences, complete with stays, tours, and workshops.

Ready to Sip the Change?

These women-led estates offer more than just a caffeine fix—they offer purpose, ethics, and exceptional quality. Whether you’re buying espresso coffee beans or savouring a cup of dark roast, remember: every sip supports a brighter, more sustainable future for Indian coffee.

Also Read:  Learn how Coffeeverse began its journey

Tags: #WomenInCoffee #IndianCoffee #DarkRoastCoffeeBeans #EspressoCoffeeBeans #SustainableFarming #SpecialtyCoffeeIndia