India is Asia’s third largest exporter and producer of coffee and grows both Robusta and Arabica varieties. The Coffee Board of India‘s, latest data reveals that the coffee exports have increased 13.35% to 1,25,631 tonnes between January and March of this year. In the same period last year the country had exported 1,10,830 tonnes of coffee.
Robusta And Arabica..
While India produces both the varieties and both are loved by coffee lovers. There’s subtle difference between the two. For instance, compared to Robusta coffee beans, Arabica coffee beans have lesser caffeine content. The difference in aroma and flavour is on account of being produced in different geographies, under varying degrees of altitudes and rainfall.
Then Robusta is typically harsher and more bitter on the taste buds than Arabica, which has a sweeter, smoother taste. The present surge is on account of an increased demand for Robusta Coffee.
The Robusta coffee bean exports have increased by 18% to 69,637 tonnes in the first quarter of 2024 from 59,050 tonnes in the same period the previous year.
However, in the same period, the amount of Arabica coffee beans shipped decreased to 13,419 tons from 15,468 tonnes.
During the January-March quarter of this year, instant coffee exports rose to 16,218 tonnes from 15,238 tonnes in the same period last year. Meanwhile, coffee re-exports also surged to 26,239 tonnes from 20,952 tonnes during the same period.
Good News For Coffee Lovers..
In terms of value, total coffee exports from January to March of 2024 reached Rs 3,644 crore, which is more than the Rs 2,604.44 crore figure in the previous year. The realisation of unit value amounted to Rs 2,90,057 per tonne. The major export destinations of Indian coffee are Turkey, Germany, Italy, Russia, and the United Arab Emirates.
Overall, the board’s post-blossom estimate places the nation’s total coffee production for FY 2023–24 marketing year (October–September) at 3,74,200 tonnes. The estimate is more than 3,52,000 tonnes which were produced in the previous year.
Moreover, TasteAtlas, a renowned food and travel reference company, has released their meticulously curated and compiled list of the ‘Top 38 Coffees In The World.’
According to TasteAtlas, Café Cubano from Cuba stood at first place while the Indian filter coffee secured the second position.