Profile Overview
The Harley Estate is spread across Sakhleshpur and Chikmagalur in Karnataka. Under the stewardship of DM Purnesh and his daughters Chandini and Tapaswini, the estate has been producing Arabica and Robusta varietals for both domestic and international markets for decades.
Imagine bringing a cup of joe closer to your lips, only to be surprised by a whiff of wine or whiskey infused with coffee hitting your nostrils. Karnataka's Harley Estate is among the very few coffee estates in the country that offer this unique experience.
“We take pride in creating distinct micro-lots that are aged in whiskey, rum, and wine barrels, imparting a unique and unforgettable flavour profile to our coffee,” says Chandini Purnesh of Harley Estate.
On a usual day, you will find Chandini and her sister Tapaswini in the estate's coffee lab, tasting and tinkering with different coffee varietals. The sisters are following in the footsteps of their father, Mr DM Purnesh, in stewarding and cultivating coffee in Harley Estate.
A coffee workers walks by the coffee drying yard at Harley Estate
Mr Purnesh, who is also the president of the Specialty Coffee Association of India, has significantly contributed to the development of India’s domestic coffee market. He is the fourth generation to inherit the Harley Estate from his father and grandfather, who bought the plantation from British cultivators.
Growing up on the estate, Mr Purnesh spent his childhood among the coffee shrubs and was immersed in the life surrounding the estate. He developed a strong appreciation for the land and a thorough understanding of the patience and discipline needed to grow coffee of superior quality.
“The initial stage of my life is an unforgettable memory of how my father and grandfather ran the plantation,” he recalls.
DM Purnesh talks about how his grandfather instilled a sense of financial discipline as a financier for coffee growers in 1950s'
Growing the Beans
Located in Karnataka’s Sakshleshpur and Chikmagalur, at an altitude of 3,000 to 4,500 feet, the region is ideal for producing a diverse range of coffee profiles. Due to the cool air, frequent mist and fertile soil, Harley Estate cultivates Arabica and Robusta varietals. The Coffee Board of India has recognised their coffee as among the best in India.
Today, Harley Estate is catering specialty coffee demands within and across the borders of India.
Chandini, a Q grader herself, leads a team of scientists with expertise in advanced coffee processing techniques who play an important role in producing exceptional specialty coffee in the estate.
“We are also one of the only private research institutes started in the plantation. It’s called Harley Plantation Research Institute,” Mr Purnesh adds.
The Research Institute, headed by Chandini, has a team of dedicated scientists and researchers constantly exploring and pushing the boundaries of coffee processing. It was also one of Asia's first plantation research institutes to experiment with micro-lot processing.
The institute aims to enhance plantation management techniques and create innovative processing methods.
The family’s dedication to the land and community is evident in their cultivation practices, which combine traditional farming techniques with modern methods, such as selective hand-picking and wet processing, to ensure the highest quality beans.
Mr DM Purnesh, the fourth generation holding the reigns of Harley Estates.
Beyond the Beans
Apart from coffee, Harley Estate also cultivates crops such as Areca nut, pepper, cardamom, avocado and cocoa. Harley Estate curates tours and experiences for visitors to explore the ecosystem of these crops in the plantations. These tours can range from 3-4 hours to a two-day experience in the homestay, Golden Woods.
A trip to Harley Estate is incomplete without a visit to the coffee lab where coffee experts and tasters guide guests through the shades of coffee varieties and the different roasting techniques.
Chandini and Tapaswini - Mr Purnesh's pillars of strength and hope
Onto the Future
While the climate of Chikmagalur and Sakleshpur is ideal for coffee, it can also turn treacherous.
“Climate change is not in our control but we are committed to continuously upgrading our facilities to mitigate its impact and further enhance our coffee,” Tapaswini says.
Meanwhile, as a business group, Harley Estate has made strategic investments in establishing a chain of specialty coffee cafes across India with the vision to position itself as one of the leading coffee chains in the future. They also plan to expand their own brand “Classic Coffee” further.
“We recognise the immense potential for coffee in India and are confident that Harley Estate will become one of the popular names with the consumers in the years to come,” says Mr Purnesh.
Follow
us on
