Cosmic Candy

Ashok Patre is a producer that is committed to pushing the boundaries of Indian specialty coffee through innovation and sustainability. His family farm “Ratnagiri” (which means “Pearl Mountain”, reflecting the silver oak trees which tower over the farm) was first purchased by Ashok’s grandfather from British officials back in 1927. With moderate rainfall and a stable temperature between 14-32C the mild climate offers excellent conditions in which to grow specialty coffee. In 1989 Ashok took ownership of the farm and completely transformed the quality by investing in modern agricultural technology. Some of this technology included stainless steel tanks, ventilated greenhouses, a dry milling facility, and an ECOpulper to cut water usage and allow for full vertical integration of production. With defect, screen size, and density sorting now all done at the farm.

In 2019 Ashok began experimenting with anaerobic fermentation for their coffees which required the construction of custom stainless steel fermentation tanks along with the introduction of innovations like yeast inoculation and rigorous pre-processing cherry sorting with Brix content analysis. But all his hard work created incredible results which demonstrates that Indian coffees can compete in the specialty market.

The farms goal has always been quality and sustainability:
“The coffee grown here is considered organic, relying on minimal or no use of organic pesticides or fungicides. The entire estate is designed to coexist harmoniously with the surrounding ecosystem. Shade trees are carefully maintained at around 100 per acre to ensure sunlight penetration stays at 50%. This balance helps conserve soil moisture during periods of low rainfall and creates a thriving habitat for rain-forest wildlife. Additionally, the controlled shade-to-sunlight ratio reduces the risk of fungal growth while providing just the right amount of sunlight for healthy photosynthesis. Quarterly soil tests guide organic corrections, while ionic seawater and seaweed extract are used to enhance plant immunity and elevate the sugar levels in the coffee cherries.”

Cosmic Candy is a great example of a coffee comprising of a balanced profile with deep fruit flavours and high level of sweetness.