Ratnagiri Dark Room Honey

Producer: Ashoke Patre

Farm: Ratnagiri International Estate

Location: Bababudangiri Hills, Chikmagalur.

Variety: Catuai

Process: Dark Room Honey

Altitude: 1,450 masl

Roast: Light

Notes: Musk Melon, Jasmine, Peach and Rambutan

A meticulously processed honey coffee from Ratnagiri Estate, this micro-lot undergoes a controlled dark room honey fermentation, where selective mucilage retention allows natural sugars to slowly interact with the bean. It begins with a thermal shock applied directly to the cherries, inducing rapid cellular stress that primes internal sugars for heightened microbial activity. The cherries then undergo a 48-hour controlled fermentation inoculated with lactic acid bacteria (LAB), allowing for precise acidity modulation and structured flavor development.

Post-fermentation, the coffee is dried in a dark room over 12 days—a method that minimizes UV degradation, stabilizes moisture migration, and preserves layered complexity while maintaining structural integrity.

Roasted to a light profile to retain its aromatic precision, the cup reveals mellow muskmelon sweetness, lifted jasmine florals, ripe peach juiciness, and a rounded rambutan-like finish. The result is a balanced yet expressive profile, offering high clarity, controlled sweetness, and a refined tactile experience.

FOR FILTER

COFFEE-TO-WATER RATIO: 1:15

COFFEE GRIND SIZE: Medium-Course (700-900 microns)

COFFEE AGE: 14-30 days, ideally

COFFEE DOSE: 15 grams

WATER WEIGHT: 220 mL

WATER TEMPERATURE: 94°C

TARGET BREW TIME: 02:30 - 03:00

FOR ESPRESSO:

DOSE: 18 to 20 grams
YIELD: 34 to 40 grams
TIME: 22 to 26 seconds
RATIO: 1:2 to 1:2.5
TEMPERATURE: 92°C


MILK RATIO SWEET SPOT:

DOSE

90ml cup: 30-40 grams
120ml cup: 30-40 grams
150-180ml cup: 30-40 grams
210-240ml cup: 30-40 grams