India Ratnagiri Watermelon Co-ferment

Tasting Notes: Juicy Watermelon, Fresh Flowers, Hard Candy

Ashok Patre | Region: Chikmagaluru, Karnataka, India | Varietal: Catuai | Mill/Washing Station: Ratnagiri Estate | Importer: Driftaway Coffee | Processing: Watermelon Co-ferment | Altitude: 1,350 MASL

Our average cupping score: 87.38

About the producer

Ratnagiri Estate in Chikmagaluru is run by Mr. Ashok Patre and his family, and it has become one of the most exciting sources of experimental coffee in India. We first met Mr. Patre in March 2024 and spent the following months cupping 15 lots from the estate, seeing firsthand the care his team puts into every fermentation. That relationship gave us our SCOBY Rose and SCOBY Jasmine coffees, and this watermelon co-ferment is the newest coffee to come out of it.

What makes this coffee stand out

Unlike our SCOBY lots, this coffee isn't fermented with a kombucha-style culture. Instead, it is co-fermented with watermelon, and the result is all about balance. The cup opens with a floral perfume, like a bunch of fresh flowers, then moves into sweet, juicy watermelon. It tastes clean and clarified, with a syrupy body and a touch of mineral on the finish. The sweetness is candy-like and sticky without ever getting heavy. It's an Indian coffee that tastes like nothing else on our menu.

Our light roasts develop their best flavors after 2 weeks, peak around 4 weeks, and remain delicious for weeks after. For extended freshness, consider freezing the coffee to preserve its quality even longer.

BREW RECIPE:

Ratio: 18 g coffee, 304 g water | Grind: medium-fine (EK43 ~7) | Filter: Cafec T-90 | Water: 198°F / 92°C

0:00 – 60 g (bloom)
0:30 – 120 g
0:45 – 180 g
1:00 – 240 g
1:05 – 297 g (gentle stir)

Total brew time: ~3:00