The Tale
CHAPTER I: a heritage lost
Discover the story of a coffee once considered among the finest in the world.
Rising from humble origins to international acclaim, originally termed 'Mysore Coffee' faded as world events gradually obscured a heritage grown through time and tradition.
At Gaia Coffee Origins, we return to the same family owned fields, using the same hand picked methods first used 200 years ago.
The early 1800s: The world of coffee is beginning to shift.
Trade routes expand, new regions emerge and a quiet coffee transformation is underway in Southern India.
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1820s
[1823] Parry & Co acquired the first rights to harvest coffee in the Mysore state, marking the beginning of 'Mysore Coffee' shipments into Britain.
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By the 1860s Mysore Coffee's reputation had soared, with quantities arriving in Britain increasing significantly. During this period Mysore Coffee was recognised as the 'Choicest Coffee'.
1860s
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1880s
The reputation of Mysore Coffee was firmly established, regarded as 'Finest the World Produces' and commanded the highest prices in London.
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1894
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Pioneer R H Elliot's widely respected guidebook Gold, Sport and Coffee Planting in Mysore cited The Economist highlighting the consistency with which Mysore Coffee was valued above all others in the London market.
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1920s
Mysore Coffee volume continues to develop, with more companies dedicated to importing to Britain .
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A century after introduction, Mysore Coffee had become a major export commodity.
Its reputation reached Britain's highest public figures, appearing before heads of government and members of royalty at national exhibitions.
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1930s
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The British Industries Fair showcased Mysore’s growing reputation as a trusted source of high quality goods. Among this display of craftsmanship and industry, Mysore Coffee stood out as one of its most celebrated exports.
In the 1940s, conditions emerged that all but halted the long standing coffee trade between Mysore and Britain. Wartime shipping disruptions and post-war austerity reshaped global trade routes. With Britain's reduced purchasing power limiting import quantities.
A rapidly expanding domestic coffee market in India, combined with the restructuring of the export system after independence, contributed to the gradual disappearance of this once‑established route.
From this period onward, Indian coffee exports were centralised under a pooled system, with marketing shifting to a unified “Indian Coffee” identity.
1940s
Mysore State itself was reorganised and renamed Karnataka, with Mysore continuing as a city within the state.
Major 'Mysore Coffee' growing regions of Coorg and Chikmagalur, remained within Karnataka’s new boundaries.
Mysore Coffee, as it had been known in earlier decades, effectively vanished from international markets — its distinct identity lost for nearly a century.
2026
In 2026, we return to the generational estates where this coffee continues to be grown.
Many remain in the same families, their careful, selective hand‑picked methods unchanged.
The beans produced today carry the same depth and character that once stood among the most admired coffees of its time.
A Century of Distinction
From the first arrivals in Britain in 1823 to the iconic Harrods shelves in 1901, this coffee has always commanded a position of prestige.
Today, we return to the very same soil. Discover the landscape that shaped this heritage.
Harrods Mysore Coffee c.1901
Gaia Coffee Origins, 2026
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