ABOUT US

Three Generations of
Coffee Excellence

Melkodige’s story began in the 1940s when our founders recognised the exceptional potential of this high-altitude landscape. Today, Aveen and Yogitha Rodrigues—both trained horticulturists—continue this legacy with scientific precision and deep respect for the land.
Our philosophy centers on expressing the unique characteristics of our soil, climate, and elevation through every cup. Exceptional coffee emerges when traditional wisdom meets modern agricultural science, creating harmony between the estate’s natural flora and fauna and our cultivation practices.
The estate operates as a living ecosystem where coffee plants thrive alongside indigenous trees, creating a biodiverse environment that supports both quality and sustainability.

Yogitha and Aveen Rodrigues

“Where every bean holds the soul of the soil”

Where Heaven Meets Earth

Melkodige, meaning “on top of the mountain” or “gift from above”, is recognised among the world’s top twenty biodiversity hotspots, home to the rare Shola forests found nowhere else on Earth.

The Terroir Advantage

Our high-altitude Arabica coffees are cultivated on steep western slopes rising between 3,800 and 4,200 feet above mean sea level. At this elevation, the beans mature slowly, becoming denser and more aromatic than those grown at lower altitudes. This gradual ripening imparts remarkable depth, balance and refinement to the cup.

Melkodige receives up to 120 inches of rainfall each year. Seventy-five per cent of our coffee is planted on 45–50 degree slopes beneath a distinctive three-tier shade system unique to India, creating a cool, balanced microclimate beneath the canopy.

The west-facing slopes and high elevation together create dramatic temperature variations between day and night. Warm sunlight ripens the cherries by day, while cool, moisture-laden air from the coast settles over the estate at night. This natural rhythm allows sugars to develop slowly, producing coffees of exceptional complexity, sweetness and clarity.

We cultivate renowned Arabica varieties including Selection 795, Selection 9 and Chandragiri. Fully ripe cherries are hand-picked in three careful rounds by trained harvesters and meticulously sorted to remove any unripe fruit.
Our washed coffees are processed with precision. The cherries are pulped in a wet mill to remove the husk and mucilage, then surface-dried under shade on raised trays to release excess moisture. On the second day, the beans are transferred to brick patios and sun-dried to perfection, preserving their inherent flavour and character.

A Legacy in Every Cup

At Melkodige, every cup reflects the spirit of our land: mist-laden mornings, fertile slopes and generations of devoted craftsmanship. From our mountain to your cup, Melkodige is more than coffee. It is a legacy of excellence, nurtured in nature and perfected over time.

Excellence
Recognised

Recognised in 2013 for exceptional quality and sustainable farming practices Certified Sustainability

Nespresso AAA
Sustainable Quality™
Program Winner 2013

Certified
Sustainability​​

Proud participants in the Nespresso AAA Sustainable Quality Program and Rainforest Alliance Certified, ensuring quality, sustainability and ethical farming practices are interconnected at every stage of production.

Our
Promise
to You

We take immense pride in the quality of our coffee. Knowing what goes into every cup of Melkodige Estate coffee gives consumers a chance to understand the love, passion, and hard work that we put into its production. And their positive feedback is what encourages us to constantly deliver an outstanding coffee experience.

Aveen Rodrigues

Melkodige
to the
4th Gen

He believes coffee begins long before the harvest. It starts in the soil, in the seasons, and in the patience of those who honour the land with every step.

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