Palace Field Estate, Haleri, Coorg, India

1000 masl, Sunil Somaiah and Rajan Appanna

Palace Field Estate sits in Haleri, a village in the heart of Coorg that once housed the palace of the Haleri kings — the estate takes its name from that history. Today it is managed by the father-son duo Sunil Somaiah and Rajan Appanna, who together oversee all farming decisions and estate management. Now in its third generation, the estate is known for its meticulous approach and its constant efforts to stay ahead of climate challenges.

The estate is a green valley dense with native shade trees — Noga, Balangi, wild fig, and Nandi forming multi-tiered canopies above the coffee. Arabica is the predominant crop, intercropped with pepper, areca nut, orange, lemon, pomelo, avocado, guava, and bird's eye chili. The biodiversity shows — parakeets, hornbills, and peacocks are a regular presence on estate walks.

In 2018, massive landslides ravaged a sizable portion of the estate overnight, destroying drying yards and storage. The rebuilding took several years. It's a story of resilience that defines how Palace Field approaches adversity — methodically, without looking back.

This season, we sourced their washed Chandragiri lot. It is a coffee that reflects the estate it comes from — carefully farmed, honestly processed, and worth knowing.