Modern Roast, Timeless Flavour
FLAVOR PROFILE
At the foothills of the Western Ghats, where clouds brush the forest canopy and the air holds a quiet sense of time, stands Hegbal Estate — a place where legacy and land meet in harmony. Established in 1947 by Late Mr. Ligory Menezes, a cloth merchant turned planter, the estate remains a living bridge between enterprise and earth. Its name, drawn from the Kannada word Hebbagillu — meaning “great gateway” — recalls an era when travelers passed through these slopes toward Hegguddlu, long before roads carved their way through the hills. What began as a merchant’s retreat has matured into a testament of stewardship and familial devotion, nurtured across generations at elevations of 1,280–1,400 m above sea level.
At 3,500 ft above sea level, Hegbal’s terrain is a mosaic of red soil, shade trees, and rain-fed streams that cradle its Chandragiri coffee trees. Under the care of Mr. Gregory Menezes and later his son, the estate evolved into a sanctuary of both craft and continuity. Here, every decision — from pruning to pulping — carries the quiet discipline of decades.
The current chapter of Hegbal is marked by innovation without haste. Lot No. 2, Arabica Supernaturals, undergoes 36 hours of anaerobic fermentation in Ecotact bags and dries slowly for 24 days under semi-shade. The result is a cup of striking character — lush, expressive, and deeply personal — a reflection of the land’s patient rhythm and the family’s lifelong dialogue with coffee.
