Background

Riverdale Estate is in the Eastern Ghat mountains of Yercaud, Tamil Nadu (Shevaroy Hills) at 1,450m altitude. Family-owned since 1920, now in its third generation under Prakashan Balaraman, who has modernized the farm with a cupping lab, energy-efficient pulping station, drip irrigation, African-style raised beds, and temperature-controlled storage.

India's first Gesha farm — they grow both Green Tip and Brown Tip Gesha varieties alongside SL9 and SL5B. Processing spans natural, honey, carbonic, and anaerobic lots, with hand-selective cherry picking based on ripeness measurement.

"Riverdale grows the best Indian coffee I know of" — Tyler Ritchie, head of roastery at Blue Tokai. Also carried internationally by roasters like Monastery Coffee and Corridor Seven.