Osito Coffee: Special Feature

 Ratnagiri Estate

"For nearly a century, the Patre family has stewarded Ratnagiri Estate, producing specialty coffee and fine pepper. Ashok Patre, the third generation to work the land alongside his wife, Divya, is securing the farm’s future by making it one of the most impressive operations we’ve seen—not just in India, but globally. 

Mr. Patre's processing methods are both intentional and impressive. He understands that Indian terroir and varieties can only produce specialty coffee of a particular character and quality. Consequently, he has developed processing methods that manipulate the flavors of the final product to create something unique and exceptional. While this approach can sometimes result in “over-processed” or unclean coffees, many of Mr. Patre’s lots are remarkably clean, complex, and distinctive. Through constant research and scientifically grounded practices, he’s able to guide fermentations with remarkable precision.

This third harvest with Mr. Patre feels especially exciting. Over the past year, he’s collaborated with a renowned food scientist to design a bespoke line of processing equipment—one of a kind. In his facility, nearly every aspect of fermentation is under control. He’s also assembled a small team of professionals, including two microbiologists—one with a PhD. Each fermentation is carefully tracked, from microbial plating to titratable acidity measurements that guide decisions about when to finish a batch. Mr. Patre is helping push specialty coffee into the realm of true food science, much like beer or wine fermentation."

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