India | Monsoon Malabar

Most coffees are shaped by where they grow. This one is shaped by the weather.

Back in the days of sailing ships, coffee from India's Malabar Coast spent months at sea on its way to Europe, and the damp ocean air changed the beans along the way. Today that journey happens on land. After harvest, the beans rest in open-air warehouses through monsoon season, taking in wind and rain for three to six months until they swell, turn pale gold, and lose most of their acidity.

The result is a smooth, full-bodied cup with almost no bite. If bright coffees aren't your thing, this one is worth a try.