Evan HoweIn Photos: Bhadra

Last December, Passenger staff photographer Julianna Stallings travelled to India with her family and spent a number of days visiting the core producers of the Bhadra Foundational Partnership. We hope you enjoy exploring this selection of stunning photos that Julie captured during her time in Chikmagalur.

The Bhadra Tiger Reserve

We named Passenger's newest Foundational Partnership after the Bhadra Tiger Reserve, a 492 square kilometer wildlife sanctuary in Karnataka state. The four coffee estates that Passenger purchased coffee from in year one of the Bhadra partnership are all located near the borders of the Bhadra Reserve. And geographic proximity is not the only reason that this name seemed apt. All of the coffee producers that we are partnering with in India are notable for their commitment to protecting ecological biodiversity and using environmentally friendly agricultural methods.

Kerehaklu Estate

Kerehaklu Estate is a true labor of love, reflecting the knowledge, craft, and vision of the Thipaiah family.

Ajoy and Pranoy Thipaiah are an inspiring father/son team, working together as thoughtful caretakers of their land and producing some of the finest, terroir-driven coffees that we have tasted from India to date.

An experienced coffee processor with an increasingly international reputation, Pranoy continues to refine innovative fermentation techniques that emphasize the impact of indigenous microorganisms in his coffee profiles.

Pranoy Thipaiah

Ajoy and Pranoy Thipaiah, pictured with their trusty farm dog Kivi

Ratnagiri Estate

When we started to think seriously about a new Foundational Partnership in India, Ashok Patre of Ratnagiri Estate was right at the top of the list of producers we hoped to work with. Following a visit with Mr. Ashok and his wife Divya in January, 2024, Passenger’s green buying team returned home deeply inspired by the care for the land, innovative processing approaches, and infectious spirit of possibility that we experienced at Ratnagiri. This is not only one of the most impressive specialty coffee operations in India. This would be a revolutionary coffee farm anywhere in the world.

Ashok and Divya Patre

Mahesh Shakrappa

Sangam Estate

Sangam Estate is a beautiful 75 acre coffee farm owned and operated by Nandita and V.T. Ravindra. When Passenger's green buying team determined that Robusta would be a component of the forthcoming India offering on the menu of our sister brand, Necessary Coffee Roasters, Sangam was immediately recommended to us by our sourcing partners at Osito.

Nandita and V.T. Ravindra

Robusta cherries

Woodway Estate

Passenger's green buying team had the pleasure of visiting the Hulikere family on our first trip to India in January, 2024. Susmitha and Shreedev are passionate people, and incredibly warm and generous hosts. We were very proud to purchase a small amount of Robusta from their farm as a component of our forthcoming Necessary India offering.

Susmitha and Shreedev Hulikere