Gundikhan

Our Story

Gundikhan Estate, part of the Kaad Kaapi collective, stands out for its dedication to both conservation and coffee quality.
Located at 1,300–1,400 metres above sea level in Karnataka’s Chikmagalur district, Gundikhan Estate produces some of the highest-grown coffee in India. Saif Ulla’s farm places a strong emphasis on meticulous processing, preserving native tree diversity, and cultivating coffee in a way that protects local wildlife.
Indian coffee producers can broadly be divided into two groups. The first focuses on elevating the value of Indian coffee through experimental and innovative processing methods, as seen at estates such as Ratnagiri and Kerehaklu. The second prioritizes wildlife conservation through specialty coffee production. These producers market their coffees collectively under the name Kaad Kaapi, working to ensure that coffee farming does not disrupt the habitats or movement of native wildlife.
Farming in harmony with nature, however, comes with its own challenges. Gundikhan Estate is home to a rich variety of wildlife, including elephants, tigers, Indian gaurs, and numerous bird species. Maintaining the dense tree canopy these animals depend on requires significant investment. The canopy also reduces coffee yields, while large animals can sometimes damage coffee plants.
To help cover these additional costs, Kaad Kaapi producers focus on high-quality specialty coffee that commands premium prices. In this way, every carefully produced lot helps support farming practices that preserve biodiversity and allow wildlife to coexist with coffee cultivation.