Coffee tourism destinations - 20-08-2010

In what could very well be the first of several installments, we thought it was high time to grind away at a niche tourism topic with real legs. We take wine region trips en masseafter all and regard viticulture tours as a natural way to further our inherent appreciation and love of wine. But do we feel the same way about coffee?

What is more elemental than coffee after all? Can we not compare it to wine; not only in the way the most venerable and quality coffee is cultivated but indeed, in the culture and rituals we surround it with? Anyone fanatical enough to spend copious amounts of time and money on good coffee beans and deluxe implements to manipulate them into liquid gold knows of what I speak.

So while coffee tourism is not a new concept by any stretch of the imagination, it certainly was not on the forefront of industry publications until recent years. Conversely, how often do we see a vineyard in France, Italy, Spain, Australia or

New Zealand on the cover of a magazine?

Thankfully, people in position to affect change in coffee travel have done so in direct response to the Fair Trade, ecotourism, volunteer and sustainable travel movements. Our hopeful prediction is that these powerful and positive forces will usher in a new era in how we travel, see and even think about our world. With that in mind, here are some superb coffee tourism destinations to consider.

Kodagu, Karnataka, India

The rise of a youthful middle class in India over the past decade or so has had a transformative effect on domestic tourism within the country. The Kodagu district in the state of Karnataka is a prime example. With the techno-parks of Bangalaore a mere six hours away, the lush, fertile foothills of the Western Ghats have become a sanctuary for restless cubicle workers.

The attraction of Kodagu is manifest. Wildlife reserves offer the chance to get up close and personal with a prolific array of fauna. The forests are rife with cardamom, arums, wild black pepper, teak and sandalwood. Coffee plantations however, have become the real tourist magnet in Kodagu. Heritage bungalows on Robusta plantations in the area now offer home-stays in otherwise vacant rooms and provide a quintessential plantation experience as a result.

Discover superb hotel deals in destinations all over India.

Thika, Kenya

The cooperative coffee plantation system of Kenya was first set up under the auspices of the British colonial authority in the late 19th century. Thus, while nearby Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee, Kenya is a relative neophyte. As connoisseurs well know however, the small scale holders responsible for 70% of the nation’s crops produce some of the best stuff on Earth. The market town of Thika and area of Ruiru offer various coffee tours and safaris. Real enthusiasts can even enroll at the Coffee Research Foundation at Jacaranda Estate near Ruiru, some 35 km from Nairobi. For more information on coffee travel within Kenya and indeed, other coffee-centric destinations in Africa like Uganda, Côte d’Ivoire and Ethiopia, contact local tourism bureaus.

Ecuador

For many people, coffee in South America is about Colombia and only Colombia. Could a high-priced, pervasive ad campaign featuring a mustachioed stereotype on a burro be to blame? Perhaps. As the top producer in the world (12% of the market), Colombia is a coffee powerhouse. Which is why we like Ecuador as a serene alternative. There are countless reasons to visit the biodiverse, culturally vibrant nation but coffee certainly ranks as one of the most illustrative. Ecuador is one of the few producers in the world to cultivate every variety of coffee. The country’s rugged and diverse landscape permits Arábica lavado, Arábica natural and Robusta to flourish, from the Galapagos Islands to the foothills of Quito. Spectacularly scenic tours of Ecuador’s coffee farms cover vast swaths of the country and usually kick off with a “coffee academy” in the capital.

Some friendly advice. Coffee, as with any cash crop, has political and socio-economic implications beyond our local Starbucks or kitchen espresso machine. Prospective coffee tourists should inform themselves about Fair Trade (the good and the bad) and the local political environment in advance. After all, while coffee may come in cans for many of us, real people do the hard work thousands of miles away.