Coffee Board

This is the Coffee Board’s research sub-station out here in Chettalli. We are technically the office of the Deputy Director of Research. It’s a different vibe here compared to a city shop. We are surrounded by greenery and experimental plots. It’s quiet, mostly just the sound of birds and the wind in the trees. We spend a lot of time looking at plants and writing things down in notebooks. The buildings are old and have that government feel to them—sturdy but simple. It’s a long drive from the main towns, so we really rely on the local community. The air is fresh and it gets quite misty in the mornings. Sometimes the rain here is so heavy you can’t see the next building over. We have to keep our boots by the door because of all the mud. It’s hard work keeping up with the research and the land. We aren't here to be a tourist spot, though people do stop by sometimes. It’s mostly just us doing our jobs and looking after the coffee plants. We have our tea breaks together and talk about the weather and the crops. It’s a slow, steady kind of life in Chettalli. We like the peace and quiet of being out here in the hills. Most of us have lived in this area for a long time and we wouldn't have it any other way. It is just honest work in a beautiful place.