Hegbal Estate

Hegbal Estate’s story began in 1947 when the late Mr. Ligory Menezes, a well-known cloth merchant, expanded his ventures by acquiring an estate in Banakal, a picturesque region in Karnataka near the Western Ghats.

His son, the late Mr. Gregory Menezes, later took charge, dedicating himself to the estate’s growth and implementing scientific cultivation methods that enhanced its agricultural practices. Following his passing in 1996, the estate’s legacy now continues under Devdas Menezes, a BSc graduate in Chemistry, Botany, and Zoology. With a vision for the future, he has ventured into specialty coffee, striving to bring global recognition to Hegbal Estate.

Hegbal Estate, situated in the lush Western Ghats of Southern India at an elevation of 3,500 feet, the estate benefits from up to 100 inches of annual rainfall. Coffee is cultivated on 20-50 degree slopes under a unique three-tier shade system, fostering a distinct microclimate. The tallest native trees, such as ficus, syzygium, and lagerstroemia, form the upper canopy, while temporary lower shade, primarily from erythrina species, enriches the soil through nitrogen fixation.