Coffee growers, traders and consumers have urged the Coffee Board to put an end to the sale of low quality coffee in the market. Coffee powder with high concentration of chicory was causing health problems, participants said at an event organised by the Coffee Board to mark International Coffee Day on Thursday.
Dharmaraj, a planter and trader from Ballupete in Sakleshpur taluk, said coffee used to be consumed as a health drink for its medicinal value. “Now, doctors advise patients to avoid coffee saying it may cause acidity. Pure coffee, not mixed with chicory, does not affect health. Many coffee brands with 60 to 70 per cent of chicory are available in the market,” he said.
Mr. Dharmaraj said if the concentration of chicory was over 50 per cent, then it could not be called coffee powder. “Most coffee-lovers are consuming poor quality product. We can’t sell coffee powder at Rs. 200 or Rs. 300 a kg. If someone is selling the product at such a low price, it is of poor quality,” he said.
A similar opinion was expressed by traders and planters at the interactive event.
T.C. Hemanth Kumar, Joint Director of the Coffee Board, said chicory up to 49 per cent was allowed in coffee powder. He admitted the need for popularising good quality coffee.
Mallikarju, another planter from Bikkodu in Belur taluk, said coffee growers were being supplied with adulterated fertilizer. “The Coffee Board should set up a lab for the benefit of growers so that soil test and fertilizer quality could be checked. There are chances of losing demand for our product in the international market if coffee beans carry the smell of adulterated fertilizers,” he pointed out.
Nanditha Dharmaraj, an expert in processing coffee beans, said that low concentration of chicory enhances the quality of coffee.
“Sugar kills the taste of coffee. Drinking your coffee without much sugar is good for health,” she said.
The Coffee Board should set up a lab for growers so that soil test and fertilizer quality can be checked. There are chances of our products losing demand in the international market if the coffee beans have the smell of adulterated fertilizers
Mallikarju, coffee planter
