Fazenda do Cruzeiro

ORIGIN

Coffee production in Brazil is responsible for more than one third of all coffee cultivated worldwide. The country produces a staggering amount – approximately 60 million bags annually – and more than five million people are directly employed in the cultivation, harvesting or processing of coffee in the country. Minas Gerais is the heart of Brazil’s coffee production and the single largest coffee-producing state in the world, accounting for nearly fifty percent of the nation’s total production. The region’s diverse microclimates and fertile soil create ideal conditions for growing quality C. Arabica and Canephora(Robusta).

Established in 1923, Fazenda Cruzeiro is situated in Brazil’s mountainous Campo das Vertentes in the southeast of the state of Minas Gerais. The region earned its name, literally meaning ‘watershed fields’, to reflect its location between two important water basins in the country. Its fertile red soils, abundance of water along with a tropical climate and a well-defined dry season, create ideal conditions for producing high-quality coffee.

PRODUCER

The farm spans more than one thousand hectares and cultivates  a range of varieties such as Red Catuai, Yellow Bourbon, Mundo Novo, Topazio and Rubi amongst others. Producer Ivan Junqueira Ribeiro heads up the team and implements sustainable agronomic practices on the farm. This coffee is a single-variety lot of the cultivar Yellow Catucai, which is a cross between Icatu and Catuai developed by researchers at the Brazilian Coffee Institute (IBC). It is a hardy variety resistant to coffee leaf rust, and requires less water than most other varieties. Although small in stature it is characterised by vigorous growth, high yields – and good cup profile.

Once the ripe cherries are harvested, they are dried on patios and turned regularly under the sun – a process that can last for 20-25 days, depending on the weather. The dried cherries are then transferred to a dry mill for hulling and then prepared for shipment to international markets.

ROAST

Sourced through our friends at Café Imports, we love this coffee for its smooth, chocolatey body and creamy mouthfeel. There is a pleasant nuttiness in the finish which is complemented by a mellow fruitiness that reminds us of persimmon. Gently developed in the roast for espresso, this coffee has a caramel-like sweetness that makes it a very versaitle coffee to be enjoyed across a range of brew methods – or when paired with milk.