Brazil


The Story of the Genuine Cerrado Vintage
The Cerrado growing district is a specific region in the western part of the state of Sul de Minas. The Cerrado Vintage quality is available from only 2 or 3 producers out of the many that grow coffee in Cerrado, mainly because of a strong tendency to blend (water down) Cerrado coffee with inferior coffee from the general Sul de Minas production. That was the criterion for selecting these producers so carefully. We have cupped many “Cerrado” coffees which we think were not “100% Genuine”.

The Cerrado savanna is at an altitude of about 3,600 feet. The cup has a light acidity at the beginning of the crop which diminishes during the later shipping months. The body is creamy and full; the flavor is soft and mild, tending towards a slight nuttiness. We have always felt that Cerrado produces the best, natural coffees from Brazil.

Some Brazil coffees have an unfortunate tendency towards “instability” during their shelf life, changing character after a period in storage, sometimes throwing edgy or hard cups where none were found before. The best guarantee against this potential problem is to buy from the best producing region (Corrode in our opinion) and from a select group of producers, people who have proven themselves honorable in their commitment to establishing and maintaining long term relationships with their clients. We have been buying from these people for many years now and will continue to work with them in the years to come, hopefully with your support.

Fazenda “Monte Alegre” Genuine Bourbon
A Holland Coffee Exclusive

FULLY WASHED / SUNDRIED
Located in Sul de Minas near the city of Alfenas, this coffee is grown on a single plantation. Fazenda Monte Alegre has been in the Vieira Family since 1917. They have 2,600 hectares of coffee production with 7.5 million trees producing around 100,000 bags per year. These are of the Bourbon, Mundo Novo, Catuai and Acatu varieties. Of that total production, only 2 to 3 % are pure Bourbon. With few exceptions, Monte Alegre has the only sizable and verifiable bourbon production in Brazil. The bourbon can be processed in either a fully or semi washed method. You could process this coffee by the natural method, however the unique and delicate flavors of this bourbon variety can only be realized by the washed processing. They also produce fully washed, semi- washed and natural processed Sul de Minas flats and peaberries. Additionally they offer an “Espresso Blend”, a blend of washed and natural coffees.

At Monte Alegre, the entire bourbon production is hand picked as well as sun dried. Storage is in wooden silos in a brick building with a ceramic tile roof, perfect storage conditions for parchment coffee. The wet and dry processing facilities are located on the farm. All coffee production is organized by areas or sections, complete with computer data bank records with a full history of plantings, production, yields and qualities. This meticulous attention to detail assists in the blending of similar lots, yielding true specialty coffee, ready for shipment throughout the season. All bourbon production is certified as specialty coffee by The Specialty Coffee Association of Brazil and shipped with their stamp and logo.

With a total area of 18,200 ha under cultivation (coffee, sugar cane, cattle), Monte Alegre has designated 3,400 ha, or 18.5% of their estate, as virgin rain forest.

Holland Coffee has been buying coffees from Fazenda Monte Alegre for a number of years now with the exception of the bourbons, which have traditionally gone to the Japanese and European markets. They have proven themselves to be a top-quality producer and shipper, a honorable company whom have gained our trust and respect. We look forward to a long-term relationship with them and to bringing their bourbon coffee to the US market...

FACTS AND STATS
Population: 175 Mio. People
Domestic Consumption: 12 Million bags per year
Coffee Export: 18 - 25 Million Bags of 60 Kg. (132.29 lb.)
85% of which is Arabica
Capacity to store 78 Million Bags which they had before the Second World War
Cultivated Area: 2.2 Million Hectares (880 Thousand Acres)
Harvest: From June
Arabica Introduced: Early 18th Century from French Guyana
Farms: 320,000 Fazendas
75% of these farms are less than 10 hectare (25 acres) in size
Specialty Preparations: Naturals - dry method of milling after cherry has been picked (drying cherry on a patio then husking)
Botanical Varieties: Bourbon, Typica, Mundo Novo, Sumatra, Catuai Amerelo, Catuai Vermelho, Maragogype (mutation of Typica), Catimor (current hybrid)