Brazil's influence on the global coffee market is unmatched, as the South American country exports nearly a third of the world's green coffee. While much of it is commodity-grade and typically used for blends, our friends at Quaffee are consistently finding specialty-grade gems that stand on their own. This lot comes from Minas Gerais, a region producing nearly half of Brazil's coffee, where a diverse set of micro-regions offers distinct terroirs for local cultivars.

Situated at 1200 metres above sea level (masl), the fazenda (farm) Capetinga is managed by a third-generation Brazilian coffee producer, Daniel Garcia Caldeira, who has devoted 180 hectares to cultivating Acaia, Topázio, Yellow and Red Catuai, Arara, and Mundo Novo coffee varieties. Besides coffee, Mr Caldeira keeps cattle and horses which supports the broader agricultural community of Carmo de Cachoeira.

This Fazenda Capetinga lot is a natural-processed coffee; the harvested cherries were left to dry with the flesh and skin (mucilage) intact before being pulped and dried. Quaffee has previously offered other great-tasting, naturally-processed Brazilian coffees from the Minas Gerais area. Despite typically lacking the clarity of washed process coffees, natural coffees such as this one are favoured for their rich body and sweetness. 

Phaedon's tasting notes

Classic! I could just leave it at that and have done my tasting noting job for the day, but I can't help but say a little more. This is archetypal Brazilian specialty coffee. The dominant flavour is definitely nutty; there is also plenty of sweetness to enjoy. However, unlike your more run-of-the-mill Brazilians, this coffee's acidity beautifully compliments that fuller body and the sweet nutty notes to make a tasty balanced cup. Your mileage may very but I loved it in immersion brews like a siphon and French press where I found the cups particularly well balanced. My pour-overs were a little bit heavier, to my palate.

Quaffee’s notes

“We always look for good examples of Brazilian coffee, since even though it is often seen as a bulk producer, it also produces some gems at affordable prices. This lot is one of those coffees.”

• Taste profile: Lightly burnt caramelised nuts with mild orange juice making an appearance, and a grapefruit tang on the finish
• Roast used: Constant ramp rate until first crack, when the flame is reduced to
• Roast degree: Light – using my-tonino.com
• Quaffee brews:
• Espresso: 1:2.2 (26 sec)
• AeroPress: 18g:200g (2 steep)
• Plunger: 48g:800g
• Pour over/filter : 18g:300g

Coffee details from Quaffee

“Brazilian Capetinga is from a third generation coffee farmer. A great example of specialty Brazilian coffee, in the cup, we found lightly burnt caramelised nuts with a mild orange juice making an appearance, tang of grapefruit on the finish.”

• Region: Carmo da Cachoeira, Minas Gerais
• Country: Brazil
• Farmers: Daniel Garcia Caldeira
• Cultivar: 100% Arabica Arara, Mundo Novo, Yellow Catuai
• Altitude: 1200 masl
• Processing: Natural processed at the farm
• Packaging: GrainPro bags

Quaffee transparency details

• Source: And Sons
• FOB price: $ 11.60
• Cupping score: 84.25 (And sons)
• Producer: Daniel Garcia Caldeira
• Lot size bought: 1 x 60kg bags
• Relationship: We have been working with And Sons for 7 years, this is our first coffee from Capetinga