P A R A L L E L
Brazil - Cerrado Mineiro - Natural
Brazil - Cerrado Mineiro - Natural
CACAO, HAZELNUT, POMEGRANATE
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This lot of Red Catuai coffee underwent Natural processing. Catuai was made by the Instituto Agronomico (IAC) of Sao Paulo State in Campinas, Brazil by crossing Mundo Novo and Caturra varieties. Catuai coffees are cultivated widely across Brazil, and are known for their high productivity potential.
The Cerrado Mineiro region, located in northwest of Minas Gerais State, is a world-recognised, high-quality coffee producing origin and became the first Protected Geographical Indication in Brazil in 2005, with full Designation of Origin in 2013. A strong characteristic of this region is its well-defined seasons—a hot, wet summer followed by a pleasantly dry winter. The dry climate during harvest eliminates potential problems with humidity during the drying process.
Minas Gerais is Brazil’s principal agricultural state, and the Cerrado is home to many of the country’s celebrated coffee estates, with expertise in planting, harvesting, drying, and sorting. We love Cerrado coffees for their big body, rich chocolate notes, and velvety texture when pulled as espresso.
Today, the area’s 4,500 farmers produce a combined average of 6 million bags per harvest, with an average of 35 bags per hectare. To reach these production levels, producers had to first adapt to the region’s conditions. Coffee farmers first arrived in Cerrado in the 1970’s, after being pushed out of the state of Parana by frost and out of the state of Sao Paulo by nematodes. They found the soil in Cerrado to be very acidic, which they rectified with the application of calcium to create the healthy soils they enjoy today.
Cerrado coffee farms are cultivated in areas with elevations varying between 800 and 1,300 meters above sea level and are known for consistently producing high quality coffees with a repeatable profile. Independent of farm size, the spirit of professionalism is present throughout Cerrado’s coffee producers. Entrepreneurialism is part of farmers’ DNA, and many producers are second or third generation growers who also hold degrees in agronomic engineering, business management, and administration. While each family narrative is different, Cerrado is characterised by an enterprising attitude.
Cup Score
Cup Score
What is a coffee cup score?
The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) Cupping Protocol is used to evaluate coffee quality based on sensory analysis. The SCA cupping score is a scale of 0-100 points and is based on a set of defined criteria. The score is based on the evaluation of several aspects of coffee, including aroma, flavour, aftertaste, acidity, body, and balance.
A coffee that scores 80 points or above is considered specialty grade coffee. This indicates that the coffee has exceptional quality, with well-defined flavour characteristics, good balance, and high complexity. A coffee scoring between 70-79 points is considered to be in the "good" range, indicating that the coffee is still of a high quality, but may have some minor defects or lacks some complexity.
A coffee scoring below 70 points is considered to be of poor quality and is generally not used for specialty coffee purposes. The SCA cupping score is widely recognised in the coffee industry as a standard for evaluating coffee quality and is used by coffee professionals, buyers, and roasters around the world.
Relevance of lattitude?
Relevance of lattitude?
Latitude is highly relevant to coffee because it plays a significant role in determining the ideal growing conditions for coffee plants. Coffee is a tropical plant that grows best in regions located between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, which are approximately 23.5 degrees north and south of the equator.
Within this tropical band, there are specific latitudes and altitudes that are most suitable for coffee cultivation. Generally, coffee is grown at higher altitudes in cooler climates near the equator, while lower altitudes in warmer climates closer to the tropics are more suitable for producing robusta coffee.
The temperature, rainfall, and sunlight levels in these regions all contribute to the unique characteristics of the coffee beans grown there. For example, high-altitude coffee tends to have a more complex flavor profile with bright acidity and floral or fruity notes, while low-altitude coffee has a fuller body and lower acidity.
Overall, latitude is a crucial factor in determining the ideal growing conditions for coffee and contributes significantly to the flavor and quality of the final product.
