This is a Fine Cup (FC) and Strictly Soft (SS), the highest cup category in the Brazilian coffee grading. Smooth, clean and rich, these beans make an awesome single origin cup. 17/18 refers to the size of the beans, which is strictly large bean.

As the world’s largest coffee producer, Brazilian lots often come from larger estates that use highly mechanized processing strategies to manage larger volumes. The Mogiana region, split between the states of São Paulo and Minas Gerais, is the most renowned of three major Brazilian growing regions. This region has rolling hills and uneven terrain lending to farms that are small to medium size.

This particular lot comes from Cooperativa Regional de Cafeicultores em Guaxupé (Cooxupé), which was established in 1937 and currently has 14,000 active members. Producers typically have farms that average 60 acres in size. Each producer cultivates and harvest their own cherries and places them on patios to dry to 15 percent moisture after which the coffee is moved to mechanical driers to precisely finish the drying to 11 percent moisture. Coffee is carefully stored until it is time for milling and export, which all takes place at the Cooxupé dry mill where traceability and quality control are carefully managed so each producer can be paid according to the quality of their coffee.

This is a low acid cup, with lighter roasts showing lemon, floral & soft fruit contrasted by a nuttier (almond like) undertone, a sweet edged cup. The two combine for a hints of caramel, quite tasty for you light roast fans. Medium roasts are more rich & chocolaty and less nutty; darker promote a thicker body and introduces a slightly bittersweet contrast that works very well for espresso. Adapted from Burman Coffee Traders.