Brazil Carmo de Minas - Sertao Yellow Bourbon

Yellow Bourbon
Yellow Bourbon is a program coffee formalized really after we took one of our first major leaps of paying a premium so far above the going rate for a Brazilian coffee in the 90s that it was kind of scary at the time. The quality was undeniable however back then. Those early days we tasted a distinct sweet chocolate orange in the cup that was unlike anything we had ever had from Brazil. We knew we had to have it and we knew the market wanted an elevated option from Brazil, so this program was built alongside our partners to meet that demand. These coffees are generally higher quality than standard Brazils, and traceable to a specific farm and variety. We cup for distinct fruit characteristics, sweet, mild nuttiness and chocolate flavors. There is a social premium included in the purchase of these coffees that directly funds a charity called Cria Carmo, a youth initiative established by Carmo Coffees, our export partner in Carmo de Minas, that aims to provide social, educational, and athletic opportunities to at-risk youth in the region. Cafe Imports has supported this project since 2013 with owner-equity donations, and also partners with Carmo Coffees on one lot of coffee annually that is priced to benefit Cria Carmo. The youth who participate primarily come from the local coffee-producing families and enjoy karate, futbol, and chess lessons among other things.

Sertao
Fazenda Sertão is an 850-hectare farm with 330 hectares planted in coffee trees of several varieties, including Red and Yellow Bourbon, Yellow Catucai, and Yellow Catuai. The farm also grows bananas and corn and is used to raise dairy livestock. This farm has a love story behind it: Among the first generation of coffee growers in this area was Jose Isidro Pereira, a dentist turned– coffee producer who inherited Fazenda Sertão from his mother when she passed away—an incident that ended his dentistry career but put him on a path to coffee farming. In 1949, Jose Isidro met the "love of his life," Nazareth, who continues to run the farm her husband left in her care. Nazareth and Jose Isidro's children—Francisco, Luiz Paulo, Clycia, and Sandra—are also coffee producers, carrying on the family tradition.

Cupping notes: Mellow cocoa and malt flavors with mild acidity and sweetness.

Score: 81 points

Source: Brazil
Region: Minas Gerais
Farm: Sertao
Variety: Yellow Bourbon
Altitude: 1100–1400 MASL
Processing: Washed