Brazil: Cachoeira da Grama, Yellow Bourbon

Fazenda Cachoeira da Grama, owned by the Carvalho Dias family since 1890, is a renowned coffee farm located in the Sul de Minas mesoregion of Brazil. For over 20 years, we've been very proudly buying coffee from this farm, which has become a hub for coffee variety research and innovative processing techniques since Bourbon Specialty Coffees joined the management in 2016. Nestled just north of the Minas Gerais border and bordering Alta Mogiana in São Paulo, the farm's mountainous terrain, ranging from 1,100 to 1,300 meters above sea level, provides ideal conditions for growing high-quality coffee. The unique topography and volcanic soil, coupled with cooler temperatures, contribute to the distinctive flavuor profile of their coffee.

The Vale da Grama region, a historic coffee production area, has long been at the forefront of specialty coffee innovations. Fazenda Cachoeira da Grama primarily grows Yellow and Red Bourbon varieties of coffee, utilising Natural and Pulped Natural processing methods. The dedication shown to quality at Cachoeira has earned the farm multiple Cup of Excellence awards. Gabriel de Carvalho Dias, an agronomic engineer and leading agronomist, has been instrumental in driving the farm's success through his expertise and passion for coffee.

Spanning 417 hectares, with 64 hectares dedicated to coffee, Fazenda Cachoeira da Grama prioritises environmental sustainability by planting native species alongside coffee crops. The farm features modern amenities for its workers, including a school, club, football field, and 47 houses. Investments in coffee processing facilities, wastewater treatment, and a small hydroelectric plant highlight their commitment to sustainability. The Carvalho Dias family's dedication to land preservation and community support has enabled them to produce consistently excellent coffee, making Fazenda Cachoeira da Grama a standout in the global coffee community.

Roasted hazelnuts dipped in sticky toffee fill the cup, before shifting into dark chocolate on the finish and walnut on the aftertaste for a sweet, nutty, easy drinking coffee.

• Country: Brazil
• State: São Paulo
• Area: Vale da Grama, Mogiana
  
• Farm: Cachoeira da Grama
• Producer: Gabriel Carvalho Dias
• Altitude: 1,100–1,250 m.a.s.l.
• Farm size: 417 hectares
• Coffee growing area: 64 hectares
• Processing: Pulped Natural
• Varietal: Yellow Bourbon

Cupping notes: Roasted hazelnut, toffee, dark chocolate, walnut.

Cup of Excellence Cupping Scores

• Clean cup: (1–8): 6
• Sweetness: (1–8): 6.5
• Acidity: (1–8): 6
• Mouthfeel: (1–8): 6
• Flavour: (1–8): 6.5
• Aftertaste: (1–8): 6
• Balance: (1–8): 6.5
• Overall: (1–8): 6.5
• Correction:(+36): +36
• Total (max. 100): 86

Roasting Information
Medium to medium-dark: keep the pace of the roast middle of the road, maybe a fraction on the slower side. Then you're looking for end of the gap to finish the roast, don't push it too far.