Brazil: Inglaterra, Bourbon, Natural

With a generous helping of walnuts and roasted hazelnut from the first sip, nuts are the star of the show here. Sweet layers of toffee and milk chocolate, along with a full, rounded body provides balance and make those nutty notes shine.

We first began to buy Brazilian coffee from Fazenda Inglaterra in 2011. We have been loving Stephen Hurst’s coffee for over a decade now and this is a relationship we deeply value. Stephen is a long-time friend of Ozone and the founder of Mercanta, a globally respected green coffee sourcing company. This season we have picked 5 delicious coffees from his farm, this one is the first to be released, a Natural processed Bourbon.

A Brew Begun 80 Million Years Ago

The Fazenda Inglaterra coffee farm is situated on the borders of the Minas Gerais and São Paulo regions of Brazil, located in the more populous south-east corner of the country. Coffee was introduced to Brazil in the early 18th century, rapidly growing into a thriving industry that is now the leading producer of both commodity and specialty coffee worldwide. Minas Gerais is one of the most famous coffee-producing regions, alongside Espirito Santo, São Paulo, and Bahia. Fazenda Inglaterra is located near to the spa town of Poços de Caldas, the main socio-economic nucleus of its region, roughly 250km north of São Paulo city. The area is known for its volcanic soil and high elevation, reaching between 950 and 1,300 metres above sea level.

The local area ranges over a high plateau formed by mountains, commonly mistaken as the crater of an extinct supervolcano. In reality, Poços de Caldas sits inside a caldera formed by the collapse of an 80 million year old intrusion amid the surrounding elevated areas, not a volcano itself. Its climate is characterized by dry winters and mild summers. This unique terroir contributes to the coffee’s distinct flavour profile: clean, sweet, and full of character. Stephen has made a strong commitment to producing environmentally friendly coffee within the Fazenda Inglaterra estate: half of the farm remains untouched Mata Atlântica rainforest, which supports biodiversity and protects the local ecosystem. In Stephen’s words, “As long as I own it, it will stay that way”.

Stephen’s Dream Realised

Stephen is a pioneer in the specialty coffee industry. In 1996, he founded Mercanta, a specialty green coffee importer that now operates in over 50 countries. Mercanta is known for its commitment to traceability, quality, and ethical sourcing. Throughout his years sourcing green coffee and travelling to visit producers, Stephen had always had the idea of one day owning his own farm in the back of his mind. When some friends in Brazil mentioned that a small coffee farm was for sale, he had a look and knew this was the one.

The farm’s name was originally Fazenda Toca Da Onca, meaning “hiding place of a small wildcat”, but the neighbours renamed it with the Portuguese for “England” after Stephen took over. A nod to his British heritage and his personal connection to the estate. The previous owners had left the farm abandoned for some time so Stephen, with the help of his friends Gabriel and Cristiano, had to start again almost from scratch. They brought the small farm (tiny by Brazilian standards!) back to life - reviving old trees, planting new ones, and building a farm rooted in both regeneration and quality. Stephen’s hands-on approach and long-term vision have shaped Inglaterra into a model of sustainable coffee farming.

A Classic Brazilian Varietal

This particular lot is Bourbon, but the farm also grows Icatu, Acaia, Catuai, and Canario. Bourbon is a significant historic Arabica coffee varietal that has been cultivated in Brazil for generations, valued for its resilience and adaptability to the country’s diverse growing regions. While it typically yields less than some modern hybrids, Bourbon is appreciated by producers for its consistency and the role it plays in maintaining genetic diversity and heritage in Brazilian coffee cultivation. For more information be sure to check out our article on the Bourbon varietal here. 

• Country: Brazil
• Region: Minas Gerais
• City: Poços de Caldas
• Farm: Fazenda Inglaterra
• Producer: Stephen Hurst
• Farm size: 10 hectares
• Coffee growing area: 5 hectares
• Elevation: 1,200 m.a.s.l.
• Variety: Bourbon
• Processing method: Natural

Medium to Medium Dark
This coffee is roasted with a gentle extension after first crack, allowing it to develop fully before being taken right to the edge of second and finished cleanly. That extra development is intentional: it draws out the rich, nut‑driven sweetness and builds a rounded, comforting body without tipping into heavy or smoky roast character.

This approach really suits classic natural‑processed Brazilian coffee. The longer development amplifies notes of walnut, toasted hazelnut, toffee and milk chocolate, smoothing the acidity and giving the cup a soft, balanced structure. The result is a coffee that feels sweet, full and reassuringly familiar - perfect if you enjoy nutty, chocolate‑led cups with depth and warmth rather than sharp brightness. It’s an easy‑drinking profile that rewards repeat brews and works beautifully across espresso and filter.

Cupping Notes: Walnut, toffee, milk chocolate.

Cup of Excellence Cupping Scores 

• Clean Cup: 6/8 
• Sweetness: 6.5/8 
• Acidity: 6/8 
• Mouthfeel: 6.5/8 
• Flavour: 6.5/8 
• Aftertaste: 6/8 
• Balance: 6.5/8 
• Overall: 6.5/8 
• Correction: +36 
• Total: 86.5/100

If you'd like to find out more about how we score coffees, make sure to read our blog post "What Do Coffee Cupping Scores Actually Mean?"