Brazil: Inglaterra, Yellow Bourbon, Natural - Pick of Harvest

Expect sweet apricots up front, with a delicate yet crisp white grape acidity. That initial fruit note is followed by a silky cream before rolling into milk chocolate. There's a sprinkle of almonds on the finish and into the aftertaste, wrapping up this elegant and well structured cup. 
 
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 third to be released, a Natural process Yellow Bourbon. 

Pick Of Harvest 

Each year, a lot from Fazenda Inglaterra is selected for entry into Cup of Excellence - the most prestigious coffee competition in the world. Since 1999, Cup of Excellence has pioneered integrity and transparency in the coffee industry, giving exceptional farmers recognition and financial reward for their hard work and dedication. The level of scrutiny that COE coffees undergo is unmatched anywhere in the industry, meaning that the quality of COE coffees is also unmatched.  

This year, the coffee Stephen entered is a Yellow Bourbon. It has fallen a tiny fraction short of the score needed to make the finals, although we've scored it a fraction higher than the Brazilian National Jury has - it would have made the auction as far as we're concerned! Inglaterra's loss is our gain, however, as we're able to buy this lot as normal without it going to the COE auction. This cup exhibits exactly what we expect from great Cup of Excellence level lots. The very carefully managed processing leaves a crisp, elegant and clean coffee.

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. This particular lot is a mix of different varietals grown at Fazenda Inglaterra. The farm grows Bourbon, Icatu, Acaia, Catuai, and Canario.

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.

• 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: Yellow Bourbon
• Processing method: Natural

Cupping notes: White grape, cream, almond.

Cup of Excellence Cupping Scores

• Clean Cup: 6.5/8
• Sweetness: 7/8
• Acidity: 6.5/8
• Mouthfeel: 6.5/8
• Flavour: 6.5/8
• Aftertaste: 6/8
• Balance: 6.5/8
• Overall: 6.5/8
• Correction: +36
• Total: 88/100

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?” and if you'd like to try cupping yourself, we've got a guide to that too! What is Coffee Cupping.

Medium dark
Through the gap and let this develop a little in the gap before pushing through to the edge of second as the roast finishes.