Day 6: Brazil, South Minas
Day 6 of the RISE Coffee Countdown Calendar - Brazil, South Minas
Did you know? Brazil is the number 1 producer of coffee globally, producing 39% of the world's supply!
Origin: Brazil
Location: South Minas
Altitude: 1,000+ masl
Bean: Arabica
Varietals: Yellow Bourbon
Process: Natural
Tasting notes: Apple, caramelised cherries, chocolate
Why Alice and Ben love it: Yellow Bourbon is a rare mutation of the Bourbon variety of coffee cherry, known for its high-quality beans. The coffee cherries ripen to a bright yellow instead of the usual red colour, indicating unique genetic traits. This variety thrives in Brazil's climate and produces beans with distinct sweetness and complexity. The coffee still has a typical chocolatey body but a sweet caramelised fruit taste comes through too.
About the coffee:
Located in southern Minas Gerais, Brazil, this Yellow Bourbon coffee thrives in a climate perfect for coffee growing. First cultivated in the 1930s, it’s known worldwide for its distinct appearance and flavour profile. The trees produce smaller harvests and need extra care, which adds to their rarity. The farm itself covers about 20,000 square kilometres, sits at over 1,000 metres above sea level, and is mostly flat, allowing 70% of the coffee harvesting to be done by hand.
With an average annual temperature of 20.2°C, the farm enjoys a unique microclimate, ideal for producing natural coffees with a rich body and bright acidity. Over 20 families live and work here, handpicking cherries and washing them on the same day. After washing, the coffee rests overnight in a hopper before drying on raised beds for 12 days until it reaches 15% humidity. The beans then rest in a wooden granary for 60 days, allowing the moisture to even out.
Once ready, the beans are carefully sorted, graded, and prepared for shipping. This natural processing creates a coffee with bold apple notes, hints of caramelised cherry, and a soft, velvety chocolate finish—truly a treat in every cup.
