Brazil – Carmo de Minas – Natural – Fazenda IP – Yellow Bourbon B21755
Specs:
Source:
Brazil
Region:
Minas Gerais
Farm:
Fazenda IP
Variety:
Yellow Bourbon
Altitude:
950–1200 MASL
Processing:
Natural
Notes:
"Malt and cooked coffee cherry with mellow praline flavors. Winey acidity and fruit-like sweetness."
Score:
Price/Bag:
$5.20 per lb
$229.00 per bagOut of stock
Background:
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 CriaCarmo, a youth initiative established by CarmoCoffees, 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 CarmoCoffees on one lot of coffee annually that is priced to benefit CriaCarmo. The youth who participate primarily come from the local coffee-producing families and enjoy karate, futbol, and chess lessons among other things.
Fazenda IP
Fazenda IP was first purchased in 1967, by Isidro Pereira, father of Luiz Paolo Dias Pereira. (Fazenda IP takes its name from Isidro's initials.) Luiz was pursuing an education in agriculture at the time the farm came into the family, but after five years, he joined his father to expand production and improve quality.
By 1974, Luiz began expanding Fazenda IP: It now covers an area of 720 hectares—500 percent growth over the farm's original size. This estate cultivates Yellow Catuai, Yellow Catucai, Acaia, and Yellow Bourbon. The coffee is processed using both the natural and honey method. Nestled outside the city of Carmo de Minas, the farm sits at a range of 950–1200 meters. The higher altitude favors a slow ripening of cherry and permits selective picking, which are decisive factors to produce coffees of exceptional quality.