The Nerdy Bit
Varietals — Arara, Catigua & Catucai
Altitude — 905–1,150 MASL
Cupping Score — 82.75
The Farm — Fazenda Pinhal is a 914-hectare farm near San Antonio De Ampoaro in Sul de Minas, owned by the Gabarra Teixeira family since 1994. Of the 914 hectares, only 296 are planted with coffee. The remaining land is preserved as natural reserve, Eucalyptus forest and pasture, a deliberate choice that reflects the farm's deep commitment to the environment.
That commitment is more than words. In 2019 Fazenda Pinhal was awarded Brazil's most sustainable coffee farm, and that same year installed solar panels that now supply 100% of the farm's energy. The farm has also established a bird sanctuary to rehabilitate and care for injured birds, and runs active research programmes in partnership with local universities.
This is a farm that takes as much pride in what surrounds the coffee as in the coffee itself.
Process — Pulped Natural. Cherries are mechanically harvested and sorted for ripeness before being pulped to remove 100% of the mucilage. The beans are then taken to drying patios where they are turned regularly over 7–10 days until they reach the ideal moisture level.