Macadamia. Banana. Yellow Dragon Fruit.

About this coffee :

Sitio Monte Alto is absolutely steeped in coffee tradition. The Ribeiro do Valle family has long dedicated their lives to the production of fine coffee, and after 136 years it’s no surprise that they’ve perfected the art. Now in their ninth generation of producing coffee, the family’s patriarch is very well-known in the region by the name “Barão de Guaxupé” (Baron of Guazupé) - which also happens to be the brand name of their commercial coffee.

The farm’s first coffee plantations were established around 1880 and were planted by the current owner’s first ancestor to settle in the region. Brazil’s Minas Gerais region is famous for its coffee and the southern part of the state, with its mountainous relief and fertile soils, is ideal for coffee. These same hills, however, mean that at least 70% of the harvest and other labours on the farm must be completed by hand. Machine pickers, which are ubiquitous throughout Brazil, simply can’t handle the majority of the slopes! 

While tradition is important, the Ribeiro do Valle family recognises that innovation is key to sustaining high quality coffee production. As such, they’ve made many improvements to the farm in recent years. Some of these developments include installing brand new coffee washers and dryers, which have significantly reduced water consumption on the farm and have improved coffee quality by standardising drying practices. The old drying patio has been transformed into a beautiful garden in front of the house, and work on the new patio has just begun. The new drying patio will be double the size of the old one and is located at a higher altitude, with access to the sun the whole morning and afternoon.

It makes a bold and juicy cup, with distinctive banana & yellow dragon fruit juiciness that you rarely find in Brazilian coffee, paired with a lovely macadamia nutty note. It makes a full-bodied espresso and pairs well with milk. We prefer a less milk option like piccolo and flat white, a smooth and comfortable cup.

Brewing Recipe : 

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