The coffees we received from Baixadão last year were so delicious and well received by you all that we really had no choice other than to return to Baixadão this year.
Sitio Baixadão is located in the famed Mantiqueira de Minas region of Brazil. In 2011 this region received special recognition as a PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) for the quality and distinctiveness of the coffee that is grown there. It lies on the Minas Gerais side of the Serra de Mantiqueira, a mountain range that spreads into the neighbouring São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro states.
Baixadão is owned and operated by Sebastião Afonso Da Silva and his son
Helisson. The farm sprung to international fame in 2015 when it won the Brazil Late Harvest Cup of Excellence Competition with a 95.18 scoring natural
catuaí - the highest score awarded in any Cup of Excellence competition to date. This accolade is testament to the incredible work that Sebastião, Helisson and their team do at the farm.
Tom visited Baixadão in June 2019, and was blown away by the level of care and organisation that was apparent throughout the farm. Beautiful, healthy and impeccably maintained coffee trees lined the steep hillsides that radiated from the immaculate drying patios below. The coffees that he tasted during the cupping session that followed were some of the standout coffees of the whole trip, and we finally managed to secure some lots last year which turned out to be some of our favourite coffees of 2021.
This year we have selected a couple of standout lots, and our first release is this beautiful natural processed
yellow catuaí. In the cup it is sweet and bright, with notes of panela, golden raisin and forest fruit.