Chocolate, Stone Fruit, Spice
Item information
Sitio Bela Vista #2
Item information
Mantiqueira de Minas, Brazil
Description
Variety: Yellow Catucai
Processing: Natural
Origin: Mantiqueira de Minas, Brazil
Producers: Jarbas Cleto Lopes
Altitude: 1260m
Jarbas Cleto Lopes was born and raised on a coffee farm, but his family moved to the city when he was 6. He grew up and started a career as a banker, but always dreamed of getting back to a coffee farm. In 1985, he made that dream a reality by purchasing the land that is now Sitio Bela Visa - a 27-hectare coffee farm growing Catuai, Catucai, and Icatu plants. Jarbas produces both washed and natural coffees on-site, using covered raised beds and traditional patios to dry his coffees depending on the weather. Sitio Bela Vista is a member of the APAS cooperative, which helps provide training and resources to member farms and workers, improving coffee quality and working conditions throughout the region.
We love Brazilian natural coffees because they have such a variety of flavors, they can usually even impress folks that don't typically go for naturals. This particular lot is giving us a scrumptious dark chocolate note with just a hint of earthiness, a peachy stone fruit sweetness, and a nice spice to finish out the profile. It's a smooth sipping coffee with a clean finish, and one that we think coffee-lovers of all stripes will enjoy. Cheers!
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3.5 out of 5
Nice coffee, but flavors not very complex or prominent
Coffee tastes very good - has a bit of smoke up front and lingering sweetness. The flavors don't overwhelm, especially the sweet notes. So coffee is very drinkable and enjoyable. The drawback to the drinkability is flavors that are a bit less complex or prominent. I like light to medium roasts. So this isn't a question of the coffee being too light. It's more that I get little to no tang or bite, to add to complexity. Part of that may be that it's roasted by natural process, which brought out less of the tart notes. And while the coffee is certainly not one-note, it's not as complex as others I've tried here. All in all, nice, solid coffee that I didn't enjoy quite as much as some others, including one other natural Brazil (Juquinha #2) I just had.
Hovig Tchalian
AGOURA HILLS
Member Since
January '21
4.0 out of 5
Solid
Tasting notes were spot-on for me, with very subtle spice notes towards the end, reminiscent of a mild "hoppiness" in beer. I also agree with Hovig's review regarding complexity and flavor prominence. Flavors here seem to merge into a whole and it's tougher to pick up on distinct elements. Regardless, this is a very enjoyable coffee.
Ethan R
Sausalito
Member Since
October '15
3.5 out of 5
Nice first cup
Shuttle, smooth
CATHERINE KENNEDY
CHARLOTTE
Member Since
May '19
3.5 out of 5
Nice
Smooth and suttle
CATHERINE KENNEDY
CHARLOTTE
Member Since
May '19
4.0 out of 5
Controversial
I was a three on this, but my lady friend said 5, so I took the average. That's consistent, she prefers the mellower stuff. This definitely benefits from sifting after going through my Baratza Encore (on 13). I've been using my Kruve with the 500um sieve to get rid of the fines before making it as a pour over. I lose about 10% which makes me think the club is in bed with "big sifter" but the coffee is still amazing so I'll allow it.
Erik Hons
Austin
Member Since
April '17
4.0 out of 5
Full Bodied Earth
I usually do not enjoy coffees from the Americas as I prefer the fruity undertones of eastern Africa but this one is an enjoyable chocolaty exception with rich, earthy body that makes me rethink my sole penchant for fruitiness.
Justin Porter
Austin
Member Since
February '16
5.0 out of 5
Deep, rich scent
The olfactory pleasure of this coffee is matched by a rich, roasted taste. I really enjoyed this coffee.
Christine Davis
Sacramento
Member Since
February '21
On 04/05/21 BJ said
No conspiracy, we swear! (Big Sifter couldn't woo us with their millions). :)