This is our first year purchasing from Fazenda Rio Brilhante sourced by Falcon Specialty Coffee. We selected this coffee for its approachability and versatility across brewing methods! In the cup we're tasting flavors of caramel, hazelnut and milk chocolate with a hint of red apple.

Fazenda Rio Brilhante sits within a micro-region called Pântano, which is located in the state of Minas Gerais. Pântano is known for its well-defined seasons, consistent seasonal rain, and overall favorable climate for coffee production. These conditions are ideal for producing natural processed coffees, which represent an average of 80% of the production of the farm.

The harvest is mostly done mechanically. Careful calibration of this equipment makes it possible to determine the quality and ripeness point at which coffee cherries should be harvested, resulting in more uniform and consistent lots.

After picking, the cherries pass through a station that sorts by density - denser and higher quality cherries are separated to create pulped natural and natural processed coffees that will receive more detail-focused fermentation and drying.

The farm has more than 1,600ha of planted coffee and produces an average of 130,000 bags of coffee per harvest. The 1,600ha are divided into 45 different sections that present their own unique terroirs and micro-climates. These sections are separated by large trees which act as a natural divider between coffee sections and the untouched areas, preserving the biodiversity of the farm. In addition, they provide shelter for the coffee from the frequent winds.

Rio Brilhante has been run by Inácio Urban and his family since he bought 20ha of land in the 1980s. Over the last 40 years he has grown the farm to its impressive current size.

In 2020 the farm was awarded first place in the Ethics and Traceability Award given to farms for their commitment and development of programs to develop people, preserve the environment, and promote responsible agribusiness. The farm is UTZ, Rainforest Alliance, and 4C certified.