Archival Release #62 - Valdeir Cezati - 2023

Our Freezer Friday this month features a 2023 harvest Reserve Lot from Valdeir Cezati - an award winning producer from the region of Espírito Santo in Brazil.

Benefiting from its hilly topography and above-average rainfall, the state of Espírito Santo is increasingly recognized for producing exceptional washed coffees that challenge overly generalized notions of Brazilian coffee quality. This excellent catuaí lot, meticulously handpicked and processed by Valdeir Cezati and his family on their small farm, offers a beautiful expression of the distinctive cup profile this region has to offer.

Reminiscent of a Kenyan coffee, the cup is as deeply sweet as it is bright and juicy. We taste tangy lime peel and blackberry alongside additional flavors of dried pineapple and a subtly spiced molasses-like quality that amplifies the overall sweetness as the coffee cools.

Archival Release #62 features a washed Catuaí lot produced by Valdeir Cezati in the Espírito Santo region of Brazil. While many Brazilian coffees are traditionally processed using natural methods, this specific selection undergoes a washed process, which often highlights a cleaner acidity and more distinct structural clarity in the cup. Roasted by Passenger Coffee, this 2023 release presents a complex profile characterized by tangy lime peel, blackberry, and dried pineapple, rounded out by a spiced, molasses-like quality.

When evaluating such nuanced profiles, tasters often find it helpful to reference a flavor wheel to categorize these specific fruit and sugar-browning notes. By isolating the impact of the washed processing method on the Catuaí varietal, this release offers a compelling look at the diverse potential of coffee production within Espírito Santo, moving beyond the expectations typically associated with the country's broader output.