Brazil | Pocos de Caldas | Yellow Bourbon | Natural

Region: Sul de Minas

Elevation: 1000-1300 masl

About: Poços de Caldas sits within the crater of an ancient volcano in Minas Gerais, where volcanic soils, elevations of 1,000 to 1,300 metres and a mild mountain climate create ideal conditions for producing distinctive coffees. Coffee has been grown here since the 1860s, while a focus on specialty production has steadily developed over the past three decades. Today, more than 100 farming families work with Bourbon Specialty Coffees, preserving a strong tradition of family farming and manual harvesting.  

Natural processing defines the region, accounting for around 80% of production. Ripe cherries are dried whole, allowing sweetness and fruit character to develop gradually before milling. The remaining coffees are produced using the local Cereja Descascado method, where the cherry skin is removed before drying.  

The combination of volcanic soils, careful processing and generations of farming knowledge has established Poços de Caldas as one of Brazil's most respected specialty coffee regions.

Sourced from the Sul de Minas region of Brazil, this lot showcases the classic profile of the Yellow Bourbon varietal. Grown at elevations between 1000 and 1300 meters, these cherries undergo a natural process, a method often associated with increased sweetness and body in the final cup. As you evaluate the nuances of this specific offering from Proud Mary Coffee, consider how the interaction between the region’s climate and the drying process influences the cup's structure.

Natural-processed coffees frequently exhibit a heavier mouthfeel and pronounced fruit-forward characteristics compared to their washed counterparts. To better identify the specific attributes present in this Pocos de Caldas selection, we recommend referencing the flavor wheel to help articulate the complexity inherent in this Brazilian harvest. This coffee serves as a refined example of how traditional varietals and careful post-harvest handling define the character of the region.