Brazil
Cerrado Mineiro
Rodrigo Aparecido Martins
Fazenda Caixeta
Mundo Novo, Red Catuai, Yellow Catuai,
Natural
September-October
Creamy, Cacao, Spicy
1200 meters
N/A
60 kg with liner
SOLD OUT
Rodrigo Aparecido Martins came to Cerrado in 1989 with his parents when his father was invited to establish a large coffee plantation with a large producer in the Pantano region near the city of Coromandel. As a child, Rodrigo enjoyed working with coffee and eventually came to replace his father as the farm’s administrator.
By taking on this new role Rodrigo developed his entrepreneurial side and planted coffee on his own property, where he could apply all his knowledge. His farm was a 20-hectare plot from his father called Fazenda Veira, and he later planted Pantano-Primavera, Fazenda Sobro Bonito, and Caixeta, properties that have become his passion. Caixeta is 115 hectares in total with the majority planted with coffee and the average temperature on the property is 23 degrees Celsius. Flowering occurs in September and October and the annual production is around 4000 bags.
Rodrigo is now a leader producing specialty coffee in Pantano, where his son also lives. Rodrigo describes himself as a humble man with an admirable character. He has dedicated himself to growing the highest quality coffee, always motivated to work in search of new perspectives, always prioritizing sustainable means of production.
Learn more about Harvesting and Processing in Cerrado Mineiro.
The Cerrado Mineiro region, located in northwest of Minas Gerais State is a world-recognized, high-quality coffee producing origin and became the first Protected Geographical Indication in Brazil in 2005, with full Designation of Origin in 2013. A strong characteristic of this region is its well-defined seasons—a hot, wet summer followed by a pleasantly dry winter. The dry climate during harvest eliminates potential problems with humidity during the drying process.
Minas Gerais is Brazil’s principal agricultural state, and the Cerrado is home to many of the country’s celebrated coffee estates, with expertise in planting, harvesting, drying, and sorting. We love Cerrado coffees for their big body, rich chocolate notes, and velvety texture when pulled as espresso.
Today, the area’s 4,500 farmers produce a combined average of 6 million bags per harvest, with an average of 35 bags per hectare. To reach these production levels, producers had to first adapt to the region’s conditions. Coffee farmers first arrived in Cerrado in the 1970’s, after being pushed out of the state of Parana by frost and out of the state of Sao Paolo by nematodes. They found the soil in Cerrado to be very acidic, which they rectified with the application of calcium to create the healthy soils they enjoy today.
Cerrado coffee farms are cultivated in areas with elevations varying between 800 and 1,300 meters above sea level and are known for consistently producing high quality coffees with a repeatable profile. Independent of farm size, the spirit of professionalism is present throughout Cerrado’s coffee producers. Entrepreneurialism is part of farmers’ DNA, and many producers are second or third generation growers who also hold degrees in agronomic engineering, business management, and administration. While each family narrative is different, Cerrado is characterized by an enterprising attitude.
