So a new coffee (a few to add this week) starting with a really interesting micro lot. Ten bags in the world and all here. I’m really pleased with it. To read about it look below or to buy click here

This micro lot came as a really nice surprise and out of the blue. I got sent the sample blind and got really excited about it. You will see Lagoa at other roasters, but not this tiny micro lot.

Owned by the Vieira family this farm can be found in Sul de Minas the heart of Minas Gerais, the well known coffee growing region, with its rolling mountains, lakes and rich farmland.

In the slopes of Serra do Pau D’Alho, coffee is produced at altitudes ranging from 950 to 1200 meters. Fazenda Lagoa has 220 hectares in coffee, producing approximately 7000 bags a year, (which is huge in farm standards) and 600 hectares of preserved forest attracting conservationists from all over the world to study its hundreds of different bird species.

Now lots of roasters have Lagoa (because of its size) so what makes this special. Well first its a natural process (sometimes called the dry process). After harvest, the entire cherry is cleaned and sorted to remove unripe, over-ripe or damaged fruit, before being allowed to dry whole in the sun on patios or drying tables. It can take up to 6 weeks for the cherries to dry. There is a significant risk of mould developing, so the cherries have to be turned regularly. Rain is another potential issue as the whole crop could be ruined if subjected to a downpour. Once dry, the complete cherry is hulled to remove the entire dried outer fruit covering all at once. This tend to give the cup a wild taste, and highlights some of the less acidic tastes.

The second part that makes this unique is it’s a Mundo novo varietal. If you want to know more take a look at a blog post I did here. Not wanting to repeat what’s already been written there, I find this a very exciting varietal and one that turns up in quality coffee more and more.

In the cup this has a low toned acidity, with tasty hit of spice and cocoa. the best comes in the mouthfeel and after taste, with its chewy texture with a date or fig dipped in sugar. the aftertaste is rich and lingering finishing with dark chocolate.

Farm name: Fazenda Lagoa (Monte Belo – MG)
Coffee plantation area: 220 hectares
Average annual production: 7.000 bags (60 Kg)
Varieties: Acaiá, Mundo Novo, Catuaí, Yellow Icatu, Yellow Bourbon.
Processing facilities: Complete wet sorting and pulping line, 2.000 m2 of paved patio, 2 cylindrical driers, storage bins for coffee in parchment, dry sorting line.