Brazil | Sitio São Lourenço

Our Brazilian house single origin comes from the southern reaches of Minas Gerais, a region renowned for its lush valleys, rich soil, and ideal coffee-growing conditions. We have chosen this coffee as our house single origin for its balanced flavour profile of baker’s chocolate, walnut and plum.

We love to offer a house single origin that provides a smooth body complemented by delicate acidity. Expect a full, chocolatey body and the sweetness of stewed plums. Roasting this coffee gently allows us to maintain its balanced profile, working beautifully for both espresso and filter.

This lot is grown by Antônio Afonso de Oliveira at his farm, Sítio São Lourenço, near the city of Varginha, a major hub in Brazil for coffee trading. Antônio comes from a family of coffee growers and has worked on farms since childhood alongside his brothers and father. Today, he farms using sustainable practices, nurturing the land through mowing and preventative care.

Beyond his farm, Antônio helped found UNIPASV, now known as Coopasv, a small cooperative that empowers local producers by giving them collective strength in the market. Coopasv supports a network of small farms, allowing producers like Antônio to remain independent, secure fair prices and sustain their communities. Antônio describes his coffee simply: “I drink it and I think it’s a sweet, clean coffee – the best coffee in the world for me. It’s a product of my work, my family’s work, and our history.”

In September 2024, our Head Roaster, Gabe, visited Sítio São Lourenço during an origin trip to Brazil with Volcafe. Meeting Antônio and seeing the farm first hand was a poignant experience. Unlike some of the larger, more industrial farms in the region, Antônio was battling the devastating aftermath of a severe frost that wiped out much of his coffee crop. To survive, he turned to honey production while slowly replanting his trees, supported by Coopasv, who provided new seedlings, guaranteed a fair price for his remaining harvest and assisted with transport and washing station access.

This spirit of resilience and community left a lasting impression on Gabe. Sourcing this coffee is about more than just flavour – it’s about relationships. Gabe’s visit to Antônio’s farm reinforced the importance of seeing the producers behind every bean. By choosing this coffee, we’re proud to support Antônio, strengthen farmer-roaster connections and help close the gap between origin and roastery. Behind every cup is a family, a farm, and a community working tirelessly to bring us the coffee we love.