João Hamilton

We are thrilled to once again feature coffee from João Hamilton in Brazil! This is a naturally processed Red Catuai with smooth and delicate flavours of milk chocolate, red berries, stone fruit, and buttery caramel.

This is an elegant coffee from the Mogiana region in São Paulo, an area with plenty of sunshine and large temperature variations between day and night. These conditions help develop the sugars in the coffee cherries. When roasted, this results in a long, sweet finish and a creamy mouthfeel. The Red Catuai variety thrives at Sitio Canaã’s altitude of 1300 m.a.s.l., further enhancing the coffee’s fruity character.

João Hamilton’s journey began when Canaã farm was acquired in 1979, during a time when coffee production prioritised quantity over quality. Agro-toxic chemicals were commonly used, with little consideration for nature or future generations. By the early 2000s, the damage to the soil was so severe that production had become unsustainable. That’s when João met Marcos and Felipe at FAFCoffees, who introduced a new approach: what João now calls the ‘Agriculture of Life.’

With this shift, João focused on regenerating the soil and water, treating sewage, and planting trees around natural springs. The farm adopted practices like separating plots and varieties, selective harvesting, and drying coffee on raised drying beds. These changes not only improved the quality of the coffee but also realised João’s dream of sustainability in the mountains.

João’s commitment to sustainability inspired his neighbours, and with the support of FAFCoffees, the Serra dos Ciganos community embraced this new model of agriculture. Today, João’s work extends beyond his own farm through the Serra dos Ciganos Washing Station, where he processes coffee from around 40 local producers. By carefully supervising post-harvest processes at the station, João ensures that the best quality is achieved for all coffees from the community.

Our green coffee buyer, Jonas, has met João several times and describes him as a really great guy. During their most recent meeting in Brazil, João was building a small house on his farm, which will include a cupping lab so he can regularly evaluate his coffees. João also uses a small, manual coffee roaster that he built himself. The roaster is simple yet ingenious: a container where green coffee is roasted by rotating it over an open flame. Despite its simplicity, the results are surprisingly excellent, and Jonas was delighted by how good the coffee tasted! Tasting one’s own coffee might seem obvious, but that is not always the case. This is yet another example of João and FAF’s dedication to unlocking the full potential of the coffee!

Over the years João has become one of the most sought-after producers in Brazil. Sitio Canaã is now a role model for sustainable farming practices, and João’s dedication has made a lasting impact on his community.

Origin: Mogiana, Brazil
Producers: João & Juliana Hamilton
Farm: Sitio Canaã
Altitude: 1300 m.a.s.l.
Variety: Red Catuai
Process: Natural
Flavours: Milk chocolate, red berries, toffee, and stone fruit