Everaldo Cassandro
This is a really exciting and unexpected Brazilian coffee! This washed coffee from the region of Espírito Santo is sophisticated and floral, offering lively flavours of red fruit and a velvety sweetness of brown sugar.
The coffee is produced by Everaldo Cassandro on the family farm Sitio Cassandro in the region of Espírito Santo. It is a region that for many is quite new, as it is not known for producing high-quality coffee. Espírito Santo offers a different climate than we're used to in Brazil, and this changes the expectations for the kind of coffee one can anticipate.
The climate is more humid and is reminiscent more of Central America, making it suitable to produce coffee with the washed process, which otherwise is uncommon in Brazil. The sun-dried process, which is usually more prevalent, becomes more difficult to succeed with as the humid climate increases the risk of mould in the coffee. The washed process essentially means that after harvest, the fruit is removed and the coffee beans are washed in water before they are left to dry in the sun.
We cupped samples from a few different producers at the same time, and this coffee from Everaldo clearly stood out! He has completely transformed the work on the farm over the last 10 years, which has raised the quality of the coffee. Something we really notice in the cup! We also like that it is something other than the expected; more floral, lighter, fresher than what you normally see with coffee from Brazil.
Origin: Brazil
Producer: Everaldo Cassandro
Farm: Sitio Cassandro
Altitude: 1100 m.a.s.l.
Variety: Catucai 785
Process: Washed
Flavours: Floral, red fruit, sweetness of brown sugar
EVERALDO CASSANDRO
Everaldo Cassandro is the son of coffee farmers Aniceto Cassandro and Vera Lúcia Guimarães Cassandro. The family farm Sitio Cassandro is located in Alto Ribeirão in the state of Espírito Santo. There, the family previously grew coffee using traditional methods that did not focus on quality. In 2013, Everaldo began to improve the farm's processes and methods, knowing that their coffee could be greatly improved. Among other things, he started planting new coffee varieties that matched the soil and thrived at the altitude of his farm. They have also begun to pick the cherries in stages as they ripen and now have meticulous control over the fermentation in the washing process. He has also invested in a new pulping machine and has built elevated drying tables to get better control over the drying.
When Everaldo participated in a specialty coffee course in his city, he met the teacher Rafael Marques, who is a member of the FAF Coffees team led by the Croce family. The two started talking and saw an exciting opportunity to work together to further improve Everaldo’s coffees and bring them to new potential coffee buyers – like us!
Exceptional coffee starts at the origin. The Farmers series is a tribute to the skilled and dedicated producers which we have a close relationship with. For this series, we purchase limited quantities of specific lots that really stand out when we taste them. It could be the variety or a specific part of the farm that truly brings out the best in the coffee. The flavours of these coffees are often sweet and floral, with hints of fruit or berries, broadening the horizons on what coffee can taste like. It is with a lot of pride we highlight our producers and their incredible craftsmanship through the coffees in the Farmers series.
We have four different coffee series, from House where the flavours are more familiar, to Prime which offers the absolute top tier of specialty coffee quality.
The House series is the foundation we stand upon, featuring specialty coffees from some of the 15 producers we work with closely, all among the best in the world. Each coffee offers a unique blend and flavour profile, and with such variety in the series, we dare say there’s a taste for (almost) everyone. To follow the harvest seasons, we rotate the origin and recipe throughout the year. This ensures the coffee is always fresh, the flavours consistent, and the cup truly delightful! In this series, you’ll find various espresso and filter coffees, both as whole beans and ground.
The Flavours series is where we truly elevate the natural flavours of each coffee. Most of the coffees are single origin, but as the contents of the product change with harvest seasons, occasionally a blend might better suit the flavour profile. Flavours is perfect for those seeking an exceptional cup where the coffee’s unique taste and character truly gets to shine!
The Farmers series is a tribute to the skilled and dedicated producers which we have a close relationship with. For this series, we purchase limited quantities of specific lots that really stand out when we taste them. It could be the variety or a specific part of the farm that truly brings out the best in the coffee. The flavours of these coffees are often sweet and floral, with hints of fruit or berries, broadening the horizons on what coffee can taste like. It is with a lot of pride we highlight our producers and their incredible craftsmanship.
The Prime series is the top tier of specialty coffee. These coffees are of unmatched quality and flavour and drinking them is an experience itself. Sourced only 3-4 times a year, our Prime coffees are extremely limited and highly coveted, with only around 200 bags available of each. These coffees are often of exclusive and rare varieties and produced using modern and innovative methods. For those seeking the ultimate coffee experience, our Prime series is sure to satisfy even the most refined palates.
We specialize in specialty coffee, which means that all the coffee we purchase scores at least 80 points on a 100-point scale – a grading system established by the international coffee organization SCA.
We hold high standards for the producers we work with, both in terms of sustainability and quality. Both aspects demand more and come at a cost, which we gladly pay. The right price is worth every cent!
10 years or more – that's how long we have been working with several of our producers. Simply because they are the best, and we know and trust each other. When we begin new collaborations, which also happens from time to time, we do so with the intention of celebrating 10 years and beyond with them as well. Our close and longstanding relationships are built on a shared philosophy and a desire to improve the conditions for coffee farmers worldwide. Through sustainability and quality!
