Valter Dias lives in a community called Barra Grande, a small village 10 km North of Poco Fundo in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. He has been growing coffee here at Sitio Cafundo for over 15 years. With the help of his brother Wagner, they have invested time and energy separating the lots, organising harvest schedule, and properly drying their coffee - small batches at a time.

Besides the conventional cemented patio, they have added a ventilated static box that allows warm air to flow evenly drying the cherries. This box enhances natural fermentation resulting in a more complex profile.

“We are extremely happy with quality. Feedback received is encouraging and we are very optimistic for future harvests”, says Mr. Dias.

The Region

Sitio Cafundo is in a community called Barra Grande, municipality of Poco Fundo, in the south of Minas Gerais state (Sul the Minas). The farm has amongst the highest elevations in the region, averaging 1,200 masl. 

Sul de Minas (South Minas) is the largest coffee growing region in Brazil (and, by extension, the world), and is home to some of the best coffees in Brazil. The region is characterised by mountainous terrain, rich fertile soil and vast natural reserves of Brazil’s Atlantic Rainforest. The favourable climate and relief, together with handmade coffee production, are the secrets of the award-winning region. The factors for success are a dedication at all stages of production, solid infrastructure and investment in research.