Brazil
Montanhas do Espirito Santo
Ismael Valdinei Fim
Alto Caxixe
Red Catuaí
Pulped Natural
June–August
Chocolate, Golden Raisin, Citrus
875 meters
N/A
60 kg w/ GrainPro
SOLD OUT
Ismael Valdinei Fim, of Italian descent, is part of the third generation of coffee growers in his family in the municipality of Castelo. His grandfather, Silvio Fim, began coffee labors in the region of Caxixe in 1952 on his own farm. Ismael and his brothers were brought up in the coffee fields, accompanying their father Ozilio Fim when they were still young.
Ismael forms half of Irmãos Valdinei Fim, in partnership with his brother Enézio Fim. He and Enézio continue the activities on the farm, investing in greater productivity and higher quality. Following the format of traditional family agriculture, coffee is the main source of prosperity for the family. Just like Ismael grew up surrounded by coffee, today his nephews and cousins continue to be motivated by the process of improving the coffee on the property.
After a 2005 initiative by the rural Espirito Santo agency Incaper and the local administration, the Valdinei Fim family began to depulp coffee and process the harvest as Pulped Natural to improve the quality and add value. Ismael was able to purchase his own machinery, despite the difficulties of running a farm in the face of limited labor, high costs of production, and little market incentive. He is motivated to continue and maintain standards of selective harvest and attentive processing.
Alto Caxixe is located in the Caxixe Quente community and 7 of the farm’s 23 hectares are planted with coffee.
The Montanhas do Espirito Santo region is dominated by small-scale coffee-growers and is characterized by the presence of farmers who are actively engaged in the entire chain of the production process. Growers in Espirito Santo work with family members and build off of traditional knowledge to innovate and improve their quality of life and coffee. Located in the southern area of the Espirito Santo state, where mild temperatures (73ºF) and steep highlands (between 700 and 1,000 meters) favor growing Arabica coffees, this region produces a superb quality coffee with a round body, nice acidity, and fine sweetness. While the most common process for the region is Natural, Pulped Naturals are increasing in popularity.
The state of Espirito Santo has its capital in the city of Vitoria, and the costal location of Espirito Santo to the south of Bahia, east of Minas Gerais, and North of Rio de Janeiro makes it a popular destination for its beaches. Inland, Espirito Santo is home to natural parks and preserves that protect the rich diversity of flora and fauna. Many communities in the mountains of Espirito Santo were settled at the beginning of the twentieth century by European immigrants from Italy and the Pomeranian region along the Baltic Sea coast, straddling the border between what are now Germany and Poland.
