Brazil
Cerrado Mineiro
Maurílio Teófilo
Sítio Campestre
Red Catuai
Fermented
June-July
Caramel, Chocolate, Floral, Jasmine Honeysuckle, Red Apple
1140 meters
N/A
60 kg
USA - Charleston, SC - RPM
Maurílio’s relationship with coffee spans three generations. It began when his great-grandfather acquired the land that is now known as Sítio Campestre, later inherited by Maurílio.
At the time, the property was open land with no coffee planted. Before becoming a producer himself, Maurílio was already involved in the coffee trade, working in buying and selling as a broker. Even so, the desire to be directly connected to production was always present. When he inherited the family property, Maurílio and his mother did not hesitate: they planted the first coffee fields, totaling approximately 15 hectares. As the business grew, an additional 10 hectares were brought into production.
Alongside her son, Maurílio’s mother also became a coffee producer, passing on knowledge inherited from her father and grandfather — lessons built over generations, rooted in careful land management and respect for the soil.
Throughout this journey, Maurílio has faced several challenges. In 2021, a severe frost affected the region, forcing the replanting of 5 hectares of coffee. Since then, adapting to climate conditions has become a constant part of the farm’s routine, reinforcing the need for attentive, flexible management aligned with nature’s demands.
The Cerrado Mineiro region, located in northwest of Minas Gerais State, is a world-recognized, high-quality coffee producing origin and became the first Protected Geographical Indication in Brazil in 2005, with full Designation of Origin in 2013. A strong characteristic of this region is its well-defined seasons—a hot, wet summer followed by a pleasantly dry winter. The dry climate during harvest eliminates potential problems with humidity during the drying process.
Minas Gerais is Brazil’s principal agricultural state, and the Cerrado is home to many of the country’s celebrated coffee estates, with expertise in planting, harvesting, drying, and sorting. We love Cerrado coffees for their big body, rich chocolate notes, and velvety texture when pulled as espresso.
Today, the area’s 4,500 farmers produce a combined average of 6 million bags per harvest, with an average of 35 bags per hectare. To reach these production levels, producers had to first adapt to the region’s conditions. Coffee farmers first arrived in Cerrado in the 1970’s, after being pushed out of the state of Parana by frost and out of the state of Sao Paulo by nematodes. They found the soil in Cerrado to be very acidic, which they rectified with the application of calcium to create the healthy soils they enjoy today.
Cerrado coffee farms are cultivated in areas with elevations varying between 800 and 1,300 meters above sea level and are known for consistently producing high quality coffees with a repeatable profile. Independent of farm size, the spirit of professionalism is present throughout Cerrado’s coffee producers. Entrepreneurialism is part of farmers’ DNA, and many producers are second or third generation growers who also hold degrees in agronomic engineering, business management, and administration. While each family narrative is different, Cerrado is characterized by an enterprising attitude.
