How to Properly Brew Brazilian Semi-Washed Bourbon and Understanding Brazilian Coffee Bean Prices

Brazil's terrain is flat, and most coffee farms sit at elevations between 600-1000 meters. The landscape is uniform with few microclimates. Combined with the common practice of growing coffee without shade trees, this has shaped Brazil's distinctive soft-bean profile: low acidity, prominent nutty notes, chocolatey sweetness, an excellent body, and slight woody and earthy undertones, with floral and citrus aromas that are not pronounced.

Minas Gerais: The Heart of Brazilian Coffee

Minas Gerais lies in the heartland of the Brazilian Plateau in southeastern South America, producing more than half of Brazil's high-quality Arabica coffee.

The Santo Antonio do Amparo region, which recently won the 2016 Brazil Cup of Excellence award, belongs to the South Minas core producing area near the headquarters of the Brazilian Specialty Coffee Association (BSCA).

Brewing Method

Hand-pour Brazilian coffee: 15g of grounds, medium grind (Fujiyama ghost tooth grinder #4), a V60 dripper, water at 88-89°C. First pour 30g of water for a 27-second bloom, then pour to 105g and pause. Wait until the water level in the bed drops halfway before continuing to pour. Pour slowly until the total reaches 225g. Avoid the tail section. Water-to-coffee ratio 1:15, extraction time 2:00.

Varietal Information

Bourbon-related varieties: Original origin: Bourbon Island. Grows best at: 800 meters and above. Type: original variety. Commonly found in: coffee regions worldwide. Main colors: red, yellow, and orange, but mainly red. Fruit size: average. Leaf characteristics: broad and short. Special notes:

The Bourbon variety originated on Bourbon Island or in Ethiopia. It is susceptible to pests and disease and yields less. Some data suggests Yellow Bourbon out-yields Red and Orange Bourbon, but Red Bourbon remains the most common. Bourbon is closely related genetically to SL28, Typica, and Caturra. Because it produces less in a suitable environment, it often ends up with very high cup quality; evidence suggests that lower yields tend to produce higher quality, since the plant can take up soil nutrients more effectively.

Typical Bourbon cup characteristics include a low body, balanced flavor, and distinct sweetness, making it an excellent base bean for espresso blends.

Catuai is a variety created by artificially hybridizing Caturra and Mundo Novo. Catuai resists natural disasters well, particularly wind and rain.

The Catuai tree is relatively short next to other coffee trees. Its fruit grows in tighter clusters and is harder to pick. The fruit comes in red and yellow types, and to date no significant taste difference has been found between them. In fact, some cupping tests show that while coffee processed from yellow fruit may have good acidity, its cleanliness in the cup is inferior to red fruit.

Catuai was developed in Brazil and is now widely grown across Central America.

Product Information

Manufacturer: FrontStreet Coffee
Address: No. 10, Bao'an Front Street, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou
Shelf life: 30 days
Net weight: 227g
Packaging: Bulk
Taste profile: Sweet coffee beans
Roast level: Roasted coffee beans
Sugar content: Sugar-free
Origin: Brazil
Coffee type: Bourbon coffee
Roast degree: Medium roast

Detailed Specifications

Country: Brazil

Grade: SC14/SC16

Region: South Minas

Roast Level: Medium roast

Processing Method: Pulped natural

Varieties: Bourbon, Catuai

Elevation: 1000-1200 meters

Flavor Profile: Roasted sunflower seeds, rich and full-bodied, dark chocolate, sweet aftertaste and lingering finish.

That said, the Cerrado plateau in western Minas and South Minas mostly sit above 1100 meters, with varied topography, distinct wet and dry seasons, wide day-night temperature swings, and abundant microclimates. These are ideal conditions for elegant Bourbon and Yellow Bourbon, which naturally makes them Brazil's main specialty regions. Mogiana in northeastern Sao Paulo state also mainly grows shade-grown Bourbon, standing with Cerrado and South Minas as Brazil's three major specialty coffee regions.

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

If you just want a taste of Brazil, FrontStreet Coffee suggests the half-washed Cerrado, a classic Brazilian single origin. Cerrado is a well-known local region prized for high-quality beans, and this is the common South American Red Bourbon variety. Roasted medium, it shows rich aromas of creamy peanut, toasted bread, caramel, and hazelnut, with a rounded body, low acidity, and a mild bitterness. Beyond pour-over, it suits the moka pot, espresso SOE, siphon, and French press.

FrontStreet Coffee's other Brazilian single origin, Queen Manor, comes from Mogiana near South Minas, where fertile red volcanic soil lets the cherries absorb abundant nutrients and develop a full aroma. Some farms there keep to traditional operation, while others have adopted modern, standardized management, greatly improving local quality. The variety is the rare Yellow Bourbon, a mutation of Red Bourbon with a cleaner fruit character. Through pour-over, moka pot, or a home espresso machine, FrontStreet Coffee's Brazil Queen Manor delivers a sugarcane freshness no other region offers, along with fruit and chocolate notes.

Brazil's low acidity, balanced body, and friendly price also make it a top choice for espresso recipes. FrontStreet Coffee's classic blend with its rich crema, its nut-forward signature blend, its balanced dark cocoa blend, and its commercial blend made for cafes all include Brazilian beans. The Brazilian component adds chocolate and cream aromas plus a soft sweet-sour-bitter balance whose consistency helps keep extraction stable.