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

For professional barista exchanges, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat official account: cafe_style).

Brazil features flat terrain, with most coffee farms situated at elevations between 600-1000 meters. The landscape is monotonous and lacks microclimates. Additionally, the common practice of growing coffee without shade trees has led to the development of Brazil's unique soft bean flavor profile—low acidity, prominent nutty notes, chocolatey sweetness, excellent body, though with slight woody and earthy undertones, while floral and citrus aromas are not distinct.

Minas Gerais: The Heart of Brazilian Coffee

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

The Santo Antônio 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 coffee grounds, medium grind (using Fujiyama ghost tooth grinder #4), V60 dripper, water temperature 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 coffee bed drops halfway before continuing to pour. Slowly pour until reaching 225g total. Avoid the tail section. Water-to-coffee ratio is 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: Various coffee-growing regions worldwide. Main colors: Red, yellow, and orange, but primarily red. Fruit size: Average. Leaf characteristics: Broad, short. Special notes:

The Bourbon variety originated from Bourbon Island or Ethiopia. It is susceptible to pests and diseases and has lower yields. Some data suggests that Yellow Bourbon has higher yields than Red and Orange Bourbon, but Red Bourbon remains the most common variety. Bourbon has close genetic relationships with SL28, Typica, and Caturra. Because it produces lower yields in suitable environments, it often results in very high cup quality (evidence suggests that lower yields tend to produce higher quality, as plants can more effectively absorb soil nutrients).

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

Catuai is a coffee variety created through artificial hybridization of Caturra and Mundo Novo. Catuai has good resistance to natural disasters, particularly wind and rain.

The Catuai tree is relatively short compared to other coffee trees. Catuai fruits grow more compactly and are harder to pick. The fruits come in both red and yellow varieties. To date, no significant taste difference has been found between yellow and red fruits. In fact, some cupping tests have revealed that while coffee processed from yellow fruits may have good acidity, the cleanliness of the cup is inferior to that of red fruits.

Catuai was developed in Brazil and is now widely cultivated throughout Central America.

Product Information

Manufacturer: Dazhen Coffee FrontStreet Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee)
Address: No. 10, Bao'an Front Street, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou
Contact: 020-38364473
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.

However, the Cerrado plateau in western Minas and South Minas mostly sit at elevations above 1100 meters, featuring diverse topography, distinct wet and dry seasons, significant day-night temperature variations, and abundant microclimates. These conditions are ideal for cultivating elegant Bourbon and Yellow Bourbon varieties, naturally making them Brazil's main specialty coffee producing regions. Additionally, Mogiana in northeastern São Paulo province also primarily grows shade-grown Bourbon, ranking alongside Cerrado and South Minas as Brazil's three major specialty coffee regions.

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473