Brazilian Vargem Grande Estate
Brazilian Vargem Grande Estate
Whenever I get the privilege of visiting the Contini family, you have no idea how much it means to them, when we can feedback on how their coffee is received. Vargem is one of our best-selling coffees of all time and as you will read below it makes a lot of people happy. It causes us pain that the price is higher this year, however we are paying 100% more for Brazilian coffee than we were a year ago.
Brazilian Vargem Grande Estate,
It’s very easy to forget what the majority of clients and our clients, clients’ like to consume. This intro might make your heart sink if you are a staunch speciality coffee drinker. Many of us who love variety also have a big place in our hearts for coffees like Vargem Grande Estate. However a variety of what is the question?
Not every coffee that comes into our roastery is about juice or acidity. The reality is that we love classic nutty chocolaty Brazilian coffees as they fill two very important criteria. In no particular order; they bring stability to an espresso blend, like Formula 6 and Simply Brazil (!) also they just make tasty un-challenging easy quaffable coffee, that pleases almost everyone.
Vargem Grande Estate is a small family estate, run by some of the nicest and most humble people in the coffee world. VG was championed by the late and amazing Erna Knudson. If you have a few minutes, I think she was quite an inspiration and worth every second!
Farm: Vargem Grande Estate
Region; Esperito de Santo do Pinhal, Brazil
Owners: The Contini Family
Farm Size: 300 Acres
Coffee production; 160 Acres
Process: Natural.
Varietals: Mundo-Novo and Catuai
Altitude: between 3000-4000 feet above sea level.
Cup profile
We are offering this as a “Traditional Espresso” roast. If you are regulars, then somewhere between Formula 6 and Chapin, for benchmarks. This coffee, when rested for a week or so from roast makes us ask how it could be sweeter.
Aromatics: Chocolate and nuts (think melted Ferrero Rocher)|Body; Thick and creamy| Acidity; Low and sweet.|
Flavour possibilities. Chocolate, nuts, a little cereal note, and so much sweetness.
Espresso Recipe: 93.5C-94C
17-19g into 34g for milk-based drinks 25 seconds +
17g into 40-45g for espresso. Around 30 seconds as a target.
Such an easy and forgiving coffee to brew. Great in dairy and also works with some alternatives.
Farm Info
The Vargem Grande Estate is located at the feet of the Mantequiera mountain range. The plantation is protected by the hills around it and is between 1100 and 1200 meters above sea level. During harvest time the temperature is a very steady 14-15C, building to a more stable 20C. Rainfall is typically between 1.2 and 1.6 Meters, which fall in the growing season. Winters are cooler and drier, discouraging bacterial growth in the soil.
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