Brazil - Piao Morro Grande

The farm Fazenda Piao Morro Grande translates as Cowboy Mountain Farm. It is situated on the mountain side at 950 to 1150masl. The farm spans 74ha and produces roughly 2200 bags of coffee a year, even with only half of the farm dedicated to coffee production. The farm is run by a third successive generation, two brothers Rafael and Leo. They both left the area to study, one reading Law and the other Agronomy. Their grandfather farmed with two partners and when he died, their grandmother bought out the other partners, seeking to create something to pass down to her children. This sentiment is echoed by Rafael and Leo who now run the operation. To help them they have a family who live in housing on the farm and who have been working with the family and living on the farm for 10 years.

Initially, the farm was predominately dairy focused. Gradually, the potential for coffee farming was realised. By the late 90s the family was seriously developing their coffee growing capacity. With the addition of the skill set of a trained agronomist, the quality of the coffee produced increased dramatically. Their coffee is processed on the farm, with the drying of the beans taking place on the patio all but two days a week during the picking season. The brothers utilise one day guardiolas, which are barrels that ensure the consistency of the coffee produced. They mitigate the effects of the changing weather from day to day. This helps to ensure the reproducibility of the cupping across any bag of their coffee as well as their lots year on year.