ELIEZER CALVI

MANGO, GRAPEFRUIT, RAW HONEY

Eliezer’s coffee is a great example of what is possible in Brazil, a coffee growing country with a reputation for cheap, mediocre coffee. Mango and grapefruit immediately jump out at you upon first sip, followed by a lingering raw honey sweetness. 

PRODUCER
This offering is produced by Eliezer Calvi. Eliezer has been producing coffee for 8 years. His family farm, Sítio Vista Linda, is 10 hectares (about 24 acres) situated on a mountainside in the Castelo municipality of the state of Espírito Santo. Eliezer grows a mix of Catuai and Catucai varieties and processes all the coffee cherry on the property using the pulped natural or “honey” method.

In 2016 Eliezer connected with specialty coffee exporter FAF Coffees via their local outreach program “Lado a Lado” (“Side by Side”). This program is led by Rafael Marques, who travels the region meeting producers in a work van converted into a coffee sensory lab. He uses this equipment to taste the farmers’ coffee and give them immediate feedback. The program also provides education on land renovation and harvesting techniques.

VARIETIES
 This offering is composed of the Catucai cultivar. Catucai is a hybrid of the Icatú and Catuaí varieties developed in Brazil. It is one of a new generation of varieties that combine high cupping scores, high yields, and disease and drought resistance.
 
PROCESSING PROTOCOL
The coffee is harvested mainly by Eliezer and his family with the help of 1-2 local laborers. Once harvested, the coffee cherry is processed using the pulped natural or “honey”method. The coffee seed is depulped from the cherry and immediately laid out on covered raised beds to dry.