Fantastic balance and incredibly sweet - earthy sweet: think panela, toasted nuts and chocolate. There is great structure too, with lovely prune and sultana characters.

Some people baulk at Brazilian coffees, claiming they’re too simple and lack finesse. Ignore these people. Brazil is often at the forefront of processing technique and varietal exploration - like with this Arara from Sitio Canaã. Here we have the story of a new generation of coffee producers coming through the ranks. Dedication and a conscientious approach to farming, Kleumon Silva Moreira, along with support from top producers in the region, have delivered a truly unique and delicious coffee.

From importers, Melbourne Coffee Merchants: This very special 900kg Arara variety micro-lot comes from Sitio Canaã (“The Promised Land”). This small farm lies outside the small town of Piatã in Bahia’s Chapada Diamantina region, at an altitude of 1,280 to 1,340 meters above sea level. Chapada Diamantina translates to ”Diamond Plateau” in Portuguese, and for 100 years this area was mined for the gemstones embedded in its cliffs. Today the region is famous for its specialty coffee.

Sitio Canaã is owned and managed by Kleumon Silva Moreira. Kleumon is young – 28 years old – but has been working in coffee for over a decade, alongside Antônio Rigno (of São Judas Tadeau).  Antônio is widely regarded as the best producer in the region and is famous for his commitment to quality, and has many accolades for his coffees in the Cup of Excellence competition and other quality awards over the years. He has provided advice and mentorship for many producers in the region, and Kleumon has worked by his side over the last decade learning everything from how to plant and care for the trees through to processing.

In 2016, using all of his savings, along with a small loan from the bank (for which Antonio was his guarantor), Kleumon had enough to plant his own coffee farm. He purchased a 10-hectare plot of land and began planting it with a wide range of varieties –   Topázio, Catuaí, Obata, Acauã, Paraiso, Arara and Bourbon. This lot is 100% Arara.

Kleumon is a very conscientious producer and meticulous in the way that he approaches every aspect of his plantation. Each of the trees at Sitio Canaã is carefully planted 60cm apart and in rows that are 3.3m apart, mirroring the precision and best practice from Antonio Rigno’s farms. To optimise and supplement his income whilst the coffee plantation is established, Kleumon has also planted sugarcane, passionfruit, and strawberries, but as his coffee production is ramping up he is slowly moving away from this.

Kleumon represents the next generation of coffee producers in Piata, and continues to show great promise and go from strength to strength. This is the third harvest from his farm – we have purchased from him every year.

Kleumon ensures cherries were picked by hand only when fully ripe and were carefully pulped by hand.  His picking team consists of mainly his family members, including his mother who lives close by. After pulping the coffee at his friend’s mill located 10km down the road, the beans were taken to the mill at Sao Judas Tadeau, where they were sun-dried on patios with their mucilage still attached—spread in layers of about four centimeters and raked several times a day. Finally, the beans are separated into numbered lots which are stored and rested in parchment in a purpose-built warehouse prior to export.