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Minas Gerais is the largest coffee-growing state in Brazil, accounting for about 55% of Brazil's total production. Apart from most of the African producers who usually have only a few hectares, the typical Brazilian farms range anywhere from 10 to 100 hectares.
Sul de Minas region (also known as South of Minas): offers a high altitude, averaging 950m, (which is quite high for Brazil) and a mild annual temperature of around 22 degrees Celsius. It is the biggest producing region in Brazil. The main varieties grown here are Catuaí, Mundo Novo, Icatu, Obatã, and Catuaí Rubi (Red Catuaí) as well as some experimental ones.
Pieter and his wife, originally from the Netherlands, bought their farm called Sítio Maracatu in São Sebastião do Paraíso, in the South of Minas Gerais back in 2008. The Farm lies 1000 metres above sea level. The region has an ideal climate for growing coffee.
“In the beginning we removed all the old plants and started planting all over again. Four years later, we had our first small crop of coffee beans, and today we produce great batches of anaerobic fermented coffees.” Says Pieter.