Description
Bem-te-vi is one of two main fermentation experiments we did this year, the name comes from a the bem-te-vi (named after the song they sing) birds that are commonly found on our farm around the coffee trees and in our dry mill. The cherries for this lot partially came from the same lot as our Peixoto Honey but with very different results.
We processed the entirety of this lot in a giant ultra-hermetic bags, with a one-way air valve attached; after the fermentation started, it quickly pushed all the oxygen out, allowing the cherries to ferment in a low oxygen environment for 144 hours. This results in a lactobacillus favored fermentation, which creates both lactic acid and a multitude of fruit esters.
This fermentation style came out of years of research and experimentation on the farm in which we tried many different fermentation times, temperatures, environments, and added substrates. We found the microclimate of our farm mixed with the unique yellow catucai variety required a long and low temperature fermentation without any oxygen to emphasize the acids, body, and sweetness found in the variety.
This lot is fully planted with the yellow catucai variety. This is the same variety as our main three lots but through the processing all the natural flavor has evolved. The citric/malic acidity present in our main lots presents as grape, and pineapple, while brand new flavors like red wine and bubble gum get added to the mix.
We slow dried this coffee on concrete patios until it arrived at the optimal moisture content. This slow drying enhances the fruit characteristics and allows the coffee to hold its flavor long after the harvest.
When roasting this coffee, we wanted to showcase the unique characteristics of this coffee. We achieved this by roasting to a similar development as the main lots but with a hotter and faster approach to the end of the roast. This leaves the fruit notes intact while also allowing the sugars to caramelize creating higher sweetness and body.
The result is highly clean and fruited cup, with a vibrant acidity, silky and coating body, and a cup that continues to evolve throughout the cup – showcasing the complexity it offers.
Farm details:
Farmer: José Augusto Peixoto
Farm: Fazenda São José da Boa Vista
Region: Sul de Minas
Country: Brazil
Altitude: 1250 MSL
Process: Low o2 Natural
Varietal: Yellow Catucai
Flavor profile:
Taste: Blackberry, cranberry, mango, kiwi, bubble gum, winey, banana chips
Acidity: Medium intensity/bright
Sweetness: Medium intensity/soft
Body: light/silky
Recommended Brewing Methods:
Fellow Stagg [X]
22g in, 350g out
2:25 – 2:45 minutes
205 f temperature
Medium/coarse grind
Bloom
0-30 seconds
50 gram pour, pick up brewer and spin 3 times
Second pour
30-50 seconds
Pour from 50 grams to 200 grams, starting at 30 seconds and ending your pour at 50 seconds (7.5 gram per second, pour rate)
Let fully drain should be between 1:15-1:30
Third pour
1:15 – 1:30
Pour from 200 grams to 350 grams, starting at 1:15-1:30 and ending your pour at 1:35-1:50 (7.5 gram per second, pour rate)
Let drain completely
Final time
Drain should end between 2:25 – 2:45 minutes or brew to taste
Recommended Espresso Recipe:
Classic 9 bar recipe
19g in, 50g out (22 gram basket)
24-28 seconds
200 f temperature
Espresso grind