This month's NerdRoast: Brazil Florada
Hi everyone and happy new year!
This month we’re highlighting a classic expression of Brazilian coffee culture: Brazil Florada NY2 17/18 Fine Cup, a natural-process bean that’s smooth, sweet, and exceptionally versatile in the cup.
🌎 Origin & Producers - Sourced from smallholder farms across Brazil’s renowned coffee regions (in Minas Gerais) this coffee reflects the diversity and depth of Brazil’s terroir. These regions are known for consistent sunshine, distinct dry seasons, and vast plateaus that support thriving coffee communities. These beans are grown at 600-1,200 meters above sea level, a range that contributes to sweetness and body.
⚙️ Processing & Drying - This lot is natural processed, meaning the coffee cherries are left intact during drying, allowing the fruit’s sugars and aromatics to penetrate the beans. After harvest, cherries are patio dried in the sun until they reach ideal moisture levels. In Brazil’s grading system, NY2 indicates very low defect counts, while the 17/18 screen size represents one of the larger, more consistent bean sizes that helps achieve an even roast.
☕️ Tasting Notes - This coffee opens with a soft nuttiness akin to cashews, followed by rich honey molasses sweetness and a creamy milk chocolate finish. The natural process amplifies sweetness and body, making it approachable yet layered.
🔥 Roast & Brew Suggestions
We’ve developed this bean at a medium roast to balance its inherent sweetness with a round body and restrained acidity. It performs beautifully across brewing methods:
Pour-over:
highlights honeyed sweetness and soft, nuanced fruit undertones.
Drip:
creates a smooth, consistent cup with a milk chocolate foundation.
Espresso:
yields a sweet, syrupy shot with nutty richness and minimal sharpness.
This flexibility makes it a great choice whether you’re dialing in daily drip or dialing up a cozy weekend espresso.
Brazilian coffees have long been admired for their approachable sweetness, full body, and chocolate-forward character. This bean exemplifies those traits with a touch of refined sweetness and creamy balance that’s perfect for any occasion.
I sincerely hope you enjoy this month’s roast!
Tony