Bahia

What it is

Three regions that have little in common beyond a state line — the irrigated cerrado of the west, the traditional Planalto around Vitória da Conquista, and the coastal Atlântico, which is mostly conilon.

What it's known for

Technology. Centre-pivot irrigation, precision agriculture and GPS-guided harvesting make it the most mechanised coffee farming in the country. The cup is dense and velvety with a bright citric acidity.

The character of the place

Brazil's newest coffee frontier — the first plantings went in during the 1970s. The growers here tend to be engineers rather than heirs, working with about 3,000 hours of sunlight a year and water drawn from the Urucuia aquifer beneath them.

Cup attributes

Acidity	positive citric
Aroma	intense floral and fruity cerrado
Body	high, dense, velvety, round
Flavour	pronounced sweetness, chocolate, dried fruit
Finish	prolonged and consistent
Varieties	95% Catuaí, Caturra, Bourbon