Espírito Santo

What it is

Brazil's second-largest producing state, and really two coffees. Conilon on the hot coastal lowlands to the north; mountain arabica to the south, in Caparaó, Venda Nova do Imigrante and Castelo.

What it's known for

Producing roughly two-thirds of Brazil's conilon. The specialty story, though, is in the mountains — citric and fruity, red and yellow fruit over a molasses sweetness, grown in the shadow of Pico da Bandeira.

The character of the place

Italian and German families settled these valleys in the late 1800s and never quite left: the accents, the polenta and the festas are still there. Farms are measured in a handful of hectares, worked by the family, and increasingly open to visitors.

Cup attributes

Acidity	balanced with sweetness
Aroma	more aromatic from the higher ground
Body	balanced
Flavour	citric and fruity — red and yellow fruits, molasses
Finish	good
Varieties	Mundo Novo, Caturra, Catuaí