Brazil Vira Mao
Our first direct trade Brazilian coffee. This high grade Arabica is truly exceptional. A South American special.
Smooth and rich with a creamy, nutty and sweet aftertaste – you’ll enjoy this Brazilian roast coffee any time but it’s a fantastic finish to any meal.
The Farm
Isaltino & Ivan Caixeta (brothers) along with their families, run the Vira Mao Farm in central Brazil where we first stayed in June 2010 to establish a sustainable trading relationship. Whilst there we were able to talk about quality and ethics and why they were close to our hearts, and found a family living out similar values, passionate about great coffee, the care taken in producing it, their workers and the environment.
You can see some of the photos we took whilst visiting, and returning most years since we have grown a strong friendship with this family.
We’re very excited about the future potential with these great people, this farm, and the amazing Brazil coffee beans. It’s a favourite!
Athos Caixeta writes:
“After four generations, the tradition in the Brazil coffee beans growing keeps very strong and alive in the life of the family Franco Caixeta and for sure it will be continued for much more because the coffee business it is some that is in our genes.
Everything started more than 140 years ago, when Isaltino (my great-grandfather) moved from Paraná state, to south of Minas Gerais, region today well known for producing the best Brazilian roast coffees of the country. He established his home at the city of Machado, where he began to plant the first seeds of coffee. At that time, it was need to do all work manually, a very hard work that lasted several years. But after all that hard work, he realized that he was at right place to grow Brazilian coffee.
The soil and the climate in that area have shown great for this culture, besides altitude higher than 1.000m, a good base for producing high quality coffees.
Today, my father, Isaltino Franco Caixeta, is the responsible for the Gerezim Farm and Vira Mão Farm, two farms inherited that keep the same tradition of producing good coffees respecting the environment and helping the collaborators of the farm get a better life.”
Environment
- ☕ At the Caixeta family farm 25% of their land is not farmed but designated for permanent preservation of rainforest and protection of precious habitat for various species.
- ☕ There are a lot of birds and animals that live free throughout the farm feeding themselves on fruit, seeds, grasses, and even Brazilian coffee cherries (beans).
- ☕ Over 5,000 native trees have been planted to avoid soil erosion and increase sub-soil moisture. This helps protect water sources and habitat, producing an increase of wildlife, especially birds.
- ☕ All hunting and predatory practices have been banned within the family properties, giving in positive results for a number of species.
- ☕ Their working practices have constant regard for water and soil conservation, avoiding the use of agrochemicals.
- ☕ The family have been instrumental in conservation in the area and introduced biodynamic farm practices.
