Brazil
Alta Mogiana, Minas Gerais
Jean Vilhena Faleiros
Santa Monica Estate
Geisha
1200-1240 masl
Anaerobic EC118 Yeast 94 hours

Orange blossom, toffee, vanilla.

The enduring legacy of the Vilhena Faleiros family: Santa Monica stands as a beacon of excellence in the realm of specialty coffee. As a third generation coffee farmer, Jean Vilhena Faleiros has seen knowledge, dedication and time honored traditions passed down from his family who have owned and operated the Santa Monica Estate for over 100 years. Under Jean's visionary guidance, Santa Monica Farm blends time-honored traditions, a commitment to organic farming and modern techniques, ensuring that the farm grows with both heritage and innovation. 

Processing at Santa Monica: Because anaerobic environments naturally limit the types of microbes that can survive, Jeans pick on these commercial yeasts gives precise control over the microbial activity,  helping him achieve specific sensory profiles, consistent flavours and allowing for highly unique coffees. 

Anaerobic fermentation involves fermenting coffee cherries or beans in sealed in oxygen free tanks. Producers closely monitor the 48 to sometimes several hundred hour fermentation process, keeping an eye on variables like temperature and PH. Inoculated fermentations consume natural sugars in the cherries and beans and produce carbon dioxide. Because carbon dioxide is a heavier element than oxygen, it pushes out any remaining oxygen through the one way tank valve, creating a totally oxygen free environment. 

Going Yeast Mode: Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains of yeasts consume the natural sugars in the coffee cherry and bean during the fermentation process, producing compounds which permeate the bean and produce distinct tasting notes like berries, wine, florals and fruit forward profiles. Saccharomyces cerevisiae are widely celebrated in the winemaking and brewing industries and are known for their ability to produce rich aromatic esters. 

Anaerobic EC118 Yeast: EC1118 is a champagne style yeast which is prized for its ability to preserve the characteristics of the coffee with its clean and neutral flavour profile. It is also known for being highly robust in its ability to tolerate high pressures, caused by a build up of C02 inside a sealed anaerobic tank. Originally this yeast was isolated in France's Champagne region from the in bottle second fermentation of sparkling wine.

Santa Monica Farm: In the southeastern region of Brazil, you will find Santa Monica Farm nestled in the Alta Mogiana region of Minas Gerais. The farm sits at an elevation of 1200-1240 meters above sea level, and benefits from an idyllic microclimate which nurtures the finest coffee beans. The reputation of coffee from this area is so prized because of its ideal geography, slow maturation and generational expertise.  

Geography is where it's at: The Global Coffee belt runs along the earth's equator, between the Tropics of Cancer, and the Tropics of Capricorn. It is defined by its latitude, sitting almost entirely between 25° North to 30° South. It is here that coffee plants thrive, receiving consistent warm temperatures, high altitudes, abundant wet seasons followed by dry periods and rich mineral dense soils. 

Brazil’s latitude ranges from 15°16’ North to 33°44’ South. The country covers 4,395km from top to bottom, with landmass in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Almost all of the country sits within the Global Coffee Belt, and is one of many factors making Brazil such a successful coffee producing country. 

Spotlight on Jean Vilhena Faleiros: We are very excited to be welcoming back another stellar drop of coffees from Jean Vilhena Faleiros. This time around we are showcasing 4 microlots from Jean Vilhena Faleiros Santa Monica Farm in Brazil on our filter menu as well as 1 on our espresso menu over the coming months. Across these lots you will see a mixture of varietals as well as processing methods. We are lucky enough to see the use of specific cultivated yeast strands during anaerobic fermentation on four out of the five of these coffees! It’s with great pleasure that we are able to share his fresh harvest with you again.