Daterra Sundrop, Brazil

The owner of Daterra, Luis Pascoal, is a key coffee visionary in the quality movement who never tires of tweaking everything he does to improve his coffees and social/environmental policies. Daterra was the first farm in the world to package its raw coffees in sealed packages, preserving its coffee’s subtle nuances over the long oceanic journey to our shores. Daterra is always innovating and keeping growing concerns, such as climate change, in mind. From planting 150,000 native trees throughout the farm, to composting 14,000 tons of organic matter, to working on establishing corridors to allow the natural passage of wildlife easily throughout the vast farmland, their attention is fixed on sustainability in the face of climate change. In 2018, Daterra was the first coffee farm in the world to receive The Rainforest Alliance Certification Level A, their highest designation. The farm goes above and beyond every year to achieve sustainability through its practices. Technology and consistent innovations help contribute to its ecosystem, protecting the Cerrado Bioma of Brazil, the second most important hot spot in the world. Our “Sundrop” from Daterra is another example of a true naturally-processed Brazilian coffee that exemplifies what sweet notes a natural coffee can produce. Also referred to as a “Cerrado natural,” these cherries are allowed to grow, mature, and dry on the very same branches for the full time it takes until they are ready to be harvested. This results in a coffee with bright acidity and a noticeably sweet, fermented cherry note. It can only be achieved through careful monitoring, ensuring a stable, dry climate throughout the entire process where moisture isn’t allowed to interfere and deter quality. The end result is a full-bodied, rich coffee with exceptional honey-like sweetness and malic acidity.