DECAF LEGENDER ESPECIAL

In the mountains of Sul de Minas, there are hundreds of small, family-owned and operated farms called Sitios. Compared to Fazendas, Sitios have a much smaller footprint. These small coffee farms are typically at high altitudes, allowing the farmers the unique opportunity to produce quality specialty coffee. 

Ten years ago, Demilson Batista saw the opportunity to export quality specialty coffee from these sitios. In 2012, he established his exporting company, Legendér Specialty Coffees, in Machado, a small town in Sul de Minas. Machado and the neighboring towns of Poco Fundo and Campestre were full of untapped potential from these Sitios. Demilson made it his goal to work with these producers. He encourages them to sell during peak freshness so that they get paid out above the market rate.

We have all witnessed this evolution in other coffee-producing origins, but this practice seems relatively new in a country that is synonymous with coffee, though not necessarily specialty coffee. Previously, many of these small farms, or sitios, delivered their harvest to collectors, unaware of their coffee’s potential. Demilson, alongside his wife Luciana, set out to change that dynamic. He wanted quality coffee from individual farms to be recognized and introduced to the specialty market. The shift wasn’t easy—producers were skeptical at first. However, as they saw the higher premiums and recognition they could achieve with their own coffee, momentum started to build. 

Brazilian coffee from specialty sitios are some of the most ethical, sustainable and traceable coffee you can find. In Brazil, it is required that farmers maintain at least 30% of their land as preserved rainforest. This not only keeps the farms beautiful, but it also provides a habitat for local wildlife and shade to protect the coffee trees. On the environmental front, sitios don’t have a need for chemical fertilizers. Everything they need to keep their soil healthy is right there on the farm, resulting in a coffee that is free of any harmful chemicals from fertilizers.

Legendér pays producers fairly for their coffee with premiums added for high scoring coffee. They even will pay these premiums after the original purchase if the coffee ends up cupping better than expected. This model not only provides a more substantial income for farmers, but it also incentivizes them to continue offering great quality lots of coffee.

Today, through their partnership with Coopama, Legender continues to revolutionize Machado’s specialty coffee scene. Demilson has the ability to assess true “Legender quality,” meaning that a coffee has a distinctly sweet cherry, cocoa, and creamy flavor that clearly illustrates the natural process. This quality standard, along with Coopama’s production capacity, agronomic expertise, and membership reach in Machado makes for a strong collaboration that is appreciated by coffee producers and roasters alike.