About This Coffee
We’re proud to bring back Rio Brilhante Fosfórico for the fourth year as one of our Legacy Coffees. Grown on Fazenda Rio Brilhante (meaning “bright river”) this coffee is named after the crystal-clear waters of the Guarani Aquifer, the world’s second-largest underground reservoir, which nourishes the farm in Brazil’s Cerrado region.
Owner Inacio Carlos Urban and his sons combine traditional farming knowledge with modern technology. Soil and tree health are tested quarterly to inform fertilizer use, and professional pruning is done every two years. They also cultivate newer varieties like Arara and Paraiso, selected for both cup quality and disease resistance.
The farm includes 1,600+ hectares of coffee, with another 700+ hectares dedicated to crops like cotton, soy, tomatoes, and pasture for cattle. Due to the region’s flat terrain and high labor costs, harvesting is largely mechanical. Today’s advanced machines allow for selective picking of ripe cherries. On steeper terrain, they use derricadeiras (vibrating rakes) and tarps for targeted harvesting.
After harvest, cherries are dried in thin layers on patios for five days with frequent turning, then finished in mechanical dryers for another four days. After drying, they rest for 40 days before dry milling.
Rio Brilhante Fosfórico delivers a deep, sweet, and structured cup, and also serves as the low-tone foundation in our Sojourner House blend.
