Brazil - Cerrado - Mundo Novo - Natural - by Sail

We source this coffee in Cerrado from the Grossi family. In 1879, Antônio Grossi, José Carlos' grandfather, left the Veneto region of Italy to move to Brazil and work on coffee plantations in the State of São Paulo. A few years later, in 1950, his son Matheus Grossi invested in a small coffee farm in northwest Paraná. Born in Garça, in the interior of the State of São Paulo, José Carlos helped his father on the farm whenever he could, then joined the ESALQ/USP agricultural school in 1966 to deepen his knowledge in coffee growing.

In 1972, José Carlos Grossi left the family land in Paraná to establish his first coffee plantation in the then little-known region of Cerrado Mineiro. With $10,000 in savings, he laid the foundations for the JC Grossi & Filhos business on this largely unexplored terroir.

In 1991, his efforts paid off. Eager to guarantee consistent quality, José Carlos adopted a strategy of vertical integration in production, allowing him to strengthen quality control and traceability. He also conducted research to adapt coffee cultivation to Cerrado conditions and created an experimental plot in 1994.

This natural coffee comes from the Mundo Novo variety, an emblematic variety of Brazilian coffee growing. Discovered in Brazil in the 1940s, it resulted from a natural cross between Typica and Bourbon before being selected by the Instituto Agronômico de Campinas. Vigorous and productive, Mundo Novo spread widely across Brazil for its ability to combine yield with cup quality.

Since 2005, the family's farms have been UTZ and Rainforest Alliance certified.

This coffee crosses the Atlantic by sailboat, extending José Carlos' commitment to more responsible agriculture and logistics, from the Cerrado all the way to roasters.

The history of the Grossi family is deeply tied to that of coffee in Brazil. It all began in 1879, when Antônio Grossi, José Carlos's grandfather, left the Veneto region of Italy to work on the coffee plantations in the state of São Paulo. A few decades later, in 1950, his son Matheus Grossi continued this trajectory by investing in a small coffee plantation in northwestern Paraná.

Born in Garça, São Paulo state, José Carlos Grossi grew up to the rhythm of the family farm. Whenever he could, he accompanied his father into the fields, developing a close relationship with the land and coffee farming. In 1966, he enrolled at the ESALQ / USP agricultural school to deepen his agronomic knowledge and make coffee his profession.

In 1972, José Carlos left the family farm in Paraná to embark on his own adventure in the Cerrado Mineiro, a region still largely unknown for coffee cultivation at that time. With $10,000 in savings and remarkable determination, he founded his first plantation and laid the groundwork for what would become JC Grossi & Filhos.

During this period, he also sold his yellow Beetle to help finance his project. This episode left a lasting mark on the family history and would later inspire the name of one of their iconic coffees: Yellow Beetle.

In 1991, after nearly twenty years of hard work, José Carlos's efforts began to bear fruit. Driven by a desire to ensure consistent quality, he gradually implemented a vertical integration strategy across all operations, from coffee production to processing. This organization allowed him to strengthen quality control, improve product traceability, and gain greater control over every stage of production.

A visionary, José Carlos took this approach further by setting up experimental plots as early as 1994 to study and adapt coffee farming to the conditions of the Cerrado Mineiro. Over the years, the family also carried out extensive agronomic work to improve the naturally highly acidic soils and create favorable conditions for coffee cultivation. Crop rotation, on-site cattle compost production, and the utilization of local resources are now integral to this approach.

The farm subsequently achieved UTZ and Rainforest Alliance certifications starting in 2005, reflecting a long-term commitment to more responsible agricultural practices.

Today, the Grossi family produces natural, honey, and washed coffees, renowned for their sweetness, consistency, and clean cup. They continue to evolve their agronomic and environmental practices, particularly through soil management and on-site compost production, as well as exporting select coffees by sailboat, in line with their vision of a sustainable, forward-looking coffee industry.