Colosseo Espresso

In the early 1970s, Antonio Andrade Pereira Filho and his wife Maria da Conceição Costa Pereira decided to invest in coffee cultivation in Carmo de Minas. They purchased 90 acres of land and planted their first coffee trees. It was during this time that their two daughters, Maria Valeria and Maria Rogéria, were born and raised at the heart of the family farm.

From an early age, the two sisters followed in their father’s footsteps and became involved in the farm’s work. When specialty coffee began to emerge in Carmo de Minas in 2002, they were already managing the farm. After their father’s passing, they renamed the Serrado farm Irmãs Pereira, a symbol of their solidarity and the continuation of the family legacy.

Minas Gerais is Brazil’s main coffee-growing region and one of the most important in the world. Located in the southeastern part of the country, it is known for its rolling landscapes, higher elevations, and mild climate, all of which support slow cherry maturation. Areas such as Sul de Minas, Cerrado Mineiro, and Mantiqueira de Minas are renowned for their balanced, sweet, and aromatic coffees, which are widely represented in the specialty coffee market.

The origin of this variety is believed to trace back to Pederneiras, São Paulo, around 1930. There are two main theories regarding the origin of Yellow Bourbon. The first suggests that the variety emerged from a natural selection between Yellow Bourbon and Red Bourbon in Botucatu. The second proposes that the plant may simply be a natural mutation of Red Bourbon.

The sisters’ work as producers improved after joining Carmo Coffees, founded by their cousins Jacques Pereira Carneiro and Luiz Paulo Dias Pereira Filho, the son of Maria Rogéria. This focus on quality has led to remarkable and consistent results.

The family has invested in specialty coffee and a variety of processing methods, including Black Honey, Honey, Double Pass, Sparkler, Natural Unwashed, and Fermented. The coffees are dried on raised beds or patios, with this particular lot drying in the sun for 8 to 10 days.