Patricia Mendonça

Patricia and her husband Luiz Guilherme purchased Sitío Três Barras da Mantiqueira in 2017 after deciding it was time to leave the big city, and think about the legacy they would leave their three children. The property is located in Vale da Grama, tucked away in the Mantiqueira mountain range in Southeastern Brazil. 

Since the couple had little personal experience in coffee production before they embarked on their journey, the process involved considerable study and dedication. Patricia believes that only "with hard work, innovation, respect, and humility it is possible to provide the best experiences in the cup". Although the couple spent many years in the city, they both have very deep roots in rural and agricultural communities, with both their parents coming from farming backgrounds, and as a result have a special connection to the countryside of São Paulo. Patrícia maternal grandmother, Izabel, was famed for her coffee roasting and the family all remember the wonderful aromas of the fresh coffee. Luis’ family also contains considerable coffee heritage. His grandfather owned several coffee farms, now no longer in the family, and the name of Sitío Três Barras is a homage to this legacy.

Patrícia's approach is holistic, she is dedicated to demonstrating that it is possible to produce high quality coffee, whilst also respecting the environment and local communities. Fabricio, the farm manager at Sitío Três Barras and Patrícia’s right hand man, has many years of experience in the coffee world and together he and his team ensure the consistent cultivation of this small fazenda’s fresh and exciting coffee.

Alongside Patrícia and Fabricio, there are eight permanent members of the Sítio Três Barras team who collaborate closely with the agronomist, consultant, and coffee grader José Carlos Fante. The team work very closely together, and Fante’s recommendations and guidance have been indispensable for the farm in recent years. From September to mid May soil and leaf analysis is conducted, alongside nutrition and weed management. Considerable renovation of the plots has been undertaken by Patrícia and Luis and a modern drip irrigation system has been incorporated throughout the farm. From June to September the harvest season begins and the farm bristles with activity as over 20 seasonal workers enter the farm. For the post harvest processing the farm has a two-thousand square meter patio, three dryers with a capacity of 15,000 thousand liters each, and a one storage bin with a capacity for 18,000 kg of coffee.

This particular lot is a naturally processed Obatã variety. Obatã is a high yielding, rust-resistant, dwarf hybrid of Timor and Villa Sarchi known for clarity and balance in the cup.

We're tasting a lot of light, almond-forward nuttiness, some yellow stone-fruit and lingering vanilla.