Brazil - Santa Colomba

The story of Daterra begins with Luis Pascoal and a farm called Franca in Brazil. Franca was the first piece of farmland Luis purchased, and it became his testing ground for agricultural experiments. After trying out various crops, Luis decided that coffee could be his future—if only he could grow it on a larger scale.

In 1993, Luis bought Fazenda Boa Vista, and a year later, Fazenda Taboues. While Franca now plays a smaller role in coffee production, these two farms are the heart of Daterra. Remarkably, over 50% of the land is reserved for conservation—even though Brazilian law only requires 20%.

A genuine coffee visionary Luis has been dedicated to pushing quality, sustainability and improving the social and environmental impact of his farms for over 30 years.

An example of a true naturally-processed Brazilian coffee, also referred to as a “Cerrado natural,” the cherries used to make our Santa Colomba were allowed to grow, mature, and dry on the very same branches for the full time it takes until they are ready to be harvested. 

This results in a coffee with subtle acidity and a noticeably sweet and ripe fruit note. It can only be achieved through careful monitoring, ensuring a stable, dry climate throughout the entire process where moisture isn’t allowed to interfere and deter quality.

Daterra are always innovating to address environmental concerns. From planting 150,000 native trees throughout the farm, to composting 14,000 tons of organic matter, to establishing conservation corridors that allow the natural passage of wildlife easily throughout the vast farmland ... their attention is fixed on sustainability in the face of climate change. 

In 2018, Daterra was the first coffee farm in the world to receive The Rainforest Alliance Certification Level A, their highest designation. The farm goes above and beyond every year to achieve sustainability through its practices. 

Technology and consistent innovations help contribute to its ecosystem, protecting the Cerrado Bioma of Brazil, the second most important hot spot in the world.