Our spring coffee: Fazenda Ambiental Fortaleza (FAF) from Brazil
Our spring coffee comes from Fazenda Ambiental Fortaleza (FAF), a farm in Brazil’s Alta Mogiana region that has no interest in shortcuts. Owned by the Barretto-Croce family since the 1850s, the farm has undergone a radical transformation over the last two decades. Under the guidance of Silvia and Marcos Croce, and now their son Felipe, FAF has become one of the most respected regenerative coffee farms in the country.
At FAF, you’ll be looking in vain for herbicides, synthetic fertilisers or greenwashed compromises. Instead, they’re big on composting cycles, native tree planting, shade-grown biodiversity corridors, and meticulous soil stewardship.
The cultivar we’re serving is Arara – a yellow cherry variety developed in Brazil, known for its resilience and productivity. But on this land, under this kind of care, it becomes something special. The cup profile is clear and structured: bergamot, citrus peel, a soft, rounded sweetness. Not flashy. Not overloaded. Just precise, elegant, and quietly compelling.
This clarity comes from the soil up. FAF runs an on-site bio factory to cultivate microbial life: bacteria, fungi, and natural inputs that replace agrochemicals. These are applied directly to the fields to support root health, nutrient cycling, and plant immunity. It’s serious science, done on the farm, based on observation and feedback from the land itself.
Of course, that kind of independence doesn’t sit well with big agrochemical companies. In Brazil, the legal framework is tightening, making it harder for small-scale producers to even talk about microbial systems without risking fines or sanctions. Terms like “biofertiliser” are restricted. Farmers are often forced to call their preparations “homeopathic” just to stay legal. It’s absurd – and it’s designed to keep control in the hands of industrial players.
And still, FAF persists. Quietly adapting, sharing knowledge where possible, and producing coffee that honours its land, people and process. We’re glad to be teaming up with them through our long-term roasting partner Five Elephant.
Our spring coffee: Fazenda Ambiental Fortaleza (FAF) from Brazil
At Nobelhart & Schmutzig, we serve you a seasonally rotating variety of coffees by select producers. Each producer is assigned one unique season – and you’ll be able to follow it year by year, as a dynamic, changing product.
Our spring coffee comes from Fazenda Ambiental Fortaleza (FAF), a farm in Brazil’s Alta Mogiana region that has no interest in shortcuts. Owned by the Barretto-Croce family since the 1850s, the farm has undergone a radical transformation over the last two decades. Under the guidance of Silvia and Marcos Croce, and now their son Felipe, FAF has become one of the most respected regenerative coffee farms in the country.
At FAF, you’ll be looking in vain for herbicides, synthetic fertilisers or greenwashed compromises. Instead, they’re big on composting cycles, native tree planting, shade-grown biodiversity corridors, and meticulous soil stewardship.
The cultivar we’re serving is Arara – a yellow cherry variety developed in Brazil, known for its resilience and productivity. But on this land, under this kind of care, it becomes something special. The cup profile is clear and structured: bergamot, citrus peel, a soft, rounded sweetness. Not flashy. Not overloaded. Just precise, elegant, and quietly compelling.
This clarity comes from the soil up. FAF runs an on-site bio factory to cultivate microbial life: bacteria, fungi, and natural inputs that replace agrochemicals. These are applied directly to the fields to support root health, nutrient cycling, and plant immunity. It’s serious science, done on the farm, based on observation and feedback from the land itself.
Of course, that kind of independence doesn’t sit well with big agrochemical companies. In Brazil, the legal framework is tightening, making it harder for small-scale producers to even talk about microbial systems without risking fines or sanctions. Terms like “biofertiliser” are restricted. Farmers are often forced to call their preparations “homeopathic” just to stay legal. It’s absurd – and it’s designed to keep control in the hands of industrial players.
And still, FAF persists. Quietly adapting, sharing knowledge where possible, and producing coffee that honours its land, people and process. We’re glad to be teaming up with them through our long-term roasting partner Five Elephant.