Farm/Region: Piatã, Bahia
Tasting Notes: Dark chocolate and hazelnut with a buttery mouthfeel
Producer: Antônio & Terezinha Rigno
Varietal: Catuai
Processing: Natural
Producers Antônio and Terezinha Rigno are well-known in their community for their extensive coffee knowledge and generous mentorship of other farmers. Their farm, São Judas Tadeu, sits outside the town of Piatã. At 80 hectares – with 15 hectares planted with coffee – it’s one of the biggest estates in the area.
Coffees from Piatã are typically sweet and distinctive, with rich cherry flavours in the cup. This is due to the region’s relatively high elevation and cool climate – ideal growing conditions that allow the cherries to develop slowly, with sugars steadily developing in the beans over time.
The Rignos’ coffees have been recognised in the prestigious Cup of Excellence competition on multiple occasions. With his characteristic warmth and humility, Antônio credits his team for this success. “The terroir is important, but the real reason is my people,” he told us. “They are like family, and they care as much as I do about quality. I am very lucky.”