Auction Lot:
We were very enthusiastic when we cupped the Masterpiece auction lots from the Daterra farm at the end of last year, and even more so when it came to the cup with VIRADA. The cup was so outstanding that we bet on it at the auction and were over the moon when we were the lucky winners. So here it is, a true masterpiece of cultivation and processing.

2003
Virada (turning point)
But why is this lot called Virada? Virada means 'turning point', and in the remarkable year of 2003, fascinating things happened and the hard work paid off for Daterra, marking a 'turning point' in the farm's history. That year, Daterra became the first Brazilian farm to be certified by the Rainforest Alliance. They worked with the RA to develop a model for sustainable farms in Brazil that did not exist at the time, and finally de commoditised their coffee.

Variety:
Laurina is native to the Reunion Islands and is also known as Bourbon LC or Bourbon Pointu due to its conical tree shape. The small and pointed beans contain less caffeine than other Arabica varieties and its delicate nature.

Process:
Whole ripe cherries are placed in a stainless steel fermentation tank fitted with an Anairlock valve - this system allows oxygen to pass out of the tank and prevents anything getting in. As the cherries ferment, they release CO2 and because carbon dioxide is denser than oxygen, the lighter gas is forced out through the valve. After a few hours, the tank environment becomes completely anaerobic, allowing certain microorganisms the perfect conditions for fermentation and enzymatic reactions to take place inside the beans. The coffee cherries are then dried with their skins as a naturals.