João Hamilton | Brazil

João Hamilton’s story begins at Canaã, a farm acquired in 1979 in Brazil’s Serra dos Ciganos region. At the time, coffee was largely treated as a commodity, with production focused on quantity over quality. Farming relied heavily on chemicals, with little consideration for the long-term health of the soil, water or future generations. Over time, João saw the impact firsthand: the mountain soil was depleted, and production was no longer responding. In 2004, João and his partner Juliana met Marcos and Felipe Croce of FAF Coffees, who introduced a new model of agriculture; one João calls Agriculture of Life. Together, they began rebuilding the farm from the ground up: caring for the soil and water, planting trees around springs, separating plots and varieties, harvesting selectively, and drying coffee on raised beds. This Red Catuaí lot is naturally processed, bringing a more expressive side of Brazil to the cup. Wild and funky, with notes of passionfruit and lime, it speaks to João’s care for the land and the quality that comes from farming with life in mind. These are the people and coffees we seek out not simply as ingredients, but as a way to respect the work behind the cup: work that protects the environment, strengthens community, and allows both to thrive.