88.20

The first owner of Fazenda dos Tachos was a Portuguese nobleman named José de Jesus Teixeira who received a land grant from the king of Portugal in 1780. With the help of three nephews who came from Portugal, he began to produce co ee on his lands. His will was drawn up in 1817, and a copy of it still exists today. Since then the property has remained in the same family. Today it is in the hands of Adelino Semboloni and Maria José Semboloni, married for 37 years, and their three children who help run the farm. The family’s goal is the continue working towards development and excellence in the production of specialty coffees without forgetting its socio-environmental responsibility. 

he farm holds Certifica Minas certi cation; this certification is a guarantee to the consumer that properties adopt good agricultural practices at all stages of production, complying with environmental and labor standards. It also participates in Fairtrade commerce, which improved fairness in international trade, contributing to sustainable development through better exchange conditions and the guarantee of rights for producers and workers at the margins of the market, especially in the Southern Hemisphere. 

The farm’s history of success is eternalized in the many awards it has achieved: finalist two years in the EMATER (agricultural support company) Cafés de Minas Gerais Quality Contest; among the finalists in the Cup of Excellence in 2013, 2014 and 2015, 4th place in the 2nd COCCAMIG (Minas Gerais Cooperative) Quality System Contest in 2013; runner up in 2012 and 2014 in the MINASUL (Varginha Cooperative) Quality Contest; and champion of the COOPERCAFEM Fair Trade Contest in 2014. (UNIPCAFEM is a small producer association located in Southern Minas Gerais. The group was founded in 2005 and became Fair Trade CertifiedTM in 2007.) 

Coffee processing system 

All of the coffee is transported from the fields to the patio on the same day it is harvested. After being washed, it is spread on the asphalt patio in layers as thin as possible. It remains there and is raked continually until the drying is complete and the beans reach 11% humidity. When time permits, it is only sun-dried. It then goes to the granary until it is processed, then, finally, it goes to the warehouse. 

Concern about quality 

The motto of the farm is “Coffee is nourishment and should be treated as such,” says Adelino. For this reason, the family is always seeking new techniques and advice to improve the quality of its coffees. All of the coffee is traced and follows strict control in the use of products applied to the crops, respecting the environment and the safety of the workers.