Daterra Sundrop, Brazil

The owner of Daterra, Luis Pascoal, is a key coffee visionary in the quality movement who never tires of tweaking everything he does to improve his coffees and social/environmental policies. Daterra was the first farm in the world to package its raw coffees in sealed packages, preserving its coffee’s subtle nuances over the long oceanic journey to our shores.

Daterra is always innovating and keeping growing concerns, such as climate change, in mind. From planting 150,000 native trees throughout the farm, to composting 14,000 tons of organic matter, to working on establishing corridors to allow the natural passage of wildlife easily throughout the vast farmland, their attention is fixed on sustainability in the face of climate change. Daterra was the first coffee farm in the world to receive The Rainforest Alliance Certification Level A, their highest designation, in 2018. The farm goes above and beyond every year to achieve sustainability through its practices. Technology and consistent innovations help contribute to its ecosystem, protecting the Cerrado Bioma of Brazil, the second most important hot spot in the world.

Natural processing is traditional for regions with a dry climate such as Brazil, and our roasts of Daterra aim to highlight their sweetness and nuanced fruit notes. For Sundrop, Daterra allowed the cherries to go one step past full maturation while staying on the trees. The coffee was then dried the rest of the way on raised beds until stabilized and ready for hulling. Absorption of starches throughout the drying process yields a full-bodied cup. It’s exceptionally smooth and sweet with butterscotch, blueberry, clove, and a touch of guava.

Daterra Sundrop represents George Howell Coffee's take on natural-processed beans from Brazil, where the natural process allows fruit-forward character to develop prominently. The roaster identifies butterscotch and clove alongside stone fruit and berry notes—a flavor combination that reflects how natural coffees tend toward heavier fruit expression and residual sweetness. This lot brings together the producer's careful handling with the inherent complexity of Brazil's terroir, resulting in a profile that balances warm spice with bright fruit.