Day 1: Port of Santos & EISA Exporters
We began our journey in Santos, Brazil’s most important coffee export port, visiting EISA, the third largest coffee exporter in the world. It was incredible to see the logistics and scale of operations, from massive storage facilities to shipping containers being loaded with green beans destined for roasters across the globe. This visit gave us a clear sense of how Brazil supports the global coffee market at such a high volume.
Day 2: Bourbon Specialty Coffee, Warehouse Visit
On day two, we headed to the Bourbon Specialty Coffee warehouse. Here, we observed how speciality-grade coffee is stored, sorted, and prepared for shipment. Temperature and humidity control were key elements, it’s a highly curated process to preserve the integrity of every bean. The warehouse team shared insights into their grading system and how they maintain traceability from farm to buyer.
Day 3: Bourbon HQ & Farm Tour
We visited Bourbon’s headquarters, where we had the opportunity to learn about their philosophy, sustainability initiatives, and future goals. From there, we travelled to their farm, where we toured the coffee fields and learned about the agronomy behind their practises. We saw coffee at different stages of growth and heard directly from the farmers about how climate change is influencing crop planning.
Day 4: Multi-Farm Visits & Cherry Picking Competition
This day was a highlight, we visited several farms, including one owned by a remarkable female producer who shared her journey in a male-dominated industry. The dedication to quality and community upliftment was clear across every farm. We ended the day with a friendly coffee cherry picking competition… and let’s just say, some of us were more competitive than others!
Day 5: EISA Sorting Facility & Fazenda Santa Cruz
Back with EISA, we toured their high-tech sorting facility where over 1% of the world’s coffee consumption is processed. It was impressive to see how efficiently they separate coffee by size, density, and defect levels. Later, we visited Fazenda Santa Cruz to observe large-scale machine harvesting in action, an important part of keeping up with demand while tackling labour shortages.
Day 6: Volcafe Warehouse Visit
Volcafe welcomed us into their warehouse, where we got a behind-the-scenes look at another major player in green coffee logistics. We discussed market trends, current export volumes, and what quality control looks like from their side. It was a great chance to compare how different exporters operate and prioritise sustainability and traceability.
Day 7: Smallholder Farm Visits
We ended the trip with visits to smallholder farms. These producers often manage their entire crop themselves, and their stories were deeply inspiring. Despite limited resources, they were producing exceptional coffee and continually improving their practises. One of our team members, Joe, even made it onto local news during our visit, a fun and unexpected highlight!
Brazil 2025 Coffee Facts
– Brazil has increased its production from 35M to 75M bags over the past 20 years.
– Farmers are shifting to smarter agricultural practises to raise yields from 20 to 35,40 bags per hectare.
– Labour shortages remain a challenge, especially in rural regions.
– Demand for both speciality Arabica and climate-resilient Robusta is rising.
– The country has faced a supply-demand deficit for 10 years but forecasts for the 2025 and 2026 crops are promising.
Final Thoughts
The Brazil Origin Trip 2025 opened our eyes to the depth, complexity, and humanity of the coffee journey. From port logistics to farm-level innovation, each step highlighted the care and effort behind every cup. We return with more than just knowledge, we’re bringing back relationships, appreciation, and ideas for the future.
