Brewing guide
What Do Santos, Rio Minas and Sul de Minas Mean in Coffee?
The names Santos, Rio Minas and Sul de Minas convey different information. Sul de Minas is a growing region, Santos is a trade name associated with a historic export port, and Rio Minas is a commercial designation. A lot specification gives you more detail than any of these names alone.
What the Santos name tells you
Santos does not identify a botanical variety or a particular farm. Look for the screen size, defect grade, cup description and traceability information a seller provides alongside the name. Those details help you decide whether to buy.
Taste the sample using your own method before assuming a Santos coffee will be mild. The trade name provides context and the cup shows how the coffee performs.
What does Sul de Minas describe?
Sul de Minas is a coffee-growing region in Brazil’s Minas Gerais state. Producers and lots can differ considerably in processing, roast and quality. Read the region alongside the rest of the product information. [3]
What should you ask when buying Rio Minas?
Ask the supplier what the trade designation means in their offer. Request the origin, harvest details, physical grade and cup evaluation separately. If you are trying to resolve an aroma or bitterness issue in Turkish coffee, evaluate a green coffee sample before trying to fix the problem by changing roast color alone.
How useful are Fine Cup and Good Cup?
Cup designations like these can help you interpret offers. Confirm that both parties apply the same criteria and that the sample represents the coffee you will receive. Use the designation alongside the rest of the specification.
For a business purchase, put together a short specification with the product name, lot or shipment reference, physical attributes, unwanted flavors and approved sample. Include roast, grind and service trials. The question then becomes whether the lot can consistently deliver the cup you want.