VENTURIM

Farm: Fazenda Venturim

Family: Venturim 

Location:  São Domingos do Norte - Espírito Santo

Region: Espírito Santo

Start of Production: 1882

Elevation: 150-250m 

Fazenda Venturim has been producing coffee in Brazil for five generations. Patriarch Amadeo Venturim was the first immigrant to settle in the municipality of Venda Nova do Imigrante in the mountains of Espírito Santo, and he began cultivating coffee upon his arrival in 1882. This love for coffee has been passed down through generations and continues to this day.

In the early 20th century, his son Francisco purchased the first parcels of land in northern Espírito Santo and, along with Euzaudino (known as Chico), began opening cultivation areas and planting coffee. Interestingly, at that time, there was no commercial cultivation of robusta coffee. The majority of coffee grown here was the Bourbon Vermelho variety, despite the semi-arid climate and altitudes ranging from 100 to 200 meters.

After the eradication of coffee plantations in the late 1960s, Bento Venturim (4th generation), already settled in northern Espírito Santo, and other local producers (led by then-mayor Dr. Dário Martineli) initiated the first commercial plantations of robusta coffee in Brazil. São Gabriel da Palha became known as the birthplace of Conilon coffee. The crop adapted well to the region and revived coffee farming, the primary economic activity in the area, which had been devastated by the "eradication."

Having cared for arabica coffee crops in his youth, Bento was never satisfied with producing Conilon coffee the way it was traditionally done in the region (early harvesting, high-temperature drying, or direct ground processing), as he knew that, just like arabica coffee, it wouldn't result in a good beverage, let alone a special one.

With succession in mind, Bento instilled the seed of quality in his children's hearts and the idea that if they treated Conilon coffee as special as arabica coffee was treated in the mountains, it too could be a special beverage. Following this concept, Isaac and Lucas Venturim explored all the techniques used in arabica cultivation, along with the technology developed for Conilon coffee in Espírito Santo, achieving remarkable results.

In 2007, after extensive research, it was time to implement the project. Much learning was required, including replanting crops, acquiring equipment, and revising the plan many times over.

In 2012, with many crops replanted, they began pulping coffee, and the quality improvement was unbelievable. In the first regional competition they entered, they won the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places. 

However, there were many challenges in adapting equipment and knowledge during this journey.

In their pursuit of excellence, they improved processes and equipment. In 2016, they realized that further evolution was needed to understand and meet the market's needs. It was time to take a new step and bring their coffee directly to the end consumer.

In 2017, they founded their micro-roastery and their own brand, Café Fazenda Venturim. This move was crucial for researching and developing knowledge about roasting and extracting this type of coffee, which was still relatively unknown in the specialty coffee segment.

Through exchanging experiences with other producers and collaborating with research institutes, primarily Incaper and Ifes, they continued to evolve. In 2018, they achieved a significant milestone in the global coffee industry, with their efforts recognized.

Fazenda Venturim became the first producer of Canéfora Coffee (Conilon/Robusta) to join the Brazilian Specialty Coffee Association (BSCA), the world's first association to recognize the specialty of this species.