Fazenda Babagem

Get to know this coffee in detail

In the heart of the Brazilian Cerrado, Fazenda Bagagem is a family project that combines sustainability and dedication to specialty coffee.

Since 1994, Álvaro and Lucinea Orioli have cared for this land, maintaining 75% of their property as native forest to preserve the ecosystem.

In 2007, they decided to invest in coffee and today they cultivate 270 hectares of varieties like Yellow Catuai, processed using the Pulped Natural process. This method highlights its sweetness and silky body, with notes of cocoa nibs, almonds, and maple syrup.

Their commitment to quality has led them to win awards such as the Ernesto Illy International Coffee Award and obtain certifications such as Rainforest Alliance.

More than a farm, Fazenda Bagagem is a symbol of family and passion for coffee.

Meet the producer

About 180 kilometers northwest of Brasília, in the heart of Brazil, lies Fazenda Bagagem , a family farm surrounded by the stunning beauty of Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park, within the Cerrado biome. This 270-hectare farm is much more than a coffee producer: it's a story of transformation, love for the land, and an unwavering commitment to sustainability.

Álvaro and Lucinea Orioli have been caring for this estate since 1994. The name Bagagem (which means "luggage" in Portuguese) comes from the river that runs through the property, allowing for sustainable agricultural production. Although they could grow crops on its more than 1,900 hectares, only 25% of the land is used for cultivation. The rest is preserved as native forest, a conscious decision to preserve the ecological balance of the Cerrado.

But Fazenda Bagagem wasn't always a coffee farm. Álvaro, an agronomist originally from Rio de Janeiro, bought the land in 1989 and began growing beans and corn, like so many other Brazilian farmers. However, the low income and lack of stability from these annual crops led the family to seek new alternatives.

With an altitude of 1,100 meters above sea level, a temperate climate, and abundant water, coffee seemed a promising option. They planted their first coffee trees in 2007, and since then, the farm has grown to 270 hectares of varieties such as Yellow and Red Catuaí, Catucaí, Arara, Paraíso, and Geisha, selected for their balance of productivity and sensorial quality.

The path to specialty coffee wasn't immediate. At first, the family didn't know how to evaluate coffee quality or its market value. They sold to intermediaries at whatever price they were offered. Little by little, with training and experience, they learned to value their product. Felipe, one of the sons, became certified as a Q Grader, and with that, a new chapter began: specialty coffee production, the fight for fair prices, and continuous investment in improving the farm.

“I'm inspired by the great pleasure of growing coffee, with its well-defined production stages and the certainty of contributing to improving the ecosystem through sustainable agriculture,” says Álvaro.

Today, Fazenda Bagagem is recognized in Brazil and beyond. In 2017, it won the award for best coffee in the Midwest region of Brazil at the Ernesto Illy International Coffee Award. They are also Rainforest Alliance certified and members of the Brazilian Specialty Coffee Association (BSCA).

But what truly distinguishes Fazenda Bagagem is the value of family. From the first contact, it's clear that everything revolves around it. The decisions, the sacrifices, the achievements... everything is shared between Álvaro, Lucinea, Felipe, and the other members of the family. As Felipe explains, even moving to Portugal was part of a shared effort to grow the family project.

Unlike annual crops like beans or soybeans, which are planted and uprooted without a trace, coffee has roots. It requires time, attention, and respect for natural cycles: rainfall, flowering, ripening, and harvest. Coffee has given them stability, a connection to their land, and a shared purpose. Today, like the roots of a coffee tree that take root in the Cerrado soil, the Orioli family grows stronger, carrying with it a history of respect, effort, and passion for coffee.

Fazenda Bagagem is not just a coffee farm. It's a living expression of what happens when love for the land, family unity, and a constant pursuit of excellence come together.