Fazenda Santa Lúcia

Fazenda Santa Lúcia is situated in the Mantiqueira de Minas region of Carmo de Minas, Brazil, an area renowned for its high-altitude coffee production. The farm spans 740 hectares, with approximately 80 to 100 hectares dedicated to coffee cultivation at elevations ranging from 900 to 1,250 meters above sea level. These conditions provide the cool temperatures necessary for the slow maturation of coffee cherries, which is essential for developing complex flavor profiles.

The farm is managed by Hélcio Carneiro Pinto, who began his journey in coffee at age 15 by assisting his mother. In 1976, following his marriage to Glycia Pereira Carneiro—the daughter of the influential Jose Isidro Pereira and Nazareth Dias Pereira—Hélcio took over the management of the estate. His transition into specialty coffee was part of a broader regional shift in the 1990s, during which he became a founding member of APROCAM, the Association of Coffee Producers from the Mantiqueira Region.

Historically, the farm operated without a focus on specialty markets, but it has since become a model for quality-oriented production. Hélcio is associated with the Grupo Sertão group of farms, which invests significantly in both agricultural infrastructure and community development, including local schools and medical facilities. The farm is noted for its manual harvesting practices, a labor-intensive method that remains relatively rare in modern Brazilian coffee production.

Fazenda Santa Lúcia is known for its meticulous approach to processing, utilizing both natural and pulped natural methods. The farm emphasizes the separation of lots and varieties, conducting onsite testing to ensure consistency. Water used in the pulping process is recycled for other agricultural purposes, reflecting a commitment to sustainable resource management. The farm also maintains a diversified output, producing bananas, corn, and dairy alongside its coffee crops.

Commonly cultivated varieties at the estate include Yellow Bourbon, Yellow Catuaí, and Acaiá. These coffees are frequently characterized by notes of milk chocolate, peanut butter, and stone fruits, often exhibiting a soft acidity and a velvety body. The farm’s dedication to quality has earned it certification from the Brazilian Specialty Coffee Association (BSCA), solidifying its reputation among international roasters and specialty coffee importers.

It is important for researchers and consumers to distinguish Fazenda Santa Lúcia in Carmo de Minas from other similarly named estates, such as Sítio Santa Luzia in the Cerrado Mineiro region, which has achieved high scores in recent Cup of Excellence competitions. While the names are similar, they represent distinct geographic regions, management teams, and production profiles. The legacy of Fazenda Santa Lúcia remains deeply tied to the Pereira family’s influence on the development of the Mantiqueira de Minas specialty coffee industry.