In 2014, our sister export company NKG Stocker and the coffee nonprofit HRNS do Brasil began considering how they might together assist Brazil’s smallholder producers in not only improving their agronomy practices and cup quality but also profitability. The result was the Forca Café Championship — a contest to celebrate the best coffees from smallholder producers in Matas de Minas, Circuito das Aguas and Campo das Vertentes, paired with an online auction through which buyers could compete for the lots.

This year's 9th annual Brazil Força Café Championship provided the opportunity, after two years of remote execution, for participants to once again gather in Brazil. As in the past, this was a multi-layer group project. Roughly 170 lots were submitted from the three regions. These were cupped and further delineated by the team at Stockler. The remaining coffees were then cupped by an international panel of judges primarily composed of exporters and roasters. These judges came together for an intensive calibration and cupping to rank the finalists, choosing 12 lots per category – namely, natural process, semi-washed and microlots. The latter is a new category introduced this year, to welcome in producers who were eager to participate but had fewer than the 10 bags originally required. The final 36 lots made it to auction on Nov. 23, and InterAmerican won most of the coffees we had our sights on! Every dollar spent during the auction, above the initial purchase price, goes directly back to the producers.

Casa da Criança

The Força Cafe Competition also continues to benefit Casa da Criança, a community center that offers crucial youth services and adult classes for the coffee community of San Antônio do Amparo. For every bag won at auction, InterAmerican elected to pay a per-pound premium toward Casa da Crianca, which this year led to a donation of $1,595. (You can read more about the center here.)

We're delighted to offer the coffees we won at auction!* By producer name, they are:

Deivison Welques Pereira, 3rd Place
28 bags
Dedicated coffee area: 6 hectares
Region: Matas de Minas
Variety: Red Catucai 785
Notes: Blackberry, graham cracker, sweet. Good structure, lactic body, well balanced.

Rosimeire Aparecida Guerra, 4th Place
25 bags
Dedicated coffee area: 8 hectares
Region: Circuito das Aguas
Variety: Yellow Catuaí
Notes: Peach, strawberry, tropical fruit punch, floral. Nectar like body, complex.

Jessica da Silva Mariano, 5th Place
21 bags
Dedicated coffee area: 6 hectares
Region: Matas de Minas
Variety: Red Catucai 785
Notes: Sweet, tea-like body, lemon, crisp, juicy, elegant.

Jose Claudio Pimentel, 7th Place
28 bags
Coffee area: 15 hectares
Region: Circuito das Aguas
Variety: Red Catuaí
Notes: Sweet, chocolate, stone fruit, juicy, bright finish.

*All bag quantities are the original amounts; please ask about current availability.