Sítio Abertão is a new farm on our counter this year. We selected the coffee during the last crop for its caramel-like sweetness, a characteristic we particularly enjoy in coffee from this region in Brazil. José Raimundo de Castro (Zé Camilo), has been working in coffee since the 1970s. He began working as a coffee picker in the Parana region, and moved to Minas Gerais just over a decade ago. Zé Camilo bought four hectares already planted with Yellow Bourbon and Yellow Catuaí. We have written about the mill in our June 2026 newsletter.
Monmouth Coffee Company was founded in 1978 by Nick Saunders and Anita Le Roy on Monmouth Street in Covent Garden. It is widely regarded as a pioneer of third wave coffee in London. The roastery operates from five railway arches in Bermondsey, using energy efficient Loring roasters. Monmouth sources from single farms, estates, and cooperatives through long term contracts, with staff travelling regularly to origin. They have been buying directly in Huila, Colombia, since 2012. The company played a part in regenerating both Neal's Yard and Borough Market, and many of London's independent roasters trace their roots back to Monmouth's training. There are no paper cups: ceramic for staying in, reusable for taking away.
