Introduction:Delve into Queen Estate in Brazil’s Mogiana region, and discover how its refined natural process and Yellow Bourbon variety produce a specialty coffee with outstanding sweetness and layered complexity. This article will take you through the growing environment, varietal characteristics, processing methods, roasting strategy, and practical pour over techniques — guiding you to grasp the key flavor profiles and brewing essentials of this exceptional coffee.

As the world’s leading coffee-producing country, Brazil supplies not only large volumes of commercial-grade Arabica and Robusta, but also many specialty coffee estates that showcase distinct regional flavors. Among them, Queen Estate, located in the Mogiana region of São Paulo State, stands out thanks to its high-altitude advantage of 1400 to 1950 meters and its focus on the Yellow Bourbon variety. The result is a specialty coffee bean bursting with sweetness and vibrant flavors.

Mogiana is a relatively high-altitude micro-region for specialty coffee in Brazil, with an average elevation of around 1300 meters. Compared to the majority of Brazil’s plateau areas, which typically range between 500 to 800 meters, Mogiana is better suited to cultivating complex coffee flavors. Since its first participation in the Brazilian Cup of Excellence (COE) competition in 1999, Queen Estate has won multiple awards, showcasing its commitment to quality and exquisite cultivation techniques.

Covering an area of 280 acres, Queen Estate dedicates 200 acres specifically to the Yellow Bourbon variety. A mutation of Bourbon, Yellow Bourbon is distinguished by its bright yellow fruit when ripe, in contrast to the more common red Bourbon. Compared to traditional Bourbon, Yellow Bourbon generally exhibits superior juiciness and sweetness, giving Queen Estate’s Yellow Bourbon coffee a more distinctive sweetness and layered flavor profile.

In terms of processing, Queen Estate employs a refined natural (dry) process. Typically, due to Brazil’s unstable harvest-season weather, limited sunshine, and the risk of unripe cherries being mixed in during mechanical harvesting, most producers opt for semi-washed or pulped natural methods. However, Queen Estate insists on handpicking only ripe cherries, followed by immediate floatation to remove underripe ones, ensuring that only the highest-quality coffee fruits proceed to the next stage. During the drying phase, African beds are used to elevate the beans for better bottom ventilation. The cherries are turned every six hours to ensure even drying while continuously selecting defective beans — all of which contribute to a pronounced sweetness and rich mouthfeel.

For roasting, this Yellow Bourbon coffee underwent multiple tests, with the final choice being a medium-to-dark roast level — that is, allowing development to continue for about two minutes after the first crack. This roast level fully highlights the inherently round and smooth base typical of Brazilian coffee, while also presenting a sweet yet non-cloying flavor profile. In the wet aroma stage, a delicate lemon scent is noticeable, transitioning into a rich nuttiness, with the finish offering a mellow dark chocolate undertone. The overall flavor is well-balanced and layered.

For actual pour over brewing, it is recommended to use freshly roasted coffee beans to fully experience their vibrant flavor characteristics. Generally, beans roasted within the last 5 days are ideal, and they should undergo approximately 4 to 7 days of degassing to reach optimal flavor. Using a Kono filter can effectively help extract a full-bodied and rich mouthfeel, making it an ideal choice for showcasing this coffee’s unique traits.

Recommended pour over parameters are as follows: 15 grams of coffee, medium-coarse grind (approximately 75% extraction through a #20 sieve), a 1:15 coffee-to-water ratio, and water temperature controlled at 88°C. The brewing technique suggested is a three-pour method: start with a 30 ml bloom pour for 30 seconds; follow with a second pour of 100 ml in small circular motions, and when the water level drops to just about to expose the coffee bed, proceed with a third pour of 95 ml in small circles. The total brew time is around 2 minutes.

In terms of flavor, this Queen Estate Yellow Bourbon coffee displays a clear sweetness accompanied by a delicate lemon aroma. The mid-palate reveals intense nutty notes, while the finish offers a smooth and mellow dark chocolate texture. The overall flavor not only showcases the classic characteristics of Brazilian coffee but also delivers unique vibrancy and complexity due to the Yellow Bourbon variety and refined processing. It is a specialty coffee well worth savoring.

The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.