Sitio Tripui Coffee
- Process: Natural
- Varietals: Red Catuai and Yellow Icatu
- Altitude: 1,300 meters masl.
- Notes: Forest Berries, Raisin, Herbal
In 2012, Demilson Batista Jr. founded a family coffee business, Legender Specialty Coffees. His son and sister-in-law oversee the roasting, his wife manages logistics, and his brother-in-law, who is an agronomist, works with farmers to help them improve their farm crop yields. Committed to being 100% specialty, the uniqueness of his company is not only in their tight-knit operation, but also in their sourcing strategy.
Legender sources their coffees exclusively from Sitios. In comparison to Fazendas, Sitios are smaller plantations that produce below 500 bags per year. Whereas, Fazendas are larger plantations that produce more than 500 bags per year. Typically, Sitios are found at higher altitude and in more hilly landscapes than Fazendas, which is favorable for coffee growing. Due to the controlled environment of Sitios, the production and quality can be carefully measured and monitored. Demilson’s operation oversees the entire process by sharing, learning, and having a strong relationship with growers.
The Sitios are located in the region of Machado, Poco Fundo, Campestre and Sao Joao da Mata (municipalities of South of Minas Gerais). The region has an average altitude of 1.200 meters above sea level. Sitio coffees are known for their quality, due to the high altitude and shade provided by the hilly landscape.
Valdecir lives on Sitio Tripui with his wife Maria Prado and daughters, Maiara and Naiane Prado. “We are happy to learn our coffee is going to be shipped overseas. It’s a joy and extra motivation. We hope people enjoy our coffee”, says Maria Prado. On one of the highest Sitios they cultivate Red Catuai and Yellow Icatu varieties.
Valdecir Prado named his Sitio after the community in the municipality of Poco Fundo. In the area around the sitio, small rivers flow over dark, sandy soil — which makes the water look dark. That’s why the community (and the Sitio) is called Tripui, meaning “dark waters.
Sebastiao and Ivanete Godoy are the third generation of coffee growers. They live with their daughter Diane and sons Ederson and Leandro Godoy on Sitio Mateiro in the municipality of Machado. “I live in the same place I was born and it´s great to learn that the coffee from the plantation started by my father, is appreciated overseas. It makes us all proud and motivated”, says Sebastiao Godoy.
Sitio Mateiro is situated in the Pereiras community at around 1,200 masl. Their Sitio is named after a local deer, that is very common to be seen around the sitios of the region. They only cultivate yellow varieties.
At Sitio Amoreira banana trees are planted as a natural wind block to prevent the spread of diseases and the sitio runs off 100% solar energy. Mauricio Scalco lives on Sitio Amoreira with his wife Marisa, daughters Luiza and Laura, and sons Pedro and Marco. The surrounding plots of land are owned by Mauricio’s family. The farm produces 38 bags per hectare coming from 3000 trees per hectare. “We love what we do and the place we live. Coffee is our passion. We are happy to be part of this quality program and determined to keep on improving”, says Mauricio Scalco.
Mauricio and his family harvest their coffee in the community of Bela Vista, which translates to ‘beautiful view’, on an altitude of 1,150 masl.
With the help of his brother Wagner, Mr Valter Dias invested time and energy separating the lots, organizing harvest schedule, and properly drying their coffee – small batches at the time. Besides the conventional cemented patio, they have added a ventilated static box that allows warm air to flow evenly drying the cherries. This box enhances natural fermentation resulting in a more complex profile.
“We are extremely happy with quality. Feedback received is encouraging and we are very optimistic for future harvests”, says Mr. Dias
Mr. Valter Dias lives in a community called Barra Grande, a small village 10 km North of Poco Fundo in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. He grows coffee at Sitio Cafundo for over 15 years.
Luiz Scalco has lived and worked in the rural highlands of Poço Fundo, Minas Gerais, for over forty years. Together with his wife Ana and son Luiz Scalco Jr., he tends Sitio Colina, a family property passed down through three generations of coffee growers.
The sitio was inherited in 2012 from Luiz’s father, who dedicated five decades of his life to coffee cultivation. Although production remains small in scale, the Scalco family prioritizes exceptional quality, viewing excellence as the only viable path to offset high production costs and secure a sustainable livelihood.
Sitio Colina lies in Barreiro dos Francos, a community known for its cooperative spirit. Local producers coordinate shared harvest schedules to reduce labor costs and pool resources such as equipment, storage, and expertise. This collective approach has become a model of collaboration for neighboring farming communities, reinforcing the social fabric that sustains smallholder coffee in the Sul de Minas region.
Paulo and Vilma Pereira represent the third generation of coffee growers in Campestre, Minas Gerais. For decades, the family sold their coffee to the conventional market, until they decided to join the Legender Specialty Coffee Program — a shift that marked a new chapter for Sitio Matuto.
Through the program, a quality-based premium is added to their price, rewarding effort and excellence. The incentive encouraged the couple to experiment with selective picking, improved drying methods, and careful post-harvest handling, uncovering the untapped potential of their coffee. “We were happy with the quality, always hearing good things about it, but we didn’t know the real potential of our coffee. What was good became even better — and showed us that we still have room to improve.” said Vilma Pereira.
Situated in the Canta Galo community at 1,200 m above sea level, Sitio Matuto benefits from the region’s mild climate and fertile soil. The Pereiras dry their cherries on cemented patios, ensuring consistency and control. Their dedication is driven by both pride and passion: “We love our Sitio and we are happy to continue investing in better quality.” states Paulo Pereira.
