The Fazenda São Gabriel plantation is located in Brazil’s most traditional region for the production of fine coffee.

The local climate fosters a concentration of flowering around September and October. As a result, the fruit mature uniformly and at the same time, in the period that precedes the subsequent winter, when harvesting takes place (dry season).

As a result of the mountain topography, there is a substantial difference between night and the day temperatures, which causes a high concentration of soluble solids in the fruit. This in turn yields a beverage with the aroma, body and sweetness of special coffees.

The coffee beans used to make ARTE CAFÉ are the result of sustainable agriculture.

The seedlings employed to form the coffee plantations are produced at the estate itself.

In addition to the coffee seedlings plant nursery, the estate has a permanent nursery of seedlings of the region’s native species and of other plants. This has yielded over 30,000 tree seedlings, of which 20,000 were planted on the estate itself.

The coffee plantations are laid out in such a way as to conserve springs and native woodlands. The coexistence of a plantation next to forests provides even better conditions for growing coffee. Appropriate species are planted in conjunction with the coffee plantations, in the form of lines, in order to protect the coffee trees from strong winds and high temperatures on very hot days.

All newly planted areas since 1996 are located on mountain terraces, on soil that has been duly adjusted and fertilized one year before the coffee trees are planted on it. These terraces, in addition to protecting the soil from erosion, make it easier to treat the plantation and to harvest the coffee, besides contributing to the conservation of nutrients, thereby improving soil fertility.

As of 1996, a system of agricultural partnership was implemented whereby the partner land worker receives part of the production. This system fosters a higher degree of interest, motivation and dedication among the land workers, generating greater efficiency, improved gains and a better life for the land workers.

The plantation is also engaged in other activities that generate income opportunities for the families of the partner land workers:

1- Macadamia nuts - 45 hectares

2- Temperate Climate Fruit Culture - 20 hectares

3- Coffee and Forest Species Nursery

4- Coffee Roasting

Throughout the entire community of the Fazenda São Gabriel plantation, there is not only an awareness of the need to conserve the environment, but a vocation to do so. - Each one of the 25 partner land workers annually plants and takes care of 100 trees of native species. - Conservation and reforestation of native forests. - Conservation of springs. - Preparation of mountain terraces, the soil being adjusted and fertilized throughout the plantation’s area, thereby avoiding erosion and contributing to greater soil fertility, also making it easier to carry out agricultural treatment procedures and the harvest. - Conscious and commonsensical use of agricultural pesticides .- Systematic picking of weeds in the plantation, reducing the use of chemical herbicides as much as possible. - Selective garbage collection program; strict criteria for returning the packaging of pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers used in the plantation. - All the water used in the wet processing of the coffee (washing and pulp removal) runs through a closed circuit and it reused throughout all the operations of the day. This water, as a result of contact with coffee mucilage, becomes very rich in potassium. It is used to irrigate the peach plantations. This operation consumes roughly 0.5 l of water per liter of coffee; this is a ratio regarded as excellent for this type of operation. .