This is one of our favorite Brazil offerings ever! This coffee is graded a Strictly Soft Fine Cup (SSFC) which is the highest category in the Brazilian quality grading system. A great single origin for those looking for a classic coffee that tastes like, well, “coffee”. Brazillian coffees are described by their physical characteristics. This one is an NY 2/3 which stands for “New York 2/3”, and refers to the maximum number of defects allowed; zero primary defects, and a maximum of 9 secondary defects in a 300 gram sample. The numbers 15/16 refer to the screen size, measured in 64ths of an inch. Because of the relatively flat landscape of coffee farms in Brazil, the producers of this coffee are able to harvest it mechanically to speed up the picking process, making it more cost-effective. This mechanization has made strip picking the norm, but machines are becoming better at harvesting coffee for specialty needs. This means becoming better at handling trees to only pick ripe cherries, and make multiple passes throughout the harvest season, mimicking the process of hand-picking. After picking, cherry is laid in thin layers to dry in the sun, while being turned frequently for even drying.