Quality and Origin

1. What specialty coffee is

Specialty coffee is coffee that scores 80 points or more, on a 0–100 scale, in the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) evaluation. To get there, the green beans must be free of serious defects and the cup must be sweet, balanced and clean, tasting of where it was grown.

In Brazil, “tradicional”, “extraforte”, “superior” and “gourmet” are categories in the industry quality programme (ABIC), with a different yardstick. They do not equal the SCA score, and a “gourmet” coffee is not, by definition, specialty coffee. The full guide is at Specialty coffee: what it is, how to choose and how to brew.

2. Lot 001 sheet

Lot

001

Origin

Cerrado Mineiro, Minas Gerais · Brazil

Variety

Catuaí Amarelo

Process

Natural (the whole fruit dries)

Score

84 SCA points

Tasting notes

Caramel, doce de leite, nuts

Body

Full

Finish

Long and sweet

Weight

250 g · 100% arabica

Grind

Whole bean or ground

Roast

Florianópolis, SC · 10 kg batches · weekly

See the coffee and buy Print lot sheet

3. How we assess

Before a lot goes on sale, we check:

• Origin and traceability: declared region, variety and process; the lot is identified.
• Green bean integrity: no primary defects and control of secondary defects.
• Sensory analysis: cupping with assessment of sweetness, acidity, body, balance, cleanliness and finish.
• Roast profile: adjusted per lot, considering moisture and harvest, in small 10 kg batches.
• Consistency: every roast is cupped before release for sale.

Sensory assessment and profile development are carried out by the partner roastery that produces the coffee. The roastery has more than 10 years of specialty coffee experience and includes a specialist with SCA sensory analysis training. FLUXO selects the lot, sets the quality standard and follows each coffee's sheet.

4. Roasting and freshness

Roasting takes place in Florianópolis, in 10 kg batches, every week. Coffee ships whole bean or ground; if you choose ground, it is ground on the day it ships. The bag is sealed and contains 250 g.

Roasted coffee keeps releasing gas in the first days. For filter, it is usually at its best two or three days after roasting. Keep it in its own bag, tightly closed, away from light and heat; do not store it in the fridge. Once opened, it is best within four weeks.

5. Traceability and transparency

We publish only what we can verify. For Lot 001, we know and disclose: origin (Cerrado Mineiro), variety (Catuaí Amarelo), process (natural), score (84 SCA), tasting notes, weight and roast format. We do not disclose the farm, altitude or roast profile for this lot because that data was not provided in a verifiable way. We would rather say “we do not have it” than invent it.

If a future lot has additional information — producer, altitude, certification — it will be published with its scope and source. The lot sheet is the official source for what is in the cup.

6. Certifications, seals and standards

SCA is not a certification seal. The Specialty Coffee Association is a technical association; the 80+ score is a sensory evaluation methodology. A coffee can be specialty without an organic, fair trade or Denomination of Origin seal.

We do not display organic, fair trade, Rainforest Alliance or equivalent certification seals for Lot 001 because, for this lot, we do not have a certificate issued by a competent body. If a future lot has certification, it will be shown with its number, issuing body and scope. That is different from saying the coffee is bad: it means that what we cannot prove, we do not advertise.

The FLUXO Standard is our internal criterion, not a third-party certification. It requires: an SCA score of 80 or more; declared origin, variety and process; no primary defects; cupping approval; small-batch roasting; controlled roast date; sealed packaging; and a published lot sheet.

To understand the difference between gourmet and specialty coffee, see Gourmet vs specialty coffee.

7. Frequently asked questions

Is the coffee organic?

We do not display an organic seal for Lot 001. If that changes, the information will be published with the certificate and scope.

Is the coffee fair trade certified?

Not for this lot. What we guarantee is the origin sheet and the sensory assessment.

What does 84 SCA points mean?

It is the lot's score on the Specialty Coffee Association's 0–100 scale. From 80, coffee is considered specialty; 84 is above the line.

Why is there no farm or altitude?

Because that data was not provided in a verifiable way for this lot. We prefer not to invent it. Origin, variety, process and score are published.

Is the coffee roasted in Brazil?

Yes. It is roasted in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, in 10 kg batches, every week.

What is the difference between specialty and gourmet coffee?

Gourmet is an ABIC commercial category; specialty is coffee with 80+ SCA points. They are different yardsticks. See the specialty coffee guide.