Hillside Blend

Our one and only blend! When I started Hillside Coffee back in 2020 I was very out of love with blends, I felt like they were all pretty boring and they mostly tasted the same. 
Now a few years down the line, we have a blend that I’m happy with!

The Taste:

Without milk: stewed plums, maple syrup, dark chocolate

With milk: maple syrup, milk chocolate, mixed berry jam

The Coffees:

The current iteration of the blend is half each of these gorgeous coffees:

1. Fazenda Catanduva, Brazil, Washed

2. Waylan, Colombia, Natural

Catanduva

Marie Nakao, a third-generation coffee producer, traces her family’s journey from Japan to Brazil in the early 1900s. Her grandparents initially worked in wheat fields in São Paulo’s Ariranha before settling in Catanduva, where they discovered a love for coffee farming. Marie’s father, Mitsuo Nakao, later relocated the family to Cerrado Mineiro, known for its ideal coffee-growing conditions. They established Catanduva Farm, paying tribute to their hometown. In 1986, they permanently settled in Patos de Minas.

Marie’s direct involvement in coffee farming began after her husband’s passing in 2013. She assumed a leadership role, becoming an inspiration to women in agriculture. The farm embraced best practices, sustainability, and transparency, navigating the coffee industry’s challenges. Marie is now preparing her successor, Vitor Nakao, to carry on the family’s coffee legacy.

Cerrado, a relatively new coffee region in Brazil, emerged in the mid-1970s when migrants seeking affordable and suitable lands left the challenges of the southern climate and coffee tree diseases behind. 

Cerrado thrived due to the entrepreneurial spirit of newcomers and substantial research efforts by government agencies. Today, it is a model of modern and sustainable agricultural practices. The region boasts optimal conditions with altitudes ranging from 800 to 1300 meters above sea level, flat topography allowing mechanization, distinct seasons, and a climate ideal for producing high-quality coffee. Cerrado’s coffee growers approach their farms as businesses, adopt new farming technology, and continuously seek improvements for sustainability, making their farms economically viable, socially responsible, and environmentally friendly. It was the world’s first coffee region to receive a designation of origin (D.O), with its coffees featuring intense aroma, notes of dried fruits and chocolate, citric acidity, full body, and a long finish, along with nuanced variations influenced by micro-regions, processing methods, and meticulous care. 

Fazenda Catanduva, situated in the Moreira micro-region near Patos de Minas, epitomizes these characteristics. With coffee grown above 1,000 meters above sea level and an average temperature of 20.2°C, this farm, shaped by Cerrado’s terroir and microenvironment, consistently produces outstanding quality coffee year after year.

Waylan

Waylan Origin, as an organisation, emerged in 2015 in the municipality of Planadas, Tolima, Colombia, under Edinson Vaquiro. Its inception was rooted in a mission to promote the development of the local coffee industry while offering significant support to the younger generations. The organisation was founded with the purpose of empowering young coffee producers and improving the processes involved in producing specialty coffee. Waylan Origin focuses on sustainable practices, quality control, and ethical trade. They have been instrumental in providing training and education to young coffee farmers in the region, helping them enhance the quality of their coffee beans and connect with international markets.

“The very soil I stand on is the canvas upon which I paint the story of generations past and future. It’s a cultural legacy, an art passed down through time, and I am merely a steward, preserving this heritage with all the passion in my being. Coffee isn’t just a crop; it’s the lifeblood of my community. It sustains not just my family, but entire villages, providing opportunities for growth and development. The economic vitality it brings is a testament to the resilience and spirit of the people here.“
Edinson Vaquiro 

Over the years, Waylan Origin has not only contributed to the economic and social development of Planadas but has also helped create a sense of pride and empowerment within the community. By fostering a spirit of innovation and improvement, they’ve made it possible for local coffee producers to gain recognition for their exceptional coffees in global specialty coffee markets.

Waylan Origin’s story is a testament to the potential for positive change within the coffee industry, with a focus on sustainability and the future of coffee production in the Planadas, Tolima region. The natural processed coffee undergoes a 72-hour anaerobic fermentation in barrels.