More About Brotherhood
Origin and coffee farmers
The blend Brotherhood brings together coffees from three countries: Nicaragua, Brazil, and Honduras. This unique melange arises from the collaboration of three coffee farmers, Bruno from Brazil, Silvio from Nicaragua, and Omar from Honduras, each with his own estate. Bruno grows his coffee at Fazenda Esperança in the Cerrado region of Minas Gerais, while Silvio’s coffees grow at Finca Santa Teresa de Mogotón in Nueva Segovia, Nicaragua (±1500 meters altitude). In Honduras, Omar manages three farms (Cerro Bueno, Bethel, and El Arrozal) in the highlands of La Paz. Together these “coffee brothers” combine their special beans into the signature blend “The Brotherhood”, a well-balanced composition of the best from each region.
- Origin: multi-country blend with beans from **Nicaragua**, **Brazil**, and **Honduras**.
- Coffee farmers: from three family farms , Bruno (Faz. Esperança), Silvio (Santa Teresa de Mogotón), and Omar (Fincas Cerro Bueno/Bethel/El Arrozal).
- Altitude: grown at elevations of around 1,250 to 1,675 meters for optimal quality (Brazilian component slightly lower at ~900 m).
- Direct collaboration: BeanBrothers considers these farmers “coffee brothers” and works with them worldwide for truly good coffee.
- Unique origin stories: for instance, Silvio’s finca lies in a remote mountain area in Nicaragua, and Omar’s Honduran farm invests in local jobs and a village school, each origin adding to the story behind the blend.
Roast profile
BeanBrothers’ roasting style focuses on balance and freshness. In their own city roastery in Eindhoven they roast fresh batches of coffee every week, with great respect for the bean and the farmer. They intentionally roast the beans “not too dark, not too light”, a medium roast profile that keeps both the fruity and sweet flavor nuances intact. The result is a versatile roast that suits different brewing methods. For this, BeanBrothers uses a traditional Giesen coffee roaster, with consistency and quality as the top priorities.
- Medium roast: the beans are roasted **not too dark and not too light** for a balanced profile.
- Freshly roasted: new batches are roasted fresh every week in the in-house Stadsbranderij Eindhoven, which ensures optimally fresh flavor.
- Character preserved: the roaster respects each bean’s character, so the distinctive fruity and chocolate notes are retained.
- Versatile roast: thanks to the moderate roast, Brotherhood is suitable for both espresso and filter (a true “omni-roast”).
- Craft process: roasting is done on a **Giesen** roaster, which guarantees craftsmanship and consistent quality.
Flavor and aroma
The BrotherhoodThe -blend is characterized by a rich, layered taste. In the cup, expect pronounced notes of red fruit, creamy chocolate and sweet cane sugar. This combination yields a sweet-fruity aroma with a soft undertone of cacao. Because the blend consists of coffees from multiple origins, each component contributes to the flavor palette, the Brazilian beans bring chocolate and nutty notes, the Nicaraguan bring fresh red fruit and the Honduran bring honeyed accents. The end result is a harmonious flavor experience that appeals to lovers of both sweet and fruity coffee.
- Balanced profile: notes of **red fruit**, **milk chocolate** and **cane sugar** dominate this blend, delivering both fruitiness and sweetness in the flavor.
- Fruity accents: Silvio’s Nicaraguan coffee adds lively hints of citrus and strawberry, with a touch of brown sugar in the finish.
- Chocolate and nuts: Bruno’s Brazilian beans deliver soft sweet chocolate tones, a bit of almond/nut (pecan), and a delightfully creamy finish.
- Cane-sugar sweetness: the Honduran component brings a **cane sugar-like** sweetness and even subtle floral tones, with a medium body and a clean finish.
- Aroma: the aroma is inviting, think of the scent of fresh red fruit mingled with warm chocolate. This blend smells sweet and lightly fruity, which immediately reflects the promising flavor.
Processing Method
All coffees in the Brotherhood blend undergo the same processing method, namely the natural process (unwashed/natural drying). This means that after picking, the coffee cherries are not washed but dried whole. At BeanBrothers, beans from all origins processed naturally were deliberately chosen, because this contributes to the sweet, full flavor in the blend. Natural processing requires careful sun-drying, but yields beans with pronounced fruity and sweet flavor nuances, exactly the traits that come to the fore in this blend.
- All components are **natural processed**: the beans are dried with their fruit pulp immediately after picking (unwashed).
- Natural drying: the coffee cherries dry in their own skin and pulp, allowing the bean to absorb sugars from the fruit flesh. This develops a natural sweetness in the coffee.
- Sweet, fruity results: naturally processed coffees are known for their sweet, often fruity flavor profile, in this blend expressed as red fruit and cane sugar sweetness.
- Consistency: because all the beans are processed unwashed, the flavors of the different origin coffees fit together seamlessly in the blend.
- Examples: Bruno’s Brazil coffee and Silvio’s Nicaragua coffee are both processed **natural** (unwashed) at the farm, which contributes to the full body and fruity sweetness in the final blend.
Variety and species
Brotherhood consists exclusively of high-quality Coffea arabica beans from selected varieties. Notably, one specific variety CatuaiCatuai plays a prominent role in this blend: both the Brazilian and the Central American components are of this variety. Catuai is a popular Arabica cultivar known for its good yield and flavor quality, and here it comes together from different countries. Each region of course contributes its own variation (for example red vs. yellow Catuai), but all belong to the Arabica species, which guarantees refined flavor and aromatic complexity. Robusta or other species do not appear in this blend, the focus is entirely on specialty Arabica.
- 100% **Arabica**: the blend contains exclusively high-quality Arabica coffee beans (no Robusta).
- Varieties: mainly Catuai Catuai – a widely used Arabica variety – sourced from all three origin countries.
- Brazilian bean: Bruno’s coffee is of the Catuai variety, grown in Cerrado Mineiro, Brazil.
- Nicaraguan bean: Silvio’s coffees at Finca Santa Teresa are also **Catuai** (alongside other varieties such as Catimor and Java, Catuai is selected specifically for this lot).
- Honduran bean: in Honduras, **Catuaí** is grown as well – for example, at Finca El Arrozal, Catuaí coffee plants thrive under shady conditions.
Sustainability and ethics
Sustainability is central at BeanBrothers, toward both farmers and the environment. The company pays coffee farmers a fair price for their beans, ensuring producers are fairly rewarded for their labor. BeanBrothers even speaks of “coffee brothers” and builds direct relationships with farmers, which benefits the community and the quality of the coffee. Environmental awareness shows in numerous initiatives, from climate-neutral delivery to sustainable packaging. In addition, the company invests in projects that improve living conditions around coffee farms. Brotherhood is therefore not only a blend with great taste, but also a coffee with a clear conscience.
- Fair trade: BeanBrothers rewards farmers for their **honest product with an honest price**, so origin families have a sustainable income.
- Direct collaboration: coffee farmers are regarded as **partners (coffee brothers)**, working together directly and building a bond that is stronger than coffee alone. This benefits both the farmer (better conditions) and coffee quality.
- CO2-neutral delivery: all packages for customers in Eindhoven are delivered **by bicycle or electric car**. In this way, BeanBrothers contributes to sustainable, zero-emission urban logistics.
- Organic cultivation: the coffee from their Honduras partners is 100% organic, grown without chemical pesticides. Sustainable farming methods protect nature and result in cleaner coffee.
- Community support: part of the proceeds goes to local projects. For example, the Honduran El Arrozal plantation aims to offer local families a **better life**, with jobs for parents and schooling for children in the village. Drinking coffee thus contributes to social development.
Brewing Recommendations
Brotherhood beans are versatile in use and perform well across different brewing methods. Thanks to the medium roast profile, they work for both a powerful espresso and an aromatic filter coffee. BeanBrothers positions this blend as an all-rounder: suitable for espresso machines, for slow coffee, and even for fully automatic machines. Below are a few tips for getting the best out of this coffee when brewing:
- **Universally usable**: Brotherhood is suitable for **espresso, filter, and fully automatic machines** – a true all-rounder for home baristas and professionals.
- Espresso tip: Use ~18 grams for a double espresso, this blend delivers a full crema, **rich chocolate body** and subtle fruit flavor. In milk drinks the gentle milk-chocolate sweetness comes through nicely, ideal for cappuccinos (thanks to the creamy finish of the Brazil component).
- Filter tip: As a filter coffee (e.g., V60 or cafetière), the **fruity notes** really shine. Brew with a slightly coarser grind, you get a clean cup in which red fruit and sugarcane sweetness stand out – a lively, sweet filter brew.
- Grind to order: The beans can be ordered as **whole bean or ground**. BeanBrothers will grind the bag to the desired brew method (espresso, filter or French press) on request, so it’s ready to go at home right away.
- Barista support: BeanBrothers offers workshops and barista trainings to teach customers how to brew the coffee optimally. Whether a hospitality professional or a hobbyist, there is guidance to pull the perfect extraction from Brotherhood beans.
Prices and reviews
Although Brotherhood has not listed any official awards itself, the coffee clearly appeals to connoisseurs and customers. Over the years, BeanBrothers has built an excellent reputation in the coffee world. The roastery is praised as one of the best specialty coffee spots in Eindhoven and the company scores high in customer satisfaction. The blend represents the BeanBrothers philosophy and functions as their “house blend” with a strong story, which also shows in the positive reviews. Below are a few signs of appreciation and recognition:
- **Customer rating**: coffee lovers rate BeanBrothers coffee very highly – an average of **4.8 out of 5 stars** based on hundreds of reviews. This points to consistent quality and flavor appreciation for blends like Brotherhood.
- **Special house blend**: The Brotherhood is regarded by BeanBrothers as a special blend that combines the unique character of multiple farmers. It is essentially their signature blend, loved by regulars for its balance and story.
- **Recognition in guides**: BeanBrothers is listed as one of the top coffee addresses in Eindhoven in international coffee guides. Appearing in such lists confirms the quality standard and the renown of their coffee.
- **Active since 2009**: The company was founded in 2009 and opened the Stadsbranderij in Eindhoven in 2014. More than a decade of experience has led to craftsmanship that can be tasted in blends like Brotherhood.
- **Loyal customer base**: The strong focus on flavor and ethics gives BeanBrothers a loyal customer base. The many positive reviews and word-of-mouth may not count as an official award, but they are a valuable form of recognition for the quality of Brotherhood.
Packaging and design
Brotherhood is packaged in eco-friendly bags with a sleek, recognizable design. At the top of the coffee bag it proudly states "I'M COMPOSTABLE" , the packaging is fully compostable and matches BeanBrothers' sustainable vision. The bag itself has a natural kraft look with the BeanBrothers logo and the blend name printed prominently on the front. The key details are immediately visible on the packaging as well: the countries of origin and tasting notes are clearly listed, so you can see at a glance what you are getting. The packaging is not only attractive but also practical: a resealable 400 gram bag keeps the beans fresh, and for high-volume users there is a bulk option (e.g. ~1 kg) available. The whole package breathes craft and sustainability, from the first impression to the last bean.
- **Compostable packaging**: the coffee bag is fully compostable and even carries the message "I'm compostable" as proof of BeanBrothers' eco-friendly approach.
- **Clean design**: the brown bag has a minimalist design with the BeanBrothers logo and the blend name Brotherhood prominently on the front. No unnecessary frills, the style is modern and clean, fitting for specialty coffee.
- **Origin and flavors on the label**: the packaging clearly lists the countries of origin (Brazil, Uganda*, Nicaragua, Honduras) and tasting notes (e.g. "citrus, sugarcane, milk chocolate"), so you immediately know what flavors to expect.
- **Size**: by default, Brotherhood is sold in a **400 gram** bag (freshly roasted whole beans). For those who use more coffee, larger packages are available (at a discount), making it cost-effective for offices or hospitality venues as well.
- **Ease of use**: the bags feature a freshness valve and a zip-lock closure (standard for specialty coffee packaging), keeping the beans fresher for longer and preserving the aromatics. The design is therefore not just aesthetic, but also functional for the coffee drinker.
*NB: older packaging also listed Uganda as part of the blend. The current composition focuses on Nicaragua, Brazil and Honduras, depending on seasonal availability.
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