CROP REPORT | SEPTEMBER 2025

Closure of the 2025 crop

An overview of the challenges and advancements that shaped the 2025 coffee harvest in Brazil's Bourbon-producing regions.

September 2025 | Poços de Caldas, MG, Brasil

The coffee harvest in Brazil's main regions is nearly complete, and despite some challenges throughout the season, the results bring some positive news for the industry. One of the major positive highlights was the high proportion of large beans: the volume of the screen size 16 exceeded, remaining close to the historical average, representing a significant improvement in the coffee's physical quality. In addition, the bean maturation was more uniform than the previous year, favoring harvest management.

The increasing adoption of mechanized harvesting, including in mountain areas, has helped in reducing the dependence on manual labor, one of the issues faced by producers. However, for those who still rely on manual harvesting, the cost has increased significantly, driven by rising coffee prices and the lack of manual labor. 

On the other hand, the climate still posed some complications. The drought in the previous year, followed by the dry spell at the beginning of 2025, affected part of the production. As a result, there was a greater presence of Peaberry and floater beans, as well as a drop in average yield, estimated at around 15% below expectations in some regions. Also, due to the rain, some issues with cup quality were recorded and due to the higher-than-average percentage of ground coffee. 

A highlight of this year was the increase in interest and adoption of regenerative agriculture practices. This shift reflects not only a growing concern for sustainability and soil health, but also the quest for greater crop resilience in the face of the climate challenges faced in recent cycles. 

With the current harvest coming to an end, attention turns to the next cycle. The prospect is encouraging: the plants have shown good vigor, and if rainfall remains normal, the next harvest could be promising. Still, there are some disclaimers regarding regions affected by frost and hail, as they may require greater attention to management. 

Harvested percentage

This chart shows the progress of the harvest through the percentage already harvested.

Screen size percentage

This chart shows the percentage distribution of screen sizes found so far.

About Bourbon

A pioneer in the specialty coffee market for 25 years, Bourbon Specialty Coffee is a Brazilian exporter of green coffee beans, headquartered in Poços de Caldas, in the south of Minas Gerais.

Sul de Minas

With the harvest complete, the region has seen significant progress, including uniform ripening. Despite high temperatures and a lack of rainfall, which affected flowering and fruit set, the quality of the beverage stood out. 



Although there was a drop in production, the outlook is positive, with the growing adoption of regenerative agriculture practices, such as soil cover, the use of organic compost, and more resistant varieties. The crops are well prepared, and if the rainfall continues, there are expectations for a good flowering and a promising next harvest.  

Mogiana

With the harvest nearly complete, this year's crop yielded reasonable results. Even though the production area was much smaller, where production did occur, productivity was good. There was an increase in the number of coarse sieve seeds and a reduction in the number of fine sieve seeds, despite the presence of Peaberry beans well above average.

The climatic conditions — drought the previous year and irregular rainfall during the granulation period — caused some uneven ripening, with the presence of green beans, and slightly affected the quality of the coffee. 

Expectations for the next harvest are positive, provided rainfall remains within normal limits. 

Matas de Minas

(Manhuaçu)

With the harvest in its final stages, it is already confirmed that production is lower than last year's, as expected, mainly due to the drought and lack of rain at the beginning of the year. This resulted in uneven bean ripening at the beginning of the harvest, with different stages on the same branch (cherry, green, and dry). 



The regular rainfall throughout the harvest favored more uniform ripening, however it significantly impacted quality. Despite the challenges, there are significant positives: the coarse sieve has produced significant volumes, which is excellent for quality.  

Montanhas do Espírito Santo

With the harvest almost complete, remaining only the highest altitude areas, the bean matured well, although forced by climate factors such as drought, which resulted in a large number of dry beans on the vine. The rainfall during the harvest also impacted the quality of the beverage. 

The search for technologies to improve production and quality has increased. And, for 2026, a middling harvest is expected due to intense defoliation in the fields, which requires greater attention to management. 

Cerrado Mineiro

The harvest is in its final stages and was impacted by last year's intense drought, which resulted in late crop development and harvesting, with the presence of green and dry beans and a Peaberry content of approximately 20% to 30%. Production is estimated to decrease compared to 2024. Despite this, the quality of the beverage remained excellent, with a good volume of coarse sieve. 

The July 2025 frost is expected to affect the next harvest, but with adequate rainfall, a satisfactory harvest is expected. 

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