Granja São Francisco has been in Otaviano Ceglia’s family since the 1930s, when Otaviano’s grandfather saw potential where few others did. At the time, Otaviano ran a successful coffee export business and visited the Sul de Minas region. During the 1930s and ’40s, much of the region was used as pasture for cattle ranches, but despite this, he saw the rolling hills and mountains around Carmo de Minas and knew it was perfect for coffee. 

Otaviano, now helped by his wife, Maria, and their son, Luis, took over the management of the farm in the 1990s—right at the beginning of what we now call specialty coffee. Seeing the potential for higher prices with increased quality, Otaviano began renovation efforts at the farm, planting traditional varieties such as Bourbon and Catuai, as well as less common varieties such as Mundo Novo and Arara. 

Otaviano and his family’s dedication to quality has paid dividends over the years, placing in the finals of numerous coffee competitions, including the Brazil Cup of Excellence many times, as well as taking the top prize for Pulped Naturals in the 2024 Cocarive auction.