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PATROCINIO, Brazil – A specialty coffee bag from Brazil’s Cerrado Mineiro region has set a historic record, selling for US$38,500 during the 13th Cerrado Mineiro Regional Award in Uberlândia (Minas Gerais). The winning lot, champion of the Pulped Cherry category, was produced by Eduardo Pinheiro Campos from Fazenda Dona Nenem in Presidente Olegário and acquired by a strategic consortium led by Expocacer, together with Veloso Green Coffee, Marex, and Nucoffee.
The second-highest bid, US$19,250, was made by Louis Dreyfus Company as the champion of the Natural category. The highly competitive auction reflects growing international demand for coffees sourced from Cerrado Mineiro.
According to the Cerrado Mineiro Coffee Growers Federation, this is the highest price ever paid for a bag of coffee at an auction in Brazil. In total, the solidarity auction raised US$108,500 across nine winning lots, with an average of US$12,000 per bag.
“It is an enormous honor for our team to reach this result. They are the ones who truly get their hands dirty. We are simply guiding the path toward this level of excellence. The emotion is immense because it represents many years of work, achievements, and awards. Throughout the thirteen editions of this competition, we have reached the podium eleven times, proving the consistency of our journey and our ongoing commitment to quality,” says Campos.
This record demonstrates the market’s recognition of Cerrado Mineiro quality and the strategic positioning of our producers. Simão Pedro, President of Expocacer, one of Brazil’s leading coffee cooperatives, says: “When international and domestic buyers compete at this level, it validates our commitment to quality, sustainability, and innovation. Expocacer continues to lead the transformation of Brazil’s coffee sector, proving that specialty coffee from our region is not only globally competitive but also sets a benchmark for the industry,” he adds.
The 13th Cerrado Mineiro Regional Award celebrated the best coffees of the 2025–2026 harvest across four categories: Natural, Pulped Cherry, Fermented, and Sweet Cerrado Mineiro. Expocacer members won first place in the Pulped Cherry category and shared first place in the Sweet Cerrado Mineiro category. The results reinforce the cooperative’s role as a global reference in specialty coffee excellence.
Approximately 40% of the proceeds (US$43,400) will be donated to the Escola de Atitude project. The initiative promotes civic education for young people in coffee-producing communities, inspiring students to unlock their potential and build a purposeful future.
Expocacer Highlights at the 13th Cerrado Mineiro Regional Award
• Eduardo Pinheiro Campos. First place, Pulped Cherry category (90.59 points)
• Maria Soraia Guimarães. Third place, Pulped Cherry category (89.18 points)
• Guima Café. First place (shared), Sweet Cerrado Mineiro category
About Expocacer
Founded in 1993 in Patrocínio, Minas Gerais, the Cooperative of Coffee Growers of the Cerrado (Expocacer) promotes high-quality coffee and the work of its members in Brazil and worldwide.
Through impactful social and environmental initiatives and modern infrastructure, including two warehouses with a capacity exceeding one million coffee bags, Expocacer supports more than 740 producers and exports to over 35 countries across five continents.
