Guest Lecture:
Meet the farmer
Cerrado Mineiro
In the spirit of World of Coffee Brussels 2026, join us for an exclusive evening that brings the heart of Brazil’s Cerrado Mineiro coffee region to Leuven. Meet a coffee farmer from this renowned Brazilian coffee region and discover the people, landscapes and stories behind these exceptional coffees. Together with Onan Coffee & Tea, we will explore the Cerrado Mineiro region and the work of the Cerrado Mineiro Federation, while our guest farmer shares insights into life on the farm. The evening will conclude with a tasting of exceptional Brazilian coffees and the stories behind each cup. Tuesday, 23 June 2026, from 6 PM onwards. We look forward to welcoming you!
As the international coffee community gathers in Belgium for World of Coffee Brussels 2026, Onan Coffee & Tea and KU Leuven are delighted to host a unique evening in Leuven, just a few days before Europe’s largest coffee event begins.
For this special occasion, we welcome a coffee farmer from Brazil’s Cerrado Mineiro region and our long-term partner, Fazenda Arema, the farm of Martine De Haes and Euller Antunes Rangel.
Join us for an inspiring evening where Onan Coffee & Tea will introduce the Cerrado Mineiro region, its coffee community and the work of the Cerrado Mineiro Federation. Our guest farmer will share first-hand stories about life on the farm, the challenges of coffee production today and ongoing developments at Fazenda Arema. The evening will conclude with a tasting of exceptional Brazilian coffees.
When?
Tuesday 23rd of June 2026
Time?
From 6PM – 7.45PM
Where?
University Halls (Naamsestraat 22, 3000 Leuven)
Tickets?
Please subscribe for free through the form below
Why attend?
The Cerrado Mineiro Region is internationally recognised for its pioneering approach to coffee production. It was the first coffee region in Brazil to obtain a Denomination of Origin and has become a global reference for traceability, quality control, regenerative agriculture and collaborative innovation. Today, the region brings together more than 4,500 coffee producers across 55 municipalities and is helping shape a regenerative future for coffee worldwide.
This evening offers a unique opportunity to hear first-hand stories from local people working in the Cerrado Mineiro region. Our guest farmer will share insights into life on the farm, current challenges such as climate change, and recent developments, including the installation of a washing station. Together, these stories will illustrate how farmers, cooperatives, researchers and international partners are shaping a more sustainable future for coffee.
Whether you are a coffee professional, student, researcher, barista or simply a coffee enthusiast, this event will offer valuable insights into the future of coffee.
SMALL Coffee tasting
Of course, no Brazilian coffee evening would be complete without tasting coffee.
During the event, you will have the opportunity to taste several coffees from Brazil and experience the diversity, quality and character of this remarkable origin.
Next to that, we will proudly launch the newest KU Leuven Blend, which contains 50% coffee from Fazenda Arema. You will be among the first to taste this new blend and discover the story behind this unique collaboration between KU Leuven, Onan Coffee & Tea and the producers at Fazenda Arema.
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Programme
Welcome
by Chloé Van Bael (Owner, Onan Coffee & Tea)
speakers
Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, the guest speakers from the Federation of Coffee Growers of the Cerrado Mineiro Region will no longer be able to join us this evening.
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- Martine De Haes – Owner and Coffee Producer at Fazenda Arema
- Elena Poroshina – Roaster & Q-grader at Onan Coffee & Tea
Followed by
Brazilian coffee tasting & Networking and informal exchanges
The event is free, we just ask you to subscribe through the form:
About Fazenda Arema
For many years, Onan Coffee & Tea has been working directly with Fazenda Arema, the Brazilian coffee farm of Belgian coffee producer Martine De Haes and her husband Euller Antunes Rangel. Located in the renowned Cerrado Mineiro region, Fazenda Arema is a relatively young farm, built from the ground up with a clear vision: producing exceptional coffee while investing in innovation, quality and long-term sustainability.
Martine and Euller combine Belgian and Brazilian perspectives, creating a unique bridge between Leuven and Brazil. As a third-generation coffee producer, Euller continues his family’s coffee-growing tradition, while Martine brings an international outlook and a strong focus on collaboration and knowledge exchange. Together, they continuously experiment with new cultivation and processing techniques to improve both coffee quality and environmental resilience.
Their farm is deeply connected to the wider Cerrado Mineiro coffee community, a world-renowned coffee origin and the first coffee-producing region in Brazil to receive a Denomination of Origin. Thanks to its distinct seasons, favourable climate and altitudes between 800 and 1,300 metres, the region is recognised worldwide for producing coffees with a unique identity and exceptional quality.
This event is an opportunity to discover how these connections come to life: from coffee farms in Brazil to research institutions, cooperatives and coffee professionals in Belgium. It is a celebration of the partnerships that make a more transparent, resilient and regenerative future for coffee possible.
