Café Nunes (Café da Fajã dos Vimes) – São Jorge Island

The Café Nunes is located on the southern coast of São Jorge Island, in Fajã dos Vimes, which has a population of about 70 people and is part of the parish of Rica Seca in the municipality of Calheta.

The coffee served at Café Nunes, the Café da Fajã dos Vimes, is well-known for having been the only coffee produced in Europe for a long time. The café owner has a small coffee plantation behind his house, where the coffee is produced and prepared by his family.

Many tourists visit the small fajã to experience Café Nunes and taste the delicious coffee, which is distinguished by being organic and having a unique texture and aroma.

(C) Café Nunes @ Google

In addition to Café Nunes, the Nunes family is also known for their handicrafts. The women in the family engage in traditional weaving and make rugs. At the entrance to the Fajã, you can see a sign that reads “Café da Fajã Nunes and Nunes Handicraft House,” the two main attractions of Fajã dos Vimes.

History of Café Nunes

At the end of the 18th century, a man, who was likely the great-grandfather of the current owner Manuel Nunes, emigrated to Brazil and worked on a coffee plantation. In the early 19th century, upon returning to São Jorge Island, he decided to bring back some Arabica coffee seeds, which led to the creation of the famous coffee from Fajã dos Vimes.

The coffee adapted well to the fajãs’ climate. The first coffee plantation on the island was established in Fajã de São João and was later brought to Fajã dos Vimes. Other fajãs have coffee plants, but only Mr. Manuel Nunes has a plantation dedicated to production.

Mr. Nunes

(C) Café Nunes @ Google

Manuel Nunes is the owner of Café Nunes and is responsible for producing his own coffee. When he purchased the land about two decades ago, there were only a few plants, but he has since increased the plantation area, and production continues to grow each year.

Coffee Plantation and Production

Manuel has over 500 coffee plants growing in the land behind his house. Café Nunes is the only café in Fajã dos Vimes that sells this coffee, making it the only place on the island where you can try it.

The production is small; initially, it was for personal use, but now it is the largest production in the archipelago. Manuel produces over 700 kg per year. The entire process is manual; he cultivates the beans, dries them in the sun, roasts them on his home stove, and then serves them in his café. The coffee has a unique flavor, with tasters describing it as strong and unmistakable.

(C) Café Nunes @ Google

The coffee is organic and does not use chemicals. There are no insects on the island that threaten the beans, so no pesticides are used. The fajã’s climate is suitable for coffee, with low altitude, high humidity, and fertile soil, creating ideal conditions for producing the famous coffee from Fajã dos Vimes.

The coffee is harvested between May and September, but this depends on the weather and when the beans are ready for picking.

(C) Casa de Artesanato Nunes @ Facebook

Café Nunes

Café Nunes was established in 1997 and is the only café on the island serving the famous Café da Fajã dos Vimes. Many tourists travel kilometers to reach Fajã dos Vimes just to taste the coffee.

Mr. Manuel Nunes, despite having received offers, has never accepted to commercialize his coffee beyond his establishment. The main reason is the relatively small production compared to other sources. Moreover, the production is manual, and he does almost everything himself.

(C) carlos4100 @ TripAdvisor

Before establishing Café Nunes, Mr. Manuel grew coffee only for personal consumption. He utilized his wife’s handicraft shop to serve coffee to customers shopping for crafts.

Nowadays, tourists come to the fajã to see the plantation, taste the coffee, and take home some bags, while also visiting the handicraft store on the upper floor.

Nunes Handicraft House

In addition to Café Nunes, the Nunes Handicraft House is also well-known in Fajã. Elvira Nunes, Manuel Nunes’ wife, and her sister create high-point weaving quilts and rugs, a unique production from Fajã dos Vimes.

(C) Rádio Lumena

The handicraft shop is located on the second floor of Café Nunes. They use a wooden loom and mix traditional yarns with colorful ones, employing a technique passed down through generations.

Café Nunes, along with its rich history, attracts tourists from various places on the island and around the world. The fame of the coffee has spread across the globe, not only for being the only organic coffee produced in Europe but also for its unique flavor and characteristics.

(C) Casa de Artesanato Nunes @ Facebook[/caption>

Location and Contacts

Location on Map

Address

Fajã dos Vimes, 138
9850-213 São Jorge

Phone

+351 295 416 717

Video

Watch here