If there were a “Nice Guy Championship” in the coffee-growing world, Robson Vilela would definitely make it to the finals. I don’t know if you could sum Robson up any better way—his picture would go perfectly next to the definition of “nice guy” in the dictionary. He’s a hardworking, dedicated person, always true to his word. His coffee beans are top-notch, too. Looking for a grower you can trust and respect? Robson’s your man.

He opened his farm, Fazenda Alta Vista, in 2001. It was three years later that he planted his first coffee and another three years down the road that he harvested his first haul. He submitted those beans for judging in the 2007 Cup of Excellence (COE) competition, where he pulled off a remarkable finish for a first-time entrant: seventh place. With that public, high-profile recognition of its coffee quality, Fazenda Alta Vista got off to a great start and built a solid sales base. Some growers might take their foot off the proverbial pedal at that point, content to kick back and coast along on their validation. Some growers might even let the success go to their heads, which can end up turning things sour fast. Robson definitely isn’t one of those growers. Humble and driven through and through, he kept his feet on the ground and his focus on taking his coffee craft to the next level.

Fazenda Alta Vista is in Cristina, one of Brazil’s leading coffee-growing areas, right next to another premium-quality coffee community by the name Carmo de Minas. I’ve paid yearly visits to the two locations since 2003, spending several days of each trip cupping beans from around 40 or 50 local growers. While the growers constantly jostle for attention, touting their quality or boasting about their incredible tastes, there aren’t too many who get consistently high scores year in and year out. I could probably count them on one hand, in fact. Robson’s one of those select few.

At cuppings, Robson tends to show up looking like he just came from the farm: boots, worn-out jeans, a dirty T-shirt. He doesn’t wow you with any flashy aura, but he sure wows you with his scores. What could be cooler than that? I always tell him that his beans were great, just like last year, and he gives me a little smile. We don’t need to say anything more—and that, I think, is something special. Robson and I communicate through coffee, not words. It’s a connection I cherish.

Most of the local growers live in the city, a good distance from their farms, but Robson’s house sits right in front of his estate. “I’m not much of a city person,” he says, and the words ring with a kind of mindful resolve—you get the feeling that he and his farm are inseparable. When I’m around him, I can sense just how much he loves making specialty coffee, how strong his commitment to growing really is. What kind of results does that ever-reliable nice guy deliver? Some very nice coffee. While they give off those chocolatey hints unique to Brazilian coffee, Robson’s beans also boast a sweet, complex aroma profile. You can taste the meticulous care he puts into his processing approach; the tastes are full and rewarding, poised to please so many people’s palates. When you have a cup of Robson’s beans, it’s like you’re talking to him—and he’s sure to flash one of his little smiles as you visit.