Collection: Brazilian Coffee

Your coffee lovers guide to Brazilian coffee

Think of Brazil, and you’ll probably conjure up Samba vibes, images of colourful carnival scenes, lush tropical vistas with stunning beaches and of course football. Wafting in the background of all these pleasant thoughts should also be the majestic aroma of coffee.

Brazil is the world's number one coffee producer, offering some of the most popular coffees in the industry. Below we guide you through the illustrious coffee region before exploring two of Coffee Direct's best Brazilian coffees that you are sure to love.

The java jargon decoder

• Arabica coffee – Coffee made from the fruit of Coffea arabica plants.
• Green coffee beans – Beans that are yet to be roasted.
• Robusta coffee – Coffee produced by the Coffea canephora plant.
• Natural coffees – Coffee cherries that are left out in the sun to dry naturally with the bean inside the cherry.
• Pulped-natural coffees – Cherries that have had their outer skin removed to speed up drying.
• Washed coffees – Cherries that have been stripped of their outer layers, leaving the bean exposed.
• Screen sorting – The process of sorting beans through a sifting system to determine their size and grade.

A little bit of Brazilian coffee history

Brazilian coffee has a somewhat romantic and legendary beginning that can be traced back to 1727 in French Guiana. Folklore suggests that Portuguese Lt. Col Francisco de Melo Palheta persuaded the governor’s wife to smuggle coffee seeds across the border in a bouquet of flowers.

Whether or not this romantic alliance was the source of Brazil’s coffee story, coffee growing in Brazil expanded rapidly in the years that followed.

Initially coffee was mostly consumed by European colonists and grown on their Brazilian farms. However, in the 1800s increased demand from Europe and the United States dramatically increased Brazilian exports. By 1820, 30% of the world’s coffee was produced in Brazil.

By the late 1800s Asia’s coffee industry had been devastated by crop disease. The reduced supply created an opportunity for Brazil to become the world’s dominant coffee producer. By 1910 around 80% of coffee came from Brazil.

Today Brazil remains the largest coffee producer in the world, accounting for roughly 40% of global production. The country produces vast quantities of green coffee beans as well as arabica beans and instant coffee.

More recently, policy changes have given Brazilian farmers greater flexibility in what they grow and who they sell to, increasing innovation, yields and flavour diversity.

Where is coffee grown in Brazil?

Brazil has fourteen large coffee growing regions spread across seven states, mostly located in the south-east of the country. Over 10,000 square miles of land is used for growing Brazilian coffee beans, most commonly Robusta and Arabica varieties.

Brazil’s land and climate allow for everyday coffees, speciality beans and a wide variety of flavour profiles. Each region produces coffee with its own distinct characteristics.

Minas Gerais

Minas Gerais is the biggest coffee-growing state in Brazil and includes regions such as Cerrado, Matas de Minas, Mogiana and Sul de Minas. Nearly half of all Brazilian coffee is grown here on small farms typically under 100 hectares.

Varieties grown here include Mundo Novo, Icatu, Obatã, Catuaí and Catuaí Rubi.

These coffees are grown at altitudes between 800m and 1300m in valleys with mild temperatures and warm humid climates. Coffee from Minas Gerais tends to be medium to full-bodied with natural sweetness and fruity notes.

São Paulo

Santos coffee originates from this region, which is also home to the Port of Santos, the leading coffee exporting hub in Brazil.

The landscape is rugged and hilly with a mild climate averaging around 20°C throughout the year. Coffee grown here is known for its balanced and sweet flavour profile.

Rondonia

Rondonia focuses exclusively on Robusta coffee production. The tropical climate averages around 26°C.

Conilon Robusta beans grown here are cultivated at lower altitudes and typically have earthy flavours with a nutty finish. These beans are often used in darker roasts and espresso blends.

Why is Brazilian coffee so special?

Brazilian coffee producers place great importance on growing, processing and exporting their beans. Farmers invest significant time and effort to ensure their production methods create high-quality coffee.

Many Brazilian coffees are natural or pulped-natural rather than washed. Some cherries are even hand-picked so that only the ripest fruit is harvested.

After harvesting, the cherries are often dried naturally under the sun. This method requires careful monitoring and ideal weather conditions but can produce exceptional beans.

When done correctly, the resulting coffee tends to be full-bodied with low acidity and rich fruity flavours.

Brazil also has a detailed classification system that grades coffee based on screen sorting, colour and cupping.

• Strictly soft – excellent aroma and pronounced flavour.
• Soft – smooth and balanced with a mild sweet aroma.
• Just soft – smooth but slightly rugged flavour.
• Hard – full-bodied with slightly sour or astringent taste.
• Riada – light in flavour.
• Rio – intense and striking flavour.
• Rio Zona – strong aroma but not very drinkable.

This classification system helps buyers identify the highest quality beans for the best cup of coffee.

The best coffee from Brazil

At Coffee Direct, Brazilian speciality coffee beans are roasted to order in small batches to guarantee freshness.

You can choose whole beans for grinding at home or pre-ground coffee prepared for common brewing methods such as cafetiere, filter machines, bean-to-cup machines or percolators.

Brazil Ipanema

This single-origin coffee is made from bourbon variety cherry beans grown in mineral-rich soil north of Ipanema.

The resulting coffee produces a medium-bodied cup with citric notes, high acidity and delicate floral overtones.

The aftertaste features lingering almond flavours, while the mellow roast offers a rich aroma and versatile brewing options.

Brazil Santos

Brazil Santos is a speciality grade coffee named after the Brazilian port from which it is exported.

This coffee is light-bodied with low acidity and works particularly well in cafetiere or filter brewing methods.

FAQs

How many Brazilian coffee types are there?

Brazil produces around fifteen main varieties of coffee, many of which are hybrids of two or more coffee plants.

How much coffee does Brazil produce?

Brazil produces roughly one third of the world’s coffee, making it the largest coffee-producing nation globally.

Is Brazilian coffee good for weight loss?

Coffee can sometimes help suppress appetite, but there is no scientific evidence linking Brazilian coffee specifically to weight loss.

What is the best way to brew Brazilian coffee?

Brazilian coffee is versatile and works well with cafetiere, filter brewers, bean-to-cup machines or percolators. It can be enjoyed black or with milk in drinks such as lattes, flat whites or cappuccinos.

Where can I buy the best beans from Brazil?

Coffee Direct offers specialty Brazilian coffees including Brazil Ipanema and Brazil Santos. Beans can be purchased whole or pre-ground and delivered across the United Kingdom.