Brazil has been the world’s no 1 producer of the coffee for over 150 years and has recently passed the United States of America in the ranking of the world’s best coffee.

Brazilian coffee industry is huge and diverse with everything from bottom-of-the-barrel commodity coffee to world-stunning specialty coffee.

But what makes the Brazilian coffee so special that it has been ranking highest on the list? In this article, I will do a deep insight into the best Brazilian coffee.

Top 10 Best Brazilian Coffee

  • ☕️ Coffee Origin Sul de Minas growing region, southern Minas Gerais State, Brazil | Roaster Location - Sao Paulo, Brazil | Roast Level - Very Dark
  • ☕️Blind Assessment - In the aroma rich and simple, with musty/medicinal notes that aspire to chocolate but don't quite get there | In the cup full-bodied but gritty in mouthfeel, with dominating fermented fruit notes that can read as raisin or dried apricot and semi-sweet chocolate | Sweet in the short finish, astringent in the long.
  • ☕️ Cafe Pilao is a traditional Brazilian-style coffee, grown, roasted, ground (very finely) and packaged in Brazil, and distributed in the United States.
  • ☕️Who Should Drink It - Lovers of the slow-roasted, fruity-fermented coffees ordinary folk all over Latin America drink | Cafe Pilao represents the down-home style of Brazilian coffee.
  • ☕️Most North American coffee drinkers will be put off by its almost composty fermented fruit notes, but others may enjoy this ambiguous flavor character.
  • Robust Flavors for All Palates ... Sourced from the South of Minas, our special house blend ground coffee are among the most popular beans in the world. Brazil's mountain environments grow coffee with sweet, robust flavors while reducing bitterness.
  • Delighting All Your Senses ... A dark roast ground coffee is the ideal option for a strong start to the day. Dried fruit aromas, chestnut and almond notes, and an intense, prolonged flavor contribute to an unparalleled experience each morning.
  • More Of What You Love ... Our ground coffee dark roast is naturally processed, allowing the full quality of our work to shine. With each bean picked with the coffee cherry intact, you're invited to a profound flavor experience with each cup.
  • Exotic Mouthfeel Experiences ... How your coffee feels is just as important as it tastes. With authentic Brazilian coffee, our full body texture is creamy, rich, and perfectly designed to balance strong flavors with a round, pleasant sensation.
  • Jump Start Your Day ... You won't always have the luxury of waiting minutes for your coffee. With fine ground coffee, your morning cup can be ready quickly to meet your time table, helping coffee lovers get their fix without sacrificing taste.
  • BRAZILIAN MINAS GERAIS COFFEE is a luscious single origin offering with notes of orange zest and brown sugar.
  • CATURRA AND CASTILLO VARIETALS. Grown at 500 - 1,000 masl. Washed and Patio Dried. Light Roast.
  • COFFEE FOR EVERYBODY - sustainably sourced and Proudly Roasted, Blended, and Packaged in USA.
  • ALL OUR COFFEES ARE ROASTED in Our Environmentally Friendly Loring Roasters to Reduce Our Carbon Footprint.
  • AVAILABLE IN WHOLE BEAN AND GROUND AS 12 OZ, 2 LB, and 5 LB Bags.
  • 100% Roast and ground coffee harvested and blend in Brazil. Brazilian very fine ground coffee
  • Vacuum sealed 17.60 oz pack: no air, no light. Pure freshness. Light bodied and smooth tasting.
  • Does not contain gluten
  • Disponível em embalagens a vácuo de 250g e 500g
  • Não contém glúten
  • 100% Pure Brazil Peaberry Coffee from the Santana estate is famous for its smooth flavor, complex inteste aroma and rich body. It is a flavorful variety boasting a nutty, sweet hazelnut with hints of raspberry.
  • Medium roasted whole beans allowing the true flavor characteristic to come through for a remarkable taste.
  • Fresh roasted the immediately packed and sealed to assure freshness.
  • 100% Customer Satisfaction Guaranteed.
  • Contains six (6) twelve (12) count boxes of Café Bustelo Brazil Keurig K-Cup Pods
  • Authentic Hispanic coffee blend made with Brazilian coffee beans
  • Bold sabor latino that stands out, with or without cream and sugar
  • Dark roast coffee with rich flavor and hints of cocoa
  • Specially roasted to ensure a delicious, full-bodied taste
  • FRESHLY ROASTED COFFEE-OUR SPECIALTY- Old Brooklyn coffee beans are roasted in small batches in New York so that each pack captures the freshness and unique aromas of our blends. We also make sure to ship our coffee in air-tight, sealed bags with a valve so that you coffee stays fresh and aromatic.
  • THE FINEST BLENDS TO HIT YOUR CUP- We make sure to handpick the best coffee varieties for an absolutely unique taste profile. With blends from Columbia, Brazil, and Guatemala, you are bound to find your next favorite daily blend.
  • A VAST COLLECTION TO CHOOSE FROM- Dive into our select coffee blends and discover the finest roasts available. Italian Dark Roast, French Roast, Dark Roast, Brazilian Santos, House Blend, Breakfast Blend and More! We’ve got just the thing for even the most demanding of coffee connoisseurs.
  • FOR ALL YOUR FAVORITE MOMENTS OF THE DAY- In between our coffee selection you can find blends that better suit your balance. From sweet, to strong- we cover everything. Enjoy your coffee straight black, sip your espresso as a midday pick-me up, make your drip-brews or cold brews, or brew in your French press.
  • OLDE BROOKLYN COFFEE-Our goal is to provide you with simply amazing coffee blends at great prices without sacrificing the quality. That’s why all our blends are roasted on a weekly basis so as to get you the freshest experience, with each cup.
  • Robust Flavors for All Palates ... Sourced from the South of Minas, our special house blend ground coffee are among the most popular beans in the world. Brazil's mountain environments grow coffee with sweet, robust flavors while reducing bitterness.
  • Delighting All Your Senses ... A medium roast ground coffee is the ideal middle ground between light and dark. Dried fruit aromas, chestnut and almond notes, and a rich, deep flavor contribute to an unparalleled coffee experience for every morning.
  • More Of What You Love ... Our ground coffee medium roast is naturally processed, allowing the full quality of our work to shine. With each bean picked with the coffee cherry intact, you're invited to a profound flavor experience with each cup.
  • Exotic Mouthfeel Experiences ... How your coffee feels is just as important as it tastes. With authentic Brazilian coffee, our full body texture is creamy, rich, and perfectly designed to balance strong flavors with a round, pleasant sensation.
  • Jump Start Your Day ... You won't always have the luxury of waiting minutes for your coffee. With fine ground coffee, your morning cup can be ready quickly to meet your time table, helping coffee lovers get their fix without sacrificing taste.
  • BOLD AND HEAVY BODIED WITH A MORE TRADITIONAL FLAVOR, This Medium-Dark Roast Brazilian Coffee Has Notes of Cocoa and Walnut. Smooth and Drinkable with No Burnt or Lingering Finish.
  • ALL FRESH ROASTED COFFEE is OU Kosher Certified and Proudly Roasted, Blended, and Packaged in the USA. Our Coffee is Roasted on Loring (tm) Smart Roasters to Reduce Our Carbon Footprint and Provide Superior Flavor.
  • FRESH ROASTED COFFEE PODS ARE RECYCLABLE/COMPOSTABLE. Fresh Roasted Coffee Nitrogen Flushes Every Coffee Pod to Keep Your Coffee at its Freshest.
  • 100% ARABICA COFFEE. Compatible with K-Cup Brewers including 2.0 Machines.

History of the Brazilian coffee

The first coffee plant was introduced to Brazil in the 1700s. Francisco de Melo seduced the Guianese’s governor’s wife to acquire help in smuggling the coffee seeds from French Guiana.

Initially, Brazilian coffee was used by the European colonists locally, and afterward, demand grew in the United States and Europe that increased the exports.

By 1820, Brazil was producing 30% of the world’s coffee and by 1920 Brazil was growing 80% of the world’s coffee that is incredible!

In mid to late- 1800, a disease devastated the coffee industry of Asia that gave a chance to Central and South American the chance to fulfill the gap as a coffee region.

During the coffee period, Brazil was prospering and several agrarian elites invested in infrastructure, railways, banking institutions, industrialization, and credit expansion. And the coffee export bought beneficial social, economic, and cultural changes. 

The three main growing areas that provide the best Brazilian coffee are the oldest, Mogiana, lies along the border of Sao Paulo and Minas Gerais states north of São Paulo city, and is famous for its deep, richly red soil and its sweet, full, rounded coffees.

The rolling hill of Sul Minas lies in the southern part of Minas Gerais is the heart of Brazilian coffee. Coffea Arabica is one of the species of coffee plant that grows the highest quality beans and can be broken down into varietals.

The varietal is natural mutations having most of the characteristics of their subspecies and differ in one significant way. 

Typica and Bourbon are the parents of almost all the famous coffee varietals. Bourbon is the varietal for the best Brazilian coffee. 

Bourbon coffees are slightly sweeter with a caramel quality and also have crisp acidity flavors that vary from the land to land where they are planted. 

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Brazilian Coffee Growing Regions

Brazil can produce some outstanding coffees because of its unique climatic conditions. Some of the particular regions for the growth of Brazilian coffee are:

  • Minas Gerais

Minas Gerais means ‘General Mines’ which is named after the gold rush in the 18th century. It is the largest coffee-growing state in Brazil, accounting for close to 50% of the total coffee grown.

It’s here that you’ll find Sul de Minas. It has mild climate consistently around 22 Celsius.

  • Sao Paulo
  • Bahia
  • Espirito Santo
Best Brazilian Coffee

Traditional Brazilian Coffee Recipe

Cafezinho is the traditional Brazilian coffee recipe. The recipe of Cafezinho is rather simpler and similar to espresso. You need the following things to follow this recipe:

  • 1/3 cup finely ground coffee
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 4 cups hot water
  • Scalded milk (optional)

Instructions: 

1. Weigh and grind coffee if not already ground.

2. Add coffee to French Press.

3. Add sugar on top of grounds.

4. Boil water. Let rest for 30 seconds, then pour over contents of French Press. Stir to mix.

5. Put a lid on French Press and wait 4 minutes for coffee to brew.

6. Steam milk (if using) while coffee is brewing.

7. Press the coffee slowly.

8. Pour steamed milk into the cup first and then fill with coffee.

Coffee Processing Methods

Best Brazilian Coffee

Today, Brazilian coffee beans are used for coffee blending and we can also roast them properly to amplify their diverse characteristics. Brazilian coffee is being processed in different ways:

  • Wet method
  • A dry or natural method
  • Honey – a pulped natural process

However, most of the Brazilian coffee is processed by natural method because of its proper weather to do it successfully. Brazil has a dry and wet season that allows Brazilians to harvest coffee via strip picking method.

Brazil has one of the most advanced and well-cared processing methods of coffee that makes the best Brazilian coffee. Let’s discuss some of the processing methods above in detail: Read Here: Best Medium Roast Coffees

1) Wet-Processing method

The wet processing method is relatively a new method of processing the coffee. In this method, four layers surrounding the coffee beans are removed.

This makes the coffee cleaner, brighter, and fruiter. This wet processing of coffee is done in a small quantity. Fruit flesh is removed with a machine called depulper.

This method is called the wet method because water is the primary source of both moving the coffee through the process and making the extraction of the seeds possible.

This processing method affects the taste of the coffee and it helps to understand why every coffee tastes different.

Many producers of the coffee used this wet method because it reduces the risks of defects and it is a more stable but expensive way to process the coffee.

2) Dry or Natural Processing Method

In the dry or natural processing method, the coffee is dried while they are still in the cherry. The coffee beans are dried in contact with the sweet mucilage in this the coffee will be heavy in body, sweet, smooth, and complex.

This coffee method is also one of the most complex processing methods in which coffee cherries are laid in the sun. After three or four weeks, the husk of dried cherries is removed by mechanical methods and the green coffee is stored.

This natural process of coffee is common in regions where there is no water like Ethiopia and several regions in Brazil. These natural processed coffees can be useful for roasteries and baristas.

3) Honey– Pulped Natural Processing Method

This honey natural process is commonly used in Central American countries such as El Salvador and Costa Rica and Brazil. In this processing method, cherries are mechanically depupled.

After the depulping process, coffee beans go straight to the drying tables to dry. These honey processed coffees are generally referred with colors: black, red, yellow, and white honey.

Brazil has made this processing method famous in the world and produces some of the best-pulped method coffees in the world.

However, all the twenty winners of the Gourmet cup competition in Brazil in 2000 processed their coffees using the pulped natural processing method.

Types of Coffees in Brazil

Brazil cultivates several types of coffees that is why coffee growing there is subject to research and development in universities and institutions.

Here are some of the varietals that are commonly grown in Brazil and this information is based on the Brazil Specialty Coffee Association (BSCA) and the Coffee Research Consortium

  • Acaiá
  • Arara
  • Red Bourbon
  • Yellow Bourbon
  • Catigua
  • Catucai
  • Red Icatu 
  • Yellow Icatu

ACAIA:

ACAIA means ‘fruit with large seeds’. This varietal was distributed to the Brazilian farmers in 1977 selected from Mundo Novo. These large seeds are liable to coffee leaf rust, but the yield is good, and the plants are hearty.

It is a natural mutation of the Mundo Novo hybrid found in Brazil. ACAIA is adapted to the climate and growing conditions in Brazil. Its tree develops in a triangular shape that allows capturing the sunlight homogeneously.

However, ACAIA is susceptible to pests and coffee tree diseases. This type of Brazilian coffee seed is more acidic with the mild body, rather than usual Brazilian chocolaty beans.

ARARA:

An agronomist named Francisco Barbosa Lima discovered this Arara varietal between Obata and Yellow Catuai in 1988. The trees of ARARA are productive and resistant to drought and leaf rust.

These are attractive with an agronomic perspective that presents tasty characteristics in the cup of coffee. 

Why ARARA is popular?

  • It has high productivity 
  • It has yellow cherries that increase their market value
  • It has remarkable sensory attributes 
  • It is resistant to diseases such as coffee leaf rust, bacterial blight, and phoma leaf spot 
  • They are compact trees that make harvesting easier

RED BOURBON:

Red Bourbon seeds arrive in Brazil in 1859 sent by the Brazil central government after hearing that coffee growing on the island of Reunion.

In 1930s different variants of Red Bourbon was breed at the Campinas Agronomic Institute (IAC) in Sao Paulo and distributed among farmers in 1939.

YELLOW BOURBON:

Yellow Bourbon was studied by Dr. Carlos Arnaldo Kurg in 1930. A yellow bourbon tree can reach up to 2.8 meters in height and its cultivation requires more care and attention than any other varietal of coffee.

Its characteristics are visible in a cup of coffee with its sweet flavor, striking aroma, and pronounced citric acidity flavor.

Best Brazilian Coffee

CATIGUA:

A team of researchers made a cross between Yellow Catuai and the Timor hybrid in 1980. The name ‘Catigua’ refers to the original name of the city of Patrocínio, Minas Gerais.

CATUCAI:

Catucai was first discovered by Brazilian researchers in 1988 at the Brazilian Coffee Institute (IBC). It is an Arabica-Robusta hybrid variety. Catucai is well-known for its high yielding characteristics and vigorous growth.

It has a small structure and is founded in two colors; red and yellow. Red catucai trees are slightly higher than yellow catucai trees. Both the trees are resistant to leaf rust disease.

However, a cup of catucai is fruity and sweet with a smooth aftertaste.

RED ICATU:

Icatu is related to Arabica and C. canephora and it is a relatively young varietal that came to the forefront in 1950. The word Icatu means smooth sailing. 

It also has a strong resistance to leaf rust and pest. The red Icatu was officially released for commercial use in 1992.

YELLOW ICATU:

Yellow Icatu is also related to Arabica and C. canephora. Yellow Icatu was registered in National Cultivar Registry (RNC) in 1999 and was released for commercial use in 1992.

Growing Facts of the Brazilian Coffee

Following are some of the amazing growing facts about Brazilian coffee:

  • Discovery of varietals

Brazilian coffee institutions have made several amazing contributions in the coffee market. One of the interesting contributions is the discovery of new varieties of the coffee plant like Caturra, Maragogype, and Mundo Novo.

  • Pulp Natural processing method

Another innovation of the Brazilian coffee institutions is the ‘pulp natural’ processing method. This method has been discussed in the above section of the processing method. 

  • Brazil produces one-third of global coffee
  • There are 220,000 coffee farms in Brazil 
  • Brazil produces both Arabica and robusta varietals of coffee
  • Most of the world Espresso beans come from Brazil 
  • The coffee bean harvesting season starts from May and ends in September 
  • Brazil has a highly specialized coffee classification system
  • Brazil is the only major producer vulnerable frost 

Brazilian coffee is mostly exported as:

  • Green coffee
  • Soluble coffee
  • Roasted and ground coffee
  • Concentrated and essential extracts
  • Coffee residues

Brewing Methods For The Brazilian Coffee

There are multiple ways to enjoy the Brazilian coffee. Following are some of the brewing methods:

  • French press
  • Espresso
  • Cold-brew
  • Arabic method
  • Vacuum Brewer
  • Moka Pot Brewer

French Press: French press is known for brewing coffee with a full heavy body. As the French press is a full immersion brewer and the coffee sits in the coffee for up to 5 minutes.

This process starts by putting ground coffee in an empty cup. Add hot water into it and cover it. Then press the plunger to separate the solids from the brew.

Espresso: Every traditional espresso has Brazilian beans in it. These Brazilian beans are made for espresso. It is a full chocolaty that helps to make the perfect shot of espresso.

Cold Brew: Cold brewing is one of the brewing methods. Most of the people want their cold brew to be smooth and the Brazilian coffee beans give it a unique flavor.

Arabic Method: Arabic method is one of the oldest brewing methods which is also known as ‘mud coffee’. This method requires an extremely fine powder to prevent swallowing grounds.

Vacuum Brewer:  In this method, a simple physics principle ‘thermodynamics’ is used. This principle allows the mixture to flow through a filter between two glass chambers.

Moka Pot Brewer: The Moka pot brewer method is brewing coffee by passing steam through ground coffee up through a tube and into a top chamber.

Taste Of The Brazilian Coffee

Best Brazilian Coffee

Brazil has a diverse topography that means there are variety and diversity in the coffee beans cultivated on the Brazilian land.

As this is discussed in the above section of the types of Brazilian coffee, Robusta beans grown in grasslands are fairly unremarkable with mild earthy notes and an unpleasant bitterness.

We see different flavors of Brazilian coffees that define their different characteristics. The most common is the earthy, spicy, nutty, and low acidity beans that make a perfect blend foundation.

Flavor: Complex, spice, sweet, gentle acidity, lime, wine, floral 

Processing: Natural, Pulp, wet, honey 

Main growing regions: Minas Gerais, Espirito Santo, São Paulo, Bahia

Roast Type For Brazilian Beans

Following are some of the roast types for the Brazilian beans: Coffee beans are versatile, and you can make them according to your preferred taste

  • Lighter roasts: are smooth, low acid, chocolaty, and nutty cup of coffee.
  • Medium roasts: it is the best roast. Balanced flavors and low acidity
  • Darker roasts: full body and have a toasted nut character.

Brazilian coffee beans are lighter, which makes roasting a bit tricky. You should apply low heat for a longer period to avoid scorching the beans

Buyers Of The Brazilian Coffee

The largest buyers of the Brazilian coffee are:

  • United States
  • Italy
  • Germany
  • Japan
  • Belgium

Growing Brazilian Coffee Market

Statistics show that Brazilians never become tired of their coffees. Brazil isn’t just the primary exporter of coffee around the world, but at the same time, it’s one of the beverage’s biggest buyers.

The inward utilization of coffee is constantly developing, which can be demonstrated by certain numbers. The populace’s admission of coffee expanded from 8.2 million packs, in 1990, to 20 million sacks, by the principal long periods of 2012.

An overview made by IBGE uncovered that coffee is the most devoured item every day by the Brazilian populace over 10 years of age. That speaks to 79.7 liters of coffee drank per occupant during a year.

The espresso expended inside the nation is the most exceedingly terrible of its creation, as the best yields are bound to exportation.

Possibly that is one reason why the coffee that the Brazilians drink regularly is modest and famous, costing around BRL 2.00 a cup or BRL 5.00 a large portion of a kilo of the powder purchased in grocery stores.

The vast majority of the individuals here discover ridiculous to spend considerably more than that just to appreciate some coffee.