Experts Guide to Brazilian Coffee and Finding Excellent Beans
Brazil is just one of the many Latin American countries that produce coffee. Brazilian coffee is valued for its nutty and savory flavor profile and is unique in many other respects, from its classification system to the way it is produced.
This guide covers the history of coffee in this country as well as the most popular taste notes in Brazil's major coffee-producing regions.
History of Coffee in Brazil
It would surprise people to learn that Americans had been drinking coffee for fifty years before the first coffee seed was sown in one of Portugal's colonies in 1727. A hundred years later, Brazil supplied 30% of the world's coffee.
Brazil now spends its efforts on cultivating a variety of organic and fair-trade certified coffees as well as Brazilian specialty coffee. It has not been simple to overcome the land's natural challenges. Brazil lacks the high altitudes and volcanic soil necessary to create a complex, well-rounded coffee bean, unlike many other notable countries that produce coffee. Brazil, which mostly grows Arabica coffee, is still the world's largest producer of coffee even now.
Flavor Profile
Brazilian coffee is a flavorful beverage created from a combination of four distinct coffee beans. It is made from a blend of various beans, each of which has a distinctive flavor that when combined results in a rich, supple, and creamy beverage. The following beans are used to make Brazilian coffee:
- Catuai
High yielding, sweet, and flavored with whisky, the Catuai bean is an Arabica coffee bean.
- Obata
Another distinctive coffee bean with an incredible blend is the Obata bean. Obata has a smooth flavor with delicate floral characteristics and a delightful honey flavor.
- Icatu
This coffee bean is a mixture of the Bourbon Vermelho and Robusta varieties. It has distinct flavors of malt, chocolate, and maple syrup.
Coffee Growing Regions
Brazil is a stunning, tropical country with a lot of rainforests, and its mild climate makes it a great place to grow coffee. Brazil's coffee-growing regions are located in the southeast of the country, close to the Atlantic Ocean. Both Arabica and Robusta beans grow well in regions with year-round stable temperatures, sufficient sunlight, and rain. The three biggest and best-known regions for producing coffee in Brazil are:
- Minas Gerais
The largest coffee-growing state, Minas Gerais, is home to four coffee-producing regions. Here, premium coffees like Obat, Icatu, and Mundo Novo are produced.
- Espírito Santo
The second-highest amount of coffee beans, most of the Robusta variety, is produced in Espirito Santo. The excessive humidity in this area causes the coffee cherries to grow slowly and irregularly.
- São Paulo
Port Santos, the port famous for coffee exportation, is located in this region.
Final Thoughts
Brazil, the largest coffee grower in the world, has made significant contributions to the coffee industry. This country strives to grow high-quality, organic, fair-trade coffee, placing a strong emphasis on advancement and learning. So whenever you get a chance to visit Brazil make sure to try out the Catuai and Obata flavors of Coffee.