Brazil is the world's largest coffee producer and exporter, with an estimated production of 48.1 million 60-kilogram bags in the 2020/21 crop year. It's the largest producer of coffee beans in the world, accounting for approximately 40% of global coffee production. Coffee's an essential part of the economy, and the country has been producing it since the 18th century when a French military officer, Gabriel de Clieu, brought a coffee plant from French Guiana to Brazil. The plant thrived in the country's fertile soil and favourable climate, leading to widespread cultivation.
Brazil's coffee plantations are mainly located in the south eastern states of Minas Gerais, São Paulo, and Paraná. The country has a diverse range of coffee varieties, including Arabica, Robusta, known locally as Conilon. However, Arabica beans are the most commonly produced and exported coffee variety from Brazil.
Coffee beans in Brazil are typically grown on large plantations, often covering thousands of acres of land. The coffee trees are grown in rows and require a tropical climate with high temperatures, abundant rainfall and well-drained soil. The coffee plants are generally grown on hillsides, which helps with drainage and allows the plants to receive more sunlight.
Brazilian coffee farmers typically harvest their crops between May and September, with the peak of the harvest season occurring in June and July. Once the coffee cherries are harvested, they need to be processed to remove the outer layers and reveal the coffee beans inside. There are two main methods of processing coffee in Brazil: the natural method and the washed method. The coffee cherries are usually picked by hand, and the beans are then processed in one of two ways: the natural method or the washed method.
The natural method involves drying the coffee cherries in the sun for around 30 days, after which the outer layers are removed. This method produces coffee with a full body and a fruity flavour.
The washed method involves removing the outer layers of the coffee cherries before drying them. This method produces coffee with a clean and bright flavour. Once the beans have been processed, they're sorted by size, density and quality before being exported or used domestically in Brazil. Brazil's coffee industry is highly regulated, and coffee quality is closely monitored to ensure that it meets international standards.
The Brazil bean is our most popular and we use it as the basis for all our blends. It's a good-quality bean and the huge variety gives us a lot of options regarding flavours and allows us to produce a good value product.
You can find our single origin Brazilian beans here and our blends here so why not try one today?