The 5 Best Brazilian Coffee Brands
Here's a quick summary of our picks for best Brazilian coffee brands!
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Can't pick just one? If we had to pick just one, it would be Fresh Roasted Coffee's Cerado!
The Reputation of Brazilian Coffee
Brazil has been the largest producer and exporter of coffee in the world for more than 150 years. Brazil produces a staggering amount of coffee, accounting for approximately ⅓ of world’s coffee production, (ICO). The reputation of Brazilian coffee has suffered in a sense because of this. Many believe that Brazil focuses primarily on quantity, without much regard for quality. In our opinion, Brazilian specialty coffee is very much worth your attention! The take home message here is...
Don’t sleep on Brazilian coffee beans!
With such an enormous amount of coffee coming out of Brazil, it’s tough to know which Brazilian coffee roaster to go for. For that reason, we’ve compiled our top 5 best Brazilian coffee brands.
Brazilian Coffee Brands & Specialty Coffee
Brazil produces and exports an immense amount of lower grade beans to be used in instant coffee products and blends. The mild nature of Brazilian coffee beans serve to balance the profiles of highly acidic beans when used in blends. These lower grade Brazilian beans are particularly attractive for their cheap prices and bulk availability.
Brazilian specialty coffee is perhaps swept under the rug a little bit. This is rather unfortunate, because the best Brazilian coffees have a lot to offer!
Brazilian Coffee Taste Profile
Brazil is a large country that produces an enormous amount of coffee. It should come as no surprise that coffee is grown in many different regions. Taste profiles can vary significantly depending on the origin, the altitude of the farm, the processing method used and a number of other factors. That being said, the best Brazilian coffees can be expected to exhibit at least some of the following qualities;
Brazilian Coffee Growing Regions
Coffee growing in Brazil occurs in a large number of regions spread across the vast country. Different regions are distinguished by variable growing conditions. The best Brazilian coffee is grown at higher elevations than that of lower grade beans. The most notable regions in the Brazilian specialty coffee game are as follows;
Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais is the largest coffee growing region in Brazil. This region accounts for up to half of the coffee grown in the entire country. A consistently warm climate is present in the southern portion of this state, (sul de Minas). Coffee is grown both in small farms and larger plantations. The oldest known coffee plantation in Brazil exists in this region. Fazenda Pantano is still producing coffee to this day!
Bahia
Cerrado is the most well known coffee growing region in the state of Bahia. Cerrado is located within an extremely biodiverse, tropical savanna region. Consistent rain, high temperatures and mineral rich soils make for ideal coffee growing conditions.
Sao Paulo
Sao Paulo is home to the well known port of Santos. Santos has become a well established Brazilian coffee brand because of exportation of coffee from the port. Sao Paulo is also home to some of the highest altitude growing regions in all of Brazil.
Santos, Brazil - Home of the famous port!
Bourbon Santos Coffee
You have probably heard of Bourbon Santos coffee before. No, this is not bourbon flavored coffee! Bourbon is a varietal of the Coffea arabica species. Bourbon Santos is simply a combination of the varietal name and the name of the major Brazilian port of Santos.
Brazilian Bourbon beans are thought to provide a nice caramelized or nutty sweetness to the flavor profile. These beans are commonly grown in both Minas Gerais and Sao Paulo.
Brazilian Coffee History
The history of coffee in Brazil is closely intertwined with the country's economic development and its emergence as the world's largest coffee producer. Brazil has played a pivotal role in shaping the global coffee industry.
Coffee was first introduced to Brazil in the early 18th century by Francisco de Melo Palheta, a Portuguese military officer. It is said that Palheta obtained coffee seeds from French Guiana and successfully brought them to Brazil, initiating coffee cultivation in the country.
In the early years, coffee cultivation in Brazil faced challenges, including climate suitability and a lack of established markets. However, coffee production gradually expanded in the 19th century, primarily in the southeastern region of the country, particularly in the states of São Paulo, Minas Gerais, and Rio de Janeiro.
The fertile soils, ample rainfall, and favorable climate of these regions provided ideal conditions for coffee cultivation. Large coffee plantations, known as "fazendas," were established, and coffee production boomed.
Brazil's coffee industry experienced exponential growth during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The government implemented policies that favored coffee production, including providing land grants and loans to farmers. Coffee became Brazil's main export, and the country emerged as the world's leading coffee producer.
The coffee boom in Brazil had a significant impact on the country's economy. It led to urbanization, the development of transportation infrastructure, and the growth of cities like São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. The coffee trade brought substantial wealth to Brazil and played a crucial role in shaping its economic and social fabric.
As coffee production expanded, Brazil pioneered innovations in coffee processing and harvesting techniques. The country developed the dry processing method known as "natural" or "dry-processed" coffee, which involves drying the coffee cherries in the sun before removing the beans. This method became widely adopted in Brazil and influenced coffee processing practices worldwide.
Today, Brazil continues to be the world's largest coffee producer and exporter. The country cultivates both Arabica and Robusta coffee varieties, with Arabica accounting for the majority of production. Brazilian coffees are known for their versatility and are often used in blends.
Brazil has a well-established coffee industry, with large-scale coffee farms alongside smaller family-owned operations. The country employs modern farming practices and mechanization in coffee production. Additionally, sustainable initiatives, such as certifications for organic and fair trade coffee, have gained prominence in Brazil.
The Best Brazilian Coffee Beans
As the largest producer of coffee in the world, Brazil has something to offer for everyone. Here are our picks for the 5 best Brazilian coffees. We hope that you’ll find something new to try!
1. Cerrado Coffee
Roasted By: Fresh Roasted Coffee
Roast: Medium-Dark
Taste: Rich, notes of walnut & dark chocolate
First up we have a representation of the state of Bahia. These beans come from the tropical savanna region of Cerrado! This coffee is creamy, rich and easy drinking. Notes of walnut and chocolate are prominent, and a nice caramel-toned sweetness is also evident. This one is low in acidity, making it easy on the stomach! Cerrado coffee is a great example of a high quality Brazilian specialty bean. We highly recommend checking this out!
Coarse, Drip & Fine Grind available!
2. Bourbon Santos Coffee
Roasted By: Republika Coffee
Roast: Dark
Taste: Rich, notes of fruit and nuts
Next up we have some of the famous Bourbon Santos beans. Republika coffee provides high quality, organic, fair trade beans. No, this coffee does not contain alcohol, but it is very tasty anyway! The ability to darkly roast Brazilian beans without causing a bitter taste is showcased here! This coffee balances notes of fruit & nuts with the signature Bourbon caramel-toned sweetness. If you've never tried a Bourbon Santos coffee, this is a great one that you should definitely check out!
Not available as single serve
3. Minas Gerais Coffee
Roasted By: Três Pontas
Roast: Medium
Taste: Rich, notes of walnut, vanilla and chocolate
These beans come from the Garcia Reis family farm, located within Brazil's largest coffee growing region, Minas Gerais. Organic, GMO-free and fair trade practices are implemented. Três Pontas deserves a lot of praise for their commitment to delivering a fresh product. They will have your beans to you within days of being roasted! This coffee is rich, with notes of chocolate, vanilla & walnuts. This is another low acid coffee with a smooth & clean finish. Beware, once you'd tried coffee this fresh, it might spoil less fresh beans for you!
Not available as ground coffee
Not available as single serve
4. Fazenda Pantano Coffee
Roasted By: Cuvée Coffee
Roast: Medium
Taste: Complex, notes of almond, malt and chocolate
Next up we have a coffee that comes from the oldest plantation in all of Brazil. The high quality offerings of Fazenda Pantano have truly stood the test of time. This coffee is easy drinking, yet actually quite complex. A number of aspects are expertly balanced in this cup. Notes of roasted almonds, malt & chocolate, a caramel-toned sweetness and a mild, citric acidity are all evident. You will need to have a couple cups of this coffee (or 10) in order to appreciate everything that is going on. Highly recommended!
Not available as ground coffee
Not available as single serve
5. Santos Coffee
Roasted By: Coffee Bean Direct
Roast: Medium
Taste: Balanced, notes of cinnamon, nuts & dark chocolate
Our final Brazilian coffee takes the famous name of the port of Santos. Seeing as how Brazil produces by far the most coffee in the world, it seems appropriate that Santos has become a well known Brazilian coffee brand. This coffee has the signature Brazilian easy drinking taste. Notes of nuts, cinnamon & dark chocolate are combined with a mild fruity sweetness. As is typical of Brazilian coffee, this cup is low in acidity. If you tend to prefer a lighter roast, these are the Brazilian beans for you!
Not available as ground coffee
Not available as single serve
And that's that! We strongly believe that each of these Brazilian coffee brands bring something special to the table. We'd like to stress one final time... don't sleep on Brazilian coffee!
What is your favorite Brazilian coffee? Did we miss something that deserves to be in our list? Let us know!
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