Which Brazilian Coffee Brand is Best? Brazilian Coffee Brand Export Methods and Pilao Coffee

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FrontStreet Coffee · Brazilian Coffee Flavor Descriptions, Varieties, Cultivation, and Brands

First, FrontStreet Coffee's Brazilian coffee beans mainly come in two varieties: Arabica and Robusta.

1. Arabica (Coffea arabica)

Arabica, also known as the small-seeded variety. Originally from the Ethiopian highlands, before the 15th century, coffee was monopolized by Arabs for a long time, thus called "Arabian coffee" by Europeans. In the 16th century, it was introduced to Europe through the Arab world, further becoming one of the beverages loved by people worldwide.

Its excellent flavor and aroma make it the only coffee among these native varieties that can be consumed directly and individually. However, it has low resistance to drought, frost damage, and pests, particularly being vulnerable to coffee's greatest enemy—leaf rust disease. Therefore, all producing countries are committed to improving varieties. The caffeine content is about 1%-1.7%, thus also called "mild coffee." It is the world's main cultivated variety, with planting area and production accounting for more than 80% and 90% of the world's total coffee area and production respectively.

Main characteristics: Arabica coffee beans are also known as highland beans. Their main characteristics are: strong and fragrant aroma; not easily bitter; moderate coffee oil content; high acidity; caffeine content is 30%-40% of Robusta.

Main origins: South America (except for Argentina and some regions of Brazil), various Central American countries, Africa (Kenya, Ethiopia, etc., mainly East Africa), Asia (including parts of Yemen, India, Papua New Guinea), and (China's Yunnan, Hainan, Taiwan, and Fujian regions also cultivate small amounts of Arabica coffee beans).

2. Robusta (Coffea robusta)

Robusta, also known as the medium-seeded variety. Its caffeine content is much higher than Arabica, approximately 3.2%. Its unique aroma (called "Robusta flavor," which some consider musty) and bitterness—if mixed with other coffee at 2%-3% ratio, the entire cup becomes Robusta-flavored. Therefore, Robusta coffee beans cannot be consumed as single-origin coffee beans. Typically, Robusta coffee is used for instant coffee (its extracted coffee liquid is about twice that of Arabica), canned coffee, liquid coffee, and other industrial coffee production.

Main origins: Robusta is cultivated in lowlands at altitudes of 200-600 meters, preferring warm climates, requiring temperatures of 24℃-29℃, with not high requirements for rainfall. Robusta production accounts for 25%-35% of coffee bean production, with main producing countries in Indonesia (its coffee beans include a variety processed by wet method, which is a hybrid of Robusta and Arabica, and is the only coffee bean in the Chinese market that can be consumed as single-origin), Vietnam, Africa (West African countries centered on Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria, and Angola), and in recent years, Vietnam has increasingly focused on coffee production and included it in national policy (Vietnam also produces small amounts of Arabica coffee beans).

Coffee Basics: Four Types of Coffee Beans

Several Instant Coffee Brands Loved by Brazilian (Rio) People

The three major groups with the largest market share in Brazil's instant coffee market are:

Nestlé Coffee

3 Corações

A local brand with 2.9 billion reais in revenue in 2015, occupying 22% of Brazil's roasted and ground coffee market share and 30% of the instant coffee market. This March, it just acquired Cia Iguaçu. Cia Iguaçu, Cruzeiro, and Amigo are the three giants of the instant coffee market in southern Brazil.

JACOBS DOUWE EGBERTS (JDE)

The parent company of Brazil's most popular brand Pilão, headquartered in the Netherlands. This April, it also acquired Brazilian coffee company Grupo Seleto, adding another brand Café Seleto.

After introducing the three major instant coffee groups, let's specifically introduce the Brazilian instant coffee brands most loved by Rio's people.

1. Nestlé Nescafé

2. Pimpinela (under the 3 Corações group, Rio's people's coffee Café Carioca)

The above two are the favorite instant coffees of Brazilian friends around me.

Coffee Shops + Luxury Coffee for Gifting

For friends who want to drink coffee on-site and buy fresh coffee beans, Xiao Su recommends Rio's two best coffee shops. These two coffee shops also sell coffee beans and provide on-site grinding services. Everyone who has been there says good things, whether Brazilian or Chinese.

Confeitaria Colombo

Branch 1: Rua Gonçalves Dias, 32

Branch 2: Inside Forte de Copacabana, requires a few reais for ticket entry, always full

This was the most beloved coffee shop of Brazil's former upper class society, a place for literary figures to chat. The second floor of the downtown location often hosts wedding banquets, magnificent and golden. The desserts and coffee inside are very famous, and they only sell specially selected Arabica coffee, with coffee prices around 20 reais/250g. Of course, if you want to buy a metal casing for gifting, the casing might cost around 30 reais each.

Armazém do Café

This is one of Rio's earliest coffee shops, especially excelling in premium Arabica specialty selections, representing the highest realm of Brazilian coffee. If you buy more, you can negotiate a 10% discount with the merchant, and they will also give you free coffee with small desserts for tasting. There are mainly 8 types of coffee beans to choose from, with prices ranging from 17-25 reais/250g. The most expensive is Bahia Premium! It sounds great, their coffee has a slight acidity, and after drinking a small cup, you'll feel energetic all afternoon... Additionally, there are various tin packaging options for you to choose from. Different patterns and capacities range between 35-50 reais each. When buying, there are generally 3 choices: whole bean em grão, coarse grind (for capsule coffee) moída para cápsula, and fine grind (for direct brewing with hot water on filter paper) moída para filtro.

The following are coffee brands that appeared frequently based on netizen reviews, with prices not necessarily high, all brands that Brazilians consider good value for money. Friends who like to drink coffee can buy them all to try. These are sold through retail channels and can be found in supermarkets as Brazilian local brands.

Pilão

A brand under JDE. Established in 1978, with nearly 40% market share in both São Paulo and Rio (according to its official website). The fighter jet of affordable options.

Café do Centro

Café Iguaçu Solúvel Gourmet

Café Pelé

Café do Ponto

Important Notice :

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