Understanding the Characteristics of Brazilian Coffee Beans: What Makes Brazilian Coffee Special?

FrontStreet Coffee Introduction - Brazilian Coffee Characteristics

Brazilian coffee is mostly Arabica, at roughly 80% of total production, with the remaining 20% made up of Robusta varieties. According to the Brazilian Specialty Coffee Association's official website, there are as many as 28 cultivated varieties, with the main plantings being Bourbon (including Yellow Bourbon, Red Bourbon and Santos flat bean), Mundo Novo, Catuai, Typica and Catimor.

Production System

The coffee cultivation area covers 2.25 million square kilometers across approximately 290,000 coffee farms. Production is mainly estate-based, with farm sizes ranging from 0.5 to 10,000 square kilometers, and small estates making up the majority.

Coffee Harvest Season

Harvest period: April to December. Arrival period: October to March.

Coffee Processing

The four most common processing methods for Brazilian coffee are the natural sun-drying method, pulped natural (honey processing), semi-dry, semi-washed and washed methods, with natural sun-drying being the most widely used.

For more on Brazilian coffee processing and grading, see: [Coffee Origin Map] South America Chapter: Introduction to Brazilian Green Bean Processing Methods and Grading System.

Coffee Grading

Brazilian coffee grading is relatively complex, based on size, defect scores and flavor (cupping) quality.

Coffee Production

In recent years coffee production has ranged between 50 and 65 million bags, keeping Brazil in the world's top position. The 2018/19 season reached a record high of 63.4 million bags.

Appearance and Flavor

Because Brazil is so vast, you will find different coffee flavors even within the same state. Broadly speaking, though, Brazilian coffee is characterized by high sweetness, a clean taste, a smooth texture, low acidity, nutty flavors, good balance and a moderate body.

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

If you simply want to get to know Brazilian flavor, FrontStreet Brazil Cerrado Red Bourbon is a classic single origin to start with. Cerrado is a well-known local region famous for high-quality beans, and this half-sun-dried Red Bourbon, at a medium roast, delivers creamy peanut, toast, caramel and hazelnut aromas with a rounded body, low acidity and a light bitterness. It works for pour-over as well as moka pot, espresso SOE, siphon and French press.

For a rarer variety, FrontStreet Brazil Queen Estate Yellow Bourbon comes from Mogiana, where fertile red volcanic soil helps the cherries build full aromas. Yellow Bourbon is a natural mutation of Red Bourbon with a cleaner fruit character, and it shows a cane-sugar sweetness alongside fruit and chocolate flavors that other origins rarely offer.

Brazilian coffee also anchors many espresso recipes thanks to its low acidity, balance and approachable price. FrontStreet's espresso blend range - including the creamy-nut Classic Blend and the nutty Specialty Blend - draws on Brazilian beans to supply chocolate and cream aromas, a soft sweet-sour-bitter balance and, above all, stable extraction.