Coffee culture

Introduction to Brazilian Coffee Bean Regions, Processing Methods and Grading - Flavor Characteristics of Rainha Estate Yellow Bourbon

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee
Last Updated: 2026/01/27, When it comes to Brazilian coffee beans, many people may not have a strong impression, but in fact, Brazil plays a crucial role in espresso blends. Brazil is the largest coffee producer in the world and has the most comprehensive variety of coffee production. Its coffee is characterized by a light fragrance with a hint of bitterness, smooth and pleasant to the palate. Not only is it the largest coffee-producing country, but it's also the second-largest coffee consumer...

An Introduction to Brazilian Coffee

When it comes to Brazilian coffee beans, many people don't have a strong impression, but in reality, Brazil plays a crucial role in espresso coffee blends.

Brazil is the largest coffee producer in the world and the most comprehensive production base with the widest variety of coffees. Its flavor profile is characterized by a light fragrance with a slight bitterness, offering a sweet and smooth taste. Not only is Brazil the largest coffee-producing country, but it's also the second-largest coffee consumer. Today, FrontStreet Coffee will provide a brief introduction to Brazilian coffee.

Brazilian Coffee

The History of Brazilian Coffee Cultivation

Let's start with the cultivation history of Brazilian coffee beans! Brazilian coffee varieties were introduced to Brazil from French Guiana in the 1720s. Francisco de Mello Palheta, a Portuguese captain from Brazil, captured the heart of the governor's wife in Cayenne, the capital of French Guiana at the time, successfully bringing coffee seeds into Brazil. Since then, coffee quickly adapted in Brazil, spreading from the north to the southeastern state of São Paulo and the southern state of Paraná. These regions have slightly higher latitudes where winter frosts caused severe losses for coffee farmers. During the 1970s-1980s, Brazilian farmers developed the warmer northern regions of São Paulo state, including Minas and Bahia, where winters are warm without frost. To this day, Minas has become one of Brazil's main specialty coffee-producing regions.

Brazil's Coffee-Producing Regions

Brazil has a total of 26 states, with 17 states cultivating coffee beans. Among them, seven states account for over 98% of the country's total coffee production. These seven states are:

  • São Paulo (Mogiana, Centro-Oeste)
  • Paraná (Norte Pionerio do Paraná)
  • Bahia (Planaltoda Bahia, Cerrado da Bahia, Atlantico Baiano)
  • Espírito Santo (Montanhas do Espírito Santo, Conilon Capixaba)
  • Minas Gerais (Sul de Minas, Cerrado Mineiro, Chapada de Minas, Matas de Minas)
  • Rondônia
  • Rio de Janeiro

Fazenda Rainha: A Premium Brazilian Coffee

FrontStreet Coffee offers a Brazilian coffee from Fazenda Rainha (Queen Farm), which belongs to the renowned Carvalho Dias family. Located in the Alta Mogiana region of São Paulo state, north of São Paulo city, the Carvalho Dias family owns four major estates. Since the first Brazil Cup of Excellence competition in 1999, they have won awards every year, winning more than 12 times in 7 years. In 2004, they even secured the championship, 9th place, and 11th place simultaneously. The estate grows 200 acres of Yellow Bourbon coffee trees.

Below is specific information about Brazilian coffee estates compiled by FrontStreet Coffee:

Brazilian Coffee Estate Information

Flavor Profile of FrontStreet Coffee's Brazilian Selection

FrontStreet Coffee's Yellow Bourbon offers a dry fragrance of roasted hazelnut and cinnamon. The wet aroma reveals tropical fruit notes, with excellent cream and sugar characteristics.

Yellow Bourbon Coffee Beans

Processing Methods

Brazilian coffee beans commonly undergo four processing methods: natural (dry), pulped natural, semi-washed, and washed. Among these, the washed method started relatively late in Brazil and has not yet gained high market recognition.

Characteristics of Brazilian Coffee Beans

Brazilian coffee beans are large in size with intense aroma, offering moderate bitterness and high-quality acidity. The overall taste is smooth with low acidity, revealing endless complexity upon careful tasting.

Brazilian coffee features lower acidity balanced with its sweet-bitter profile, creating an exceptionally smooth mouthfeel with subtle grassy fragrance. Its light aroma with slight bitterness delivers a sweet, smooth experience with a refreshing aftertaste.

Coffee Quality Classification

Flavor Grade Classification (High to Low):

Strictly Soft, Soft, Softish, Hardish, Rioy (iodine taste)

Defect Rate Classification:

Classified by the number of defective beans: in every 300g of raw beans, having 6 defective beans qualifies as NY.2. Beans with no defects can only become NY.1, but completely defect-free beans are rare and cannot maintain consistent supply, so the best available raw beans in Brazil are typically NY.2.

Cupping Quality Classification (High to Low):

Fine Cup, Fine, Good Cup, Fair Cup, Poor Cup, Bad Cup. FC (Fine Cup) and GC (Good Cup) are more common.

Bean Size Classification:

The largest screen size for Brazilian coffee beans is 19, but production is limited, making screen sizes 17 and 18 the highest grades.

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473

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