History of Brazil: The Largest Coffee Consumer's Coffee Kingdom and Characteristics of Red Bourbon Coffee Beans

The Rich History of Brazilian Coffee

Coffee was introduced to the country as early as the beginning of the 18th century. The story goes that in 1727, the Brazilian government sent a valiant soldier - Lieutenant Colonel Francisco de Mello Palheta - to smuggle coffee seeds from French Guiana under the guise of mediating a border dispute.

Legend has it that the governor's wife, captivated by the lieutenant, presented him with a bouquet adorned with coffee seedlings at a farewell state banquet. The country has approximately 2 million hectares of land planted with coffee, the vast majority of which (over 70%) is Arabica coffee. Most of this is destined for large multinational roasters, simply referred to as "Santos" (after the port in the state of São Paulo, not the region).

Quality and Innovation in Brazilian Coffee

However, Brazil also produces some genuinely excellent coffees and micro-lots, proving that specialty coffee doesn't have to be limited to small-scale growers. Like India, Brazil's growing middle class has driven rapid growth in the domestic coffee market. Consumption is growing at approximately 5% per year, and according to The Telegraph, Brazil recently surpassed the United States to become the world's largest coffee-consuming nation in terms of per capita kilograms consumed.

In 1975, Brazil suffered a devastating frost. Many producers abandoned their crops in the southern and southeastern regions and resettled in Minas Gerais state, which was less affected by the frost. A combination of technology, best cultivation practices, and the farmers' determination enabled Minas Gerais to become Brazil's largest coffee-producing state in just over 30 years.

The Cup of Excellence and Brazilian Coffee Varieties

To recognize the country's quality coffees, Brazil pioneered the judged Cup of Excellence competition a decade ago. Farm sizes range from small family plantations of less than 10 hectares to large estates of over 2,000 hectares. Some of the larger Brazilian estates individually produce more coffee annually than Bolivia's total production!

Here, numerous traditional and experimental varieties are cultivated, such as Bourbon, Mondo Novo, Icatú, Catuaí, Iapar, and Catucaí. Most of the genetic material used in Brazilian coffee crops comes from the Catuaí and Mundo Novo combination developed in the 1930s by the Agronomic Institute of Campinas (IAC).

Historically, due to water scarcity in early coffee-producing regions, most coffee grown in Brazil was processed using natural methods. This is now changing, with the adoption of natural pulping and fully washed methods - particularly in the specialty sector. These processes are used to enhance different characteristics of the coffee and bring out distinct qualities.

In fact, some large estates process coffee using each method to offer contrasting cup profiles. Mercanta works closely with the Brazilian Specialty Coffee Association (BSCA) to establish lasting, sustainable relationships with quality growers of all sizes. The BSCA works at both international and domestic levels to improve standards for Brazilian coffee and coffee agriculture. Internationally, it promotes quality Brazilian coffee and helps growers meet the strict standards of global specialty coffee buyers. At the domestic level, the BSCA works with farms to continually improve sustainable agricultural practices and ensure social care for workers.

The Legacy and Future of Brazilian Coffee

Most coffee is grown from traditional Latin American Arabica coffee varieties, namely Bourbon coffee. The finest types are traded in Brazil as Santos 2, with "2" considered the highest coffee quality.

For over 100 years, Brazil has been the king of the coffee industry. It is the largest producer and exporter of instant coffee, accounting for more than a third of its coffee production. Production is expected to reach nearly 60 million 60-kilogram bags by 2020, up from 49.3 million bags last year.

Is Brazilian coffee underestimated or overestimated? One thing is certain: Brazil will continue to reinvent itself to meet the growing demand for quality coffee.

FrontStreet Coffee has a Red Bourbon from Brazil, which is a flavor-balanced coffee with a very typical Brazilian coffee style. Nutty and chocolatey flavors are prominent, with low acidity. High sweetness, clean, smooth, with tropical fruit aromas.

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