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World Specialty Coffee: 5 Things You Should Know About Brazilian Specialty Coffee

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee

Last Updated: 2026/01/27, Brazilian coffee has a bad reputation. Quantity over quality, you might hear people say. But these beans have much more to offer than most people think. Therefore, as FrontStreet Coffee, I am here to share with you five things you should know about this country's coffee. Some of these might surprise you. The world's largest producer We're not talking about countries here

Brazilian coffee has a bad reputation. Quantity over quality, you might hear people say. But these beans have much more to offer than most people think. Therefore, as FrontStreet Coffee, I am here to share with you five things you should know about coffee from this country. Some of these might surprise you.

The World's Largest Producer

We're not talking about the size of the country here. Brazil's coffee production is massive. The country accounts for about one-third of global coffee production (making it by far the largest coffee producer and exporter). In 2015, the total was 36.89 million 60-kilogram bags. Can you imagine how much coffee that is? Therefore, the country's production and market behavior have a ripple effect on international market prices, which means a drought in Brazil could lead to global coffee price increases. This has led many coffee enthusiasts (though certainly not all) to believe that Brazil's emphasis on quantity makes producers forget about quality, making it more difficult for Brazilian producers to sell their coffee beans.

Underestimated Flavor Profile

Most people go to Brazil to source coffee beans for espresso blends. There's nothing wrong with that. However, the country produces specialty coffee time and time again.

More importantly, Brazil's single origins aren't just "good enough." They are high-quality, distinctive coffees. Typically, Brazilians have intense sweetness in the form of caramel and chocolate flavors, full body, and relatively low acidity.

This low acidity sometimes leads people to underestimate the quality of Brazilian cups—but take another sip, and you'll find this flavor profile is surprisingly good.

Diverse Coffee

As just mentioned, Brazilian coffee comes in a wide variety, without a doubt. With fourteen major coffee-producing regions spread across seven states, Brazil's coffee beans are incredibly diverse. Look at the information on the coffee bag; you might find coffee from Minas Gerais (Sul de Minas, Cerrado Mineiro, Chapada de Minas, Matas de Minas), São Paulo (Mogiana, Centro-Oeste), Espírito Santo (Montanhas do Espírito Santo, Conilon Capixaba), Bahia (Planalto da Bahia, Cerrado da Bahia and Atlantico Baiano), Paraná (Norte Pionerio do Paraná), Rondonia, and even Rio de Janeiro. With so many coffee-producing regions, you'll find various traditional and experimental varieties being cultivated: Bourbon, Mundo Novo, Icatu, Catuai, Iapar, Catucai, and more.

Then there are the farms themselves, ranging from small family plantations of less than 10 hectares to large estates of over 2000 hectares.

With such variety, you're sure to find a coffee you'll love in Brazil.

Professional-Grade Naturals

Most Brazilian coffee is natural (unwashed) or natural pulped (semi-washed). A natural processing method means that after picking the coffee cherries, they are dried as they are, without removing the skin or mucilage.

So why is this important? Well, natural processing is difficult to do without damaging the coffee beans—but it can add rich body, sweetness, smoothness, and complexity to the coffee's profile.

Brazil's climate, with scarce rainfall and long sunshine hours, is perfect for natural processing.

Complex Classification System

Compared to the coffee classification systems of most producing countries, Brazil's system is very detailed. Coffee is classified by hue, ranked by color and cupping. Coffee beans are rated, from best to worst, as Strictly Soft, Soft, Softish, Hard, Riado, and Transparent.