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Which regions produce specialty coffee in Brazil? What are the main estates?

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee

Last Updated: 2026/01/27, South America is the world's fourth largest continent, boasting natural resources such as the Andes Mountains and Brazilian plains. It is also one of the continents with numerous volcanoes, providing fertile soil from volcanic ash. Combined with the tropical climate that prevails in most regions—warm and humid—these conditions are ideal for coffee cultivation, making South America home to many exceptional coffee varieties.

Brazil: The World's Largest Coffee Producer

South America is the fourth largest continent in the world, boasting natural resources such as the Andes Mountains and Brazilian plains. It is also one of the continents with numerous volcanoes, providing fertile soil from volcanic ash. Combined with tropical climates that are warm and humid across most regions, these conditions are exceptionally suitable for coffee cultivation. Consequently, South America is home to many major coffee-producing countries, including Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and others.

Brazil, the largest country in South America, has a strong industrial base and well-developed agriculture. Of Brazil's 26 states, 17 produce coffee, making Brazil the world's largest coffee producer.

Brazil's terrain is primarily divided into two major regions: the Amazon River basin concentrated in the northwestern part of the country, and the Brazilian Plateau in the southeast, which has an elevation of over 500 meters. The soil here is mainly red soil, making the southern region highly suitable for planting and growing coffee and other tropical crops.

Most of Brazil is situated in tropical zones, with some southern regions experiencing a subtropical monsoon humid climate. Summers are hot and rainy, while winters are mild and humid, with significant temperature differences between day and night. The annual average temperature is 21°C. Brazil's vast territory and superior geographical conditions and climate contribute to its status as the country with the highest coffee production.

Although Brazil has 17 states that grow coffee, coffee is primarily cultivated in four states: Paraná, São Paulo, Minas Gerais, and Espírito Santo. These four states account for 80% of the country's total coffee production and grow both Arabica and Robusta coffee varieties.

Minas Gerais: Brazil's Coffee Heart

Among these, the most renowned and highest-producing state is Minas Gerais, which accounts for 30% of the nation's coffee production. Relatively famous subregions such as Cerrado and Sul de Minas are located in this state, with Sul de Minas being known as the heart of Brazil's coffee industry. FrontStreet Coffee offers a pulped natural Cerrado coffee as a representative of their introductory selection, featuring chocolate flavor and nutty aroma with a balanced taste.

São Paulo: Alta Mogiana Region

Additionally, São Paulo is one of Brazil's important producing regions. Located in southeastern Brazil, it borders Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais states to the northeast, Mato Grosso do Sul to the west, and Paraná to the south. The terrain is higher in the southeast and lower in the northwest, with a subtropical climate and an annual average temperature of 20°C.

The most famous subregion in São Paulo is Alta Mogiana ("Alta" means "high" in Portuguese), located in the northern part of São Paulo state near the highland areas of Minas Gerais. It belongs to one of the higher altitude regions, with elevations between 1,000-1,400 meters. However, due to steep terrain, mechanization is limited, and most crops here are harvested manually. The combination of high altitude, fertile soil, mild climate, abundant sunlight, and plentiful rainfall creates an excellent environment for growing coffee.

Therefore, the Alta Mogiana region is home to many renowned coffee farms. For example, FrontStreet Coffee offers a pulped natural Fazenda Rainha Yellow Bourbon coffee, which features fruity sweetness with sugarcane, chocolate, and peanut nutty flavors, along with a subtle clean bitterness and a smooth, delicate texture.

Notable Coffee Farms in Brazil

Another notable farm is Fazenda Recreio, which was established in 1890 and has been managed by Teixeira de Macedo Júnior and his family for five generations. Currently, it is mainly managed by his son, Diogo Dias Teixeira de Macedo, who majored in agricultural industries and has been working at the farm since 2000, learning about coffee cultivation and processing.

The farm owner places great emphasis on environmental protection, having designated environmental conservation areas with native vegetation and abundant flora and fauna. Due to the geographical conditions, coffee crops here are harvested by hand. The farm possesses complete infrastructure, and to ensure the quality and origin of the coffee produced, careful labeling is maintained from harvesting to transportation and warehouse storage.

As a result, the farm began participating in the Cup of Excellence Brazil in 2004 and achieved second place in 2008. Previously, the farm grew varieties such as Bourbon, Catuai, Typica, and Mundo Novo. Later, the farm participated in the specialty coffee program of the Campinas Agricultural Institute (IAC) to cultivate the Geisha variety and secured fourth place in the Cup of Excellence Brazil in 2023 with their Geisha variety.