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What are the characteristics of Brazilian coffee and what grading system is used

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee

Last Updated: 2026/01/27, South America possesses extremely rich natural resources, with the Andes Mountains running through the western part of the continent, featuring the highest peaks in the Americas, numerous volcanoes, many plateaus, hills and mountains, with an average elevation of 600 meters across the continent. Furthermore, most of the state has a tropical climate, warm and humid, with abundant precipitation, making it ideal for agriculture.

South America possesses incredibly rich natural resources, with the Andes Mountains stretching across the western part of the continent, featuring the highest peaks in the Americas, numerous volcanoes, and extensive plateaus, hills, and mountain ranges. The average elevation across the continent reaches 600 meters. Furthermore, most regions of the continent have a tropical climate, characterized by warmth, humidity, and abundant rainfall, which contributes to the continent's developed agriculture, particularly the coffee industry. It is home to Brazil, the world's largest coffee exporter, and Colombia, the third-largest globally.

Consequently, Brazilian coffee holds a significant position in the global coffee market, with its coffee exports accounting for one-third of the worldwide market. Such high production volume is attributed to the country's geographical environment and climate. However, its flavor is not particularly outstanding, which is why it often appears in blends.

Historical Background

As early as the 18th century, coffee was largely monopolized by Europeans. Later, a Brazilian sergeant, during his travels, gained the trust of the wife of the governor in the capital of French Guiana and obtained a coffee seed. The sergeant brought this seed back to Pará state in northern Brazil. This seed quickly germinated in Brazil and spread to southern regions for cultivation.

Geographical Advantages

Brazil is simultaneously the largest country in South America, with vast territory and abundant resources, thus possessing excellent conditions and environments suitable for coffee cultivation. The northern part of Brazil consists of plains below 200 meters in elevation and the Amazon basin, which are not very suitable for coffee growth. Therefore, coffee is mainly cultivated in the central and southern regions, which are primarily the Brazilian高原 (highlands), featuring fertile soil and abundant water resources. Additionally, the southern region has a subtropical monsoon climate with mild, humid conditions, sufficient sunlight, and plentiful rainfall, making it more suitable for coffee growth.

Brazil's vast territory is divided into 26 states, 17 of which produce coffee. Among these, the four states of Paraná, São Paulo, Minas Gerais, and Espírito Santo account for 80% of the total production. Brazil cultivates both major coffee varieties: Arabica and Robusta.

Premier Coffee Region: Minas Gerais

Among these, Minas Gerais is Brazil's most renowned coffee-producing region. The state has rich agricultural resources and currently accounts for 30% of Brazil's coffee production. The state features numerous rivers, providing extremely abundant water resources. Additionally, there are many mountain ranges that effectively protect coffee trees from Atlantic sea winds.

Minas Gerais also has several well-known sub-regions, such as Cerrado and Sul de Minas. Cerrado is located in the central-western part of Minas Gerais, with only areas above 1,000 meters in elevation considered part of the premium Cerrado region. This area boasts higher elevations, fertile soil, and abundant groundwater, making it extremely suitable for coffee cultivation. Furthermore, Cerrado's climate tends to be cooler at night, which slows the growth cycle of coffee beans and promotes sugar accumulation, resulting in coffee beans from this region having more superior flavor profiles.

Brazilian Coffee Classification System

Brazil's classification system evaluates defect ratio, size, flavor, and cup quality scores, and is the country's independent grading system, which is more complex than those of other countries. Typically, classifications appear as "NY2 SC17/18 SS FC." Among these, "NY" originates from the Green Coffee Association of New York, with NY2 being Brazil's highest grade. The following numbers indicate defect ratio grading, categorized as 2, 2/3, 3, 3/4, 4, and so on, with higher numbers indicating a higher defect ratio.

The subsequent "SC" indicates coffee bean size, typically 17/18 or 16/17 screen size. The following "SS" represents cupping scores, with scoring methods borrowed from SCA cupping standards. SS is the highest level, with scores above 85. Finally, "FC" describes cup quality, commonly either FC (Fine Cup) or GC (Good Cup).

FrontStreet Coffee's Selection

This introductory selection of Cerrado Red Bourbon coffee beans from FrontStreet Coffee features the Bourbon variety, which is primarily cultivated in Brazil. Processed using the semi-washed method, these beans, when brewed, reveal notes of nuts, peanuts, and cocoa chocolate, with lower acidity and moderate body.