All the Brazil Coffee Beans Characteristics That Make Them Special

All the Brazil Coffee Beans Characteristics That Make Them Special

If you think that Brazilian coffee beans aren't among the world's best beans, think again. Sure, Brazilian coffee is made in much larger numbers than boutique coffee beans, but that doesn't necessarily mean that coffee beans from Brazil are significantly worse or a function of quantity over quality. In fact, Brazilian coffee beans can be every bit as tasty as other types of coffee beans, though specific profiles can depend on how the beans were harvested or prepped.

Here are some Brazilian coffee beans characteristics and facts about Brazilian coffee bean production that you may not know.

Brazil Is the World's Biggest Producer of Coffee Beans

While Brazil certainly has the space for it, one thing you might not know about Brazil is that it's the largest producer of coffee beans in the world. That means more people are drinking Brazilian coffee beans than any other coffee bean, illustrating that the demand for a great cup of coffee is largely met by Brazilian growers.

Overall, Brazil produces about a third of all coffee production globally with almost 40 million 60kg bags produced a year. It's so much that if there's a hiccup in coffee production in Brazil, it can affect the worldwide coffee market, sending prices spiking.

A Taste Profile That People Love

Some believe that the sheer magnitude of Brazilian coffee production is proof of a focus on quantity, but it's also the case that Brazilian coffee beans have characteristics that coffee drinkers love, and a third of the world certainly isn't drinking coffee that they don't like.

Instead of coffee that's lackluster or not quite up to par, Brazilian coffee brands actually produce great-tasting coffee that is loved around the world. Many producers look to Brazilian coffee beans to help create espresso blends, and there are also others that make specialty coffee that are recognized for their excellent characteristics. These aren't just adequate coffees -- they're intensely sweet and have flattering caramel and chocolate notes with low bitterness and acidity.

Brazilian Coffee Is Diverse

Unlike certain coffees that may taste more similar to each other than they are different, the coffee bean characteristics of Brazilian coffee can be highly varied among the nation's 14 coffee-producing regions across seven states. If you ever look at a Brazilian coffee bag, you may find that it comes from many different areas such as Minas Gerais, São Paulo, Espirito Santo, Bahia, Parana, Rondônia or Rio de Janeiro. Even experimental varieties are available, such as Bourbon, Mundo Novo, Icatu, Catuai, Iapar, Catucai and others.

Furthermore, there are also many different producers of Brazilian coffee, from small family plantations to large estates with thousands of hectares. That can make it difficult to think of all Brazilian coffee as the same, though there are certain characteristics of Brazilian coffee beans that make it one of the best coffees in the world.

Ideal, Natural Processing

Since Brazil's climate has long periods of sunshine with sporadic rains, natural processing of the coffee beans to bring out their characteristics is ideal. It's why most Brazilian coffees are unwashed or natural, or semi-washed or pulp natural, even though natural processing is more difficult to do well. After the coffee cherries are picked, they're dried without moving the skin or mucilage, which can add body, sweetness, complexity and smoothness to the taste profile. And at the end of the day, that makes for a tastier cup of coffee.

Detailed Classifications and Rankings

Countries that may not produce as many coffee beans as Brazil typically have less stringent classifications and rankings to determine the quality of the beans being exported. Part of it is due to the lower production numbers and less of a need to qualify certain aspects of production, but the demand for Brazilian coffee means more granular information on the beans produced are needed.

Ranked on color, sorting and cupping, this information can help brands and connoisseurs alike pick better Brazilian coffee bean characteristics for their specific needs. For regular consumers, this means a better cup of Brazilian coffee, as well as more information to help qualify certain taste profiles and ensure consistency down the line.

Brazilian Coffee Is Popular and Delicious

For a large segment of the world, Brazilian coffee represents a delicious cup of coffee. And with about a third of the planet consuming Brazilian coffee on a regular basis, there are no signs of supply or demand going down anytime soon. In fact, more people are finding out that a cup of Brazilian coffee may, in fact, be more tasty than their go-to cup.

If you're looking for your next favorite cup of coffee, it just might be our Brazilian tea bag coffee. Made from Brazilian coffee beans with the signature characteristics that make it so delicious, our coffee is grown in the Cerrado region, viewed by many as an ideal cup of Brazilian coffee because of how smooth, balanced and creamy it is with subtle notes of chocolate and caramel. Try a cup today!

Back to blog