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Brazil produces around one-third of the world’s coffee, which is understandable given the country’s perfect climate for growing fragrant, rich coffee beans. Brazilian coffee brands are frequently nutty and chocolaty in flavor without being overly acidic. Since the beans are often well-rounded and less complicated, it is ideal for dark-roasted coffee.
Which one should you purchase?
There are so many different brands to pick from that finding the correct one might be intimidating.
Do not be alarmed! We’ve done the legwork for you, researching and tasting 27 different Brazilian coffee beans to come up with this list of the 11 best.
We hope that these in-depth reviews will assist you in navigating the maze of available options.
Why Is Brazilian Coffee So Good
There are many different types of coffee grown in Brazil, making it the world’s most complicated and diverse industry.
It produces a wide range of products, from mass-produced coffees that are among the world’s most affordable to elegant coffees prized as some of the world’s best origins for espresso brewing.
It’s not uncommon in Brazil for all four traditional processing procedures to be employed simultaneously on the same farm during a single harvest to extract the coffee cherries from the bean.
Brazil coffee does not have high elevations. Unlike the 5,000-foot heights found in Central America, Colombia, and East Africa, where good coffees are grown, Brazilian coffee may be produced at elevations as low as 2,000 feet.
Because Brazilian coffees are grown at lower elevations, their acidity is lower than that of other coffees. As a result, the best of them tend to be round, sweet, and well-balanced instead of being large and misshapen.
The 10 Best Brazilian Coffee Brands
To narrow down this list, we examined 27 different brands from the largest coffee producer in Brazil and came up with a final list of 11 that we felt confident in declaring the best Brazilian coffees.
The list includes rare Brazil peaberry coffee, whole bean fresh coffee, Brazil cerrado coffee, and finely ground coffee.
Volcanica Brazil Peaberry – Best Brazilian Coffee Beans
The Brazil Peaberry from Volcanica represents so much of what we desire in a Brazilian coffee bean with its unusual appearance. This coffee, made from rare peaberry beans, a strain of Arabica, is smooth and nutty, with notes of hazelnut and raspberry that are particularly appealing.
In contrast to those who prefer milder single origins, this medium roast may be a little too dark for those who enjoy a tremendous all-around cup of coffee. In addition to its full-bodied and aromatic vibrant flavor, this high-elevation single-origin coffee has a gently acidic finish as well.
There was no question about our top pick since it does a superb job expressing all we know and love about Brazilian coffee. If you’re on a tighter budget, however, you might want to keep reading. This gourmet coffee costs about the same as other high-end brands.
Pros
- This is Brazilian coffee in a nutshell.
- Aromas are complex and with moderate acidity and a smooth texture.
- Peaberry coffee beans are extremely rare.
Cons
- Some people may find it to be too light.
- A little on the expensive side
Coffee Bean Direct Dark Brazilian Santos
Coffee Bean Direct dark-roasts this Brazilian Santos for intensity, but it also has an intense aroma and smoothness generally associated with lighter roasts. It is available in a variety of sizes.
It is packaged in a foil-lined, valved bag to guarantee you receive freshly roasted coffee.
Typical dark roast flavors of richness and full-bodied are described in the tasting notes, along with the low acidity that should be found in authentic Brazilian coffee. Intense and delicious, the aroma carries through to the finish, including hints of spices, dark cacao, and cherry.
Pros
- Great packaging to keep your beans fresh
- An aroma that will fill your house
Cons
- The decaf has a bit of an aftertaste
Volcanica Brazilian Yellow Bourbon
This single-origin, medium-roasted coffee is derived from the same Bourbon beans that have made Brazil’s Santos arabica coffee famous for over a hundred years.
Lemon and almond flavors abound in this full-bodied, fragrant, somewhat acidic coffee, which finishes with silky smoothness and mellowness on the palate.
Given that it is one of the world’s best coffee brands collaborating with one of Brazil’s best coffee beans lines, this one deserves to be in the top three.
Pros
- Single-origin
- Rich, silky mouthfeel
Cons
- A little pricey
Cooper’s Cask Brazilian Espresso Cremoso (Our Pick For Ground Coffee)
If you prefer pre-ground coffee, this is the only brand I would use.
Cooper’s Cask’s Brazillian Espresso Cremoso is a dark, creamy single-origin coffee available in espresso grind or whole bean form.
In addition to Brazilian coffee’s distinctive dark chocolate flavor, this roast also has hints of cherry, orange, and brown sugar.
This medium-dark roast coffee brings out a wide range of tastes; it lacks the body you’d expect from an espresso. Although this is the case, it still creates fantastic crema, has a beautiful aroma, and comes in a convenient espresso grind size for ease of use.
Pros
- Distinct Characteristics of actual Brazilian coffee variations
- Available in both espresso grind and whole bean varieties.
- Cocoa, cherry, citrus, and brown sugar undertones are present.
Cons
- It’s a lighter dark roast but still has a sweet taste.
- It’s a super fine ground, great for espresso and Turkish coffee but it can’t be used in a French press.
Brazil Mogiana Green Unroasted Coffee Beans
Mogiana beans may be worth considering if you’re looking to purchase Brazilian green coffee beans to roast on your own at home.
Mogiana is a small town on the border of the So Paulo and Minas Gerais agricultural growing regions in Brazil.
Peanut brittle and hazelnut flavors abound in this bean, with a creamy texture and a sweet finish.
Fine Cup(FC) and Strictly Soft(SS) are the top grades of the best Brazilian coffee beans, and as a result, they’re also the most costly. Therefore, it would help if you started with a light roasting level to experiment with and improve it later on.
Pros
- Grown in the Mogiana region (I believe responsible for the best flavor in Brazil)
- Undertones of roasted peanut and hazelnut
Cons
- Not a fair trade company
- You have to roast them past the second crack; these aren’t good for people who are just beginning to roast their own beans.
Pilao Coffee Traditional Roast and Ground
Don’t expect too much from Pilao coffee traditional roast; it’s not going to blow your mind. This Brazilian coffee has all the typical characteristics, but it lacks the complexity of our top five picks.
During our research, we discovered that the people who enjoyed this coffee the most were accustomed to purchasing less expensive coffee beans and less flavorful brands.
In terms of taste, this coffee can best be compared to Folgers, albeit the flavors are far more fascinating in Brazil.
It is possible to purchase a large quantity of this coffee at a highly reasonable price when purchasing this product. So never be surprised if, while eating breakfast, you find yourself in a Brazilian diner sipping on a Pilao (Pillow).
Pros
- It truly is a delicious cup of coffee for the price
- It is available in more considerable quantities
- Not expensive
Cons
- Not the highest quality coffee, but this is why it is more affordable
- The flavor isn’t as bold
Olde Brooklyn Coffee Brazil Santos
You’ll feel like you’re drinking a cup of coffee in Brazil’s high-tech Cerrado region.
Buying coffee with the Brazil Santos label is a surefire way to ensure that you’re getting only the highest-quality beans.
This medium roast coffee has a smooth texture, medium body, and fruity and chocolate aromas since it is prepared with 100 percent Arabica beans.
As a morning cup of coffee, it’s a terrific pick. Micro-roasting and shipping whole beans within 24 hours mean you may obtain the freshest Brazilian coffee imaginable, which means you’ll get the most out of your coffee-drinking experience.
Pros
- Roasted in small batches for guaranteed freshness
- Great packaging
Cons
- It has a bit of an aftertaste if you drink it black
Fresh Roasted Coffee LLC Brazilian Coffee
Dark Brazil Cerrado is an excellent addition to any coffee collection, a robust, silky-bodied single origin with a rich flavor. A traditional Brazilian coffee with a smooth mouthfeel without a burnt or lingering finish.
It also has a nutty flavor profile that can be found in the best Brazilian coffee beans.
This particular coffee is grown in the Minas Gerais state’s Cerrado region and is a specialty coffee. Brazil’s high temperatures, nutrient soil, and high moisture climate make it an ideal place for harvesting high-quality java.
Pros
- Great flavor with a textured mouthfeel, perfect for espresso or Moka pot coffee
- Organic
Cons
- The whole beans were tremendous, but the pre-ground coffee was stale
Peet’s Coffee Brazil Minas Naturais
Peet’s coffee single origin was a bit difficult for us to decide where to place on the list. Due to its lower roast, this coffee has a higher acidity level than the others.
The taste is likewise in line with what we’d expected from Brazilian coffee, which has been described as fruity, chocolaty, and nutty.
There are more distinct qualities to these beans due to their longer roasting times. However, while these beans have been roasted longer than most others, their flavor combinations aren’t as complex as you’d anticipate.
Pros
- Peets isn’t known for consistent flavor or quality, but it is good coffee when you get a good batch.
- Available in pre-ground or whole beans.
Cons
- The consistency in quality is lacking.
Cafe Caboclo Roast and Ground
People who drink Pilao are also said to consume Cafe Caboclo, according to rumors on the street. But, according to what we’ve learned, fans of the tin can (Folgers-style bulk coffee) switch back and forth between the two quite frequently.
Café Caboclo, like most Brazilian coffees, is nutty and chocolaty. But, in contrast to our Folgers, this is the Maxwell House, so take that with a grain of salt.
Some flavors are instantly recognizable, but you have to seek them out actively. For example, the Brazilian coffee at Café Caboclo is consistently good, and it’s reasonably priced.
Pros
- It isn’t an expensive brand.
- Different flavors to give you a variety from your regular cup of joe
Cons
- Low-quality beans
- Not authentically Brazilian
Who Was Francisco de Melo Palheta/ How Brazil Became A Coffee Giant
In 1727 the Portuguese were eager to establish a coffee industry in their Brazilian colony. The governor of French Guiana was the only thing standing in their way. However, all hope appeared to be gone when the governor refused to exchange the seeds the French required for their new endeavor.
According to legend, Palheta was dispatched on a diplomatic mission but ended up befriending (or seducing, depending on who you ask) the governor’s wife, Marie-Claude de Vicq de Pontgibaud.
Her gift to him would go down in history as one of Palheta’s most significant achievements: a bouquet made of cuttings from the prized coffee plants.
If you’re wondering why I call this a legend, Palheta is said to have helped the governor settle a border issue in an alternate version of the narrative.
Palheta was given the seeds by the governor as a token of appreciation for a job well done. Palheta played a critical role in developing Brazil’s coffee industry, regardless of how you look at it.
Does Brazil Produce A Lot Of Coffee
The coffee-growing regions of brazil harvest an average of 2.5 million metric tons of coffee per year, accounting for over one-third of the world’s total coffee production.
Despite their decline in coffee domination, Brazil produces 60 percent more coffee than Vietnam, the second-largest producer.
What percentage of its total coffee exports does Brazil make
Brazil’s coffee plantations exported 4.6 billion USD worth of coffee in the first quarter of 2019. That accounts for 15 percent of total worldwide coffee exports, and it is nearly 80 percent more than the second-largest exporter, Colombia.
The United States purchases approximately one-quarter of Brazil’s total coffee exports. Germany, Italy, and Japan buy the most Brazilian coffee after that.
Brazilian Coffee Classification System
Coffee classification systems vary widely from country to country and area to region. The grading system in Brazil was devised in the 1960s, is one of the most well-known.
Despite this, Brazil’s classification system is one of the most complex grading systems in the entire world of coffee.
Brazil’s coffee categorization system includes sorting by bean size, bean color, and cupping (a tasting procedure) (a process similar to wine tasting).
From best to worst, the beans are assigned to one of the following classifications:
- Strictly soft
- Soft
- softish
- Hard
- Riada
- Rio
- Rio Zona
What Brand Of Coffee Comes From Brazil
Brazil Santos
South American Bourbon Santos beans are used to make Brazil Santos coffee, grown in the state of So Paulo in Brazil.
Bourbon Santos coffee is made from Arabica plants imported to Brazil in the 18th century from the island of Bourbon. These coffees have a lot of acidity and fruitiness to them.
Café Pilao
Coffee brand Café Pilao has over a million consumers per day. In the end, they choose a blend made up of beans from the top growing regions in Brazil, resulting in fermented fruit undertones and an ambiguous flavor profile.
It is a full-bodied coffee that is produced through a slow roasting process that results in dark-roasted beans. The majority of their coffee varieties are available as finely pre-ground.
Café Bom Dia
Among Bom Dia’s many accomplishments, one stands out: they are Brazil’s largest and most sustainable coffee producer.
They specialize in single-origin, freshly roasted coffee highly regarded for its full, luxurious flavor and aromatic aroma. Their coffee has a smooth, sweet complexity, a heavy body, a silky mouthfeel, and citrusy notes that are bright and vibrant.
Café do Ponto (Ponto’s Café)
In Sao Paulo and Minas Gerais, Cafè do Ponto gets its coffee from several traditional plantations. Their medium-roasted, finely ground mix has a bright flavor and a silky, polished aftertaste.
Café Melitta
Café Melitta can become your new best friend if you enjoy your coffee with a robust flavor and scent.
Because they use a dark roasting method, their coffee has a robust flavor all its own. Their reputation as a top Brazilian coffee brand has led to many accolades for the company.
Cooxupé
World’s largest privately-owned coffee cooperative, Cooxupé, is based in the Caribbean nation of Costa Rica. Both So Paulo and Mina Gerais have farms where the Arabica beans they grow are among the world’s best, making these enterprises world-class producers.
Factors To Consider When Buying The Best Brazilian Coffee Brands
When it comes to selecting Brazilian coffee, it all comes down to personal preference. Thinking about the flavors you enjoy will assist you in identifying a variety of coffee that you will enjoy.
Roasting Intensity
Dark, medium or light roasts are your favorites. Ethiopian and Kenyan coffees are noted for their delicate flavors, while Brazilian coffees are not.
Most people that enjoy Brazilian coffee are fans of the rich, chocolaty flavors found in darker roasts.
Dark roast coffee lovers will have difficulty finding it; those who like lighter roasts will have better luck.
Dimensions of the bag
How much coffee do you consume each day? If you drink multiple cups of coffee per day or have a large family who enjoys coffee, you may want to consider purchasing a bulk brand.
Brazilian coffee beans can be bought in different size bags ranging from a couple of ounces to five pounds.
Make sure that you will use the beans quickly or have a way to keep them fresh.
Whole Bean vs. Ground
Whenever possible, go for whole bean coffee and grind it only before brewing it. This is because once the beans are ground, oxidation makes them lose their flavor after 15 minutes.
You don’t have to worry about breaking the bank when you buy a grinder. However, a good airtight storage container is necessary to prevent the flavor from escaping for those who enjoy pre-ground coffee.
Flavor profile Of Brazilian coffee
Brazil’s coffee beans have a tumultuous history when it comes to flavor and quality. During the 1980s, Brazilian officials fought attempts to change export quotas. These aimed to encourage the development of softer, higher-quality coffee beans. However, the intended deal fell apart in 1989 due to Brazil’s opposition.
In return, the Brazilian Coffee Institute, which had previously ruled over Brazil’s coffee market, was dismantled, allowing free markets to develop. Because of this, the quality of coffee rose substantially, giving rise to the different varieties of beans you see today.
Many people still rely on Brazil for espresso mixes because of their history of choosing heavier beans. Other high-quality single-origin coffees, on the other hand, are well worth your time trying.
Caramel and chocolate flavors are typical in these coffees, giving them an immensely delightful sweetness. They’re also usually full-bodied and only mildly acidic.
Variety Of popular Brazilian Coffee Brands
When it comes to Brazilian coffee, the sheer diversity of the country’s offerings is impossible to ignore. For example, there are 14 major coffee-producing regions in the country!
They are distributed among seven states (sub-regions in bold; states underlined) as follows:
- Minas Gerais is a state in Brazil Sul de Minas, Cerrado Mineiro, Chapada de Minas, Matas de Minas
- So Paulo is located in Brazil Mogiana, Centro-Oeste
- Montanhas do Esprito Santo, Conilon Capixaba Esprito Santo
- Bahia is a state in Brazil Planalto da Bahia, Cerrado da Bahia, and Atlantico Baiano
- Rio de Janeiro, Rondonia, and Paraná Norte Pionerio do Paraná.
Nearly half of Minas Gerais’ total coffee production is produced in the state’s subregions, although small farms account for 60% of that total. Port of Santos and Cerrado is located in Bahia and So Paulo, respectively.
It’s also worth noting that Espirito Santo is the second-largest bean producer, but because they predominantly use Robusta beans, it gets little attention.
We’re sure you can imagine the fantastic diversity that exists inside this country at this moment. Various options are available, ranging from highly classic, strong espresso-like coffee to innovative, experimental coffees with complex characteristics.
The logo design will tell you where the coffee is made from.
What Is The Best Brewing Method For Brazilian Coffee Brands
Espresso
As previously stated, this is the standard for most Brazilian coffees. And, to be honest, it’s hard to find espresso blends that don’t include Brazilian beans. Even the mid-tier beans’ caramel and chocolate notes and rich bodies lend themselves well to this process.
French Press
Heavy, full-bodied coffees work well in the French Press. Plus, because Brazilian coffee has naturally low acidity, the long-steep won’t produce an unpleasant sour brew. So instead, concentrate on the delicious chocolate notes we discussed before.
Cold Brew
Brazilian coffee is recognized for being smooth and mellow, so it works well as a cold brew. Coffee can be pleasantly refreshing when brewed in this manner.
Is Brazilian Coffee Good For Espresso
70% to 80% of Brazil’s coffee production is Arabica coffee. They can be mixed with lighter-bodied coffees with more favorable flavor characteristics to make a harmonious cup of coffee or the distinct shot of espresso because they are full-bodied, sweet, and low in acidity.
Conclusion
To summarize, our favorite brand is Volcanica Brazil Peaberry, which is smooth and fascinating.
If you like pre-ground, the outstanding Cooper’s Cask Espresso Cremoso is a good option. Finally, Coffee Bean Direct has a flavor that is both traditional and delicious.
We recognize that selecting the perfect coffee for you is a challenging undertaking, and we hope that these reviews have helped alleviate some of that stress.
