Brazilian coffee: the best varieties and brewing methods

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

The best coffees are definitely grown in Brazil. It is this country that is the leader in the production of an invigorating drink. Brazilian coffee stands out for its unique rich taste and enchanting aroma, which cannot but win the hearts of millions of people from all over the world.

Historical information

Coffee is the favorite drink of many people on the planet. It is able not only to eliminate fatigue, but also to cheer up, relieve depression and deliver gastronomic pleasure with its delicate and velvety taste. But today, not many people have information about the history of the Brazilian drink, despite its popularity.

As many people know, the first coffee trees appeared in Ethiopia long before our days. But in Brazil, these plants began to grow only in the eighteenth century. According to legend, one of the officers brought grain into the country. They were given to him by a girl in love with him. The grains were planted in the state of Pará, they took root in the fertile land and laid the foundation for many plantations in Brazil.

Through growthproduction in the state, numerous factories were built, railways for the export of products, new cities were built. But with new discoveries came new troubles. Coffee plantations served as an impetus for the beginning of slavery in the state. The more production expanded, the more slaves from Africa were imported into the country. But those days have long since sunk into oblivion, and now, instead of slaves, many people from different parts of the world work on plantations.

Features of cultivation

Brazilian coffee gets its great taste and aroma partly from the characteristic climate and the arrangement of the trees themselves. Brazilian plantations are located on plains or slight elevations, which gives a wonderful drink velvety and softness. Also because of this, the coffee lacks sourness in the aftertaste.

After the ripened grains are harvested from the trees, they are covered with a thin layer on the sunny side of the plain and left for 10-15 days to dry. This method is called dry processing. When the coffee beans have dried and become brownish in color, the top layer is removed from them. After this procedure, the fruits are sorted by size through a special sieve with holes of different diameters.

Dry processing method reduces financial costs and consumption of running water. This affects the cost of the product prepared in this way. In total, one third of the finished product is produced by dry method.raw materials, the rest is wet processed.

Types of Brazilian coffee

The country grows both Arabica and Robusta. These two types of coffee are considered the main and most popular in the world. Arabica has large elongated grains with a greenish tint. The best conditions for a good harvest of such coffee are:

• growth in wet areas, without sudden changes in temperature and weather changes;
• fertile soil low in iodine;
• highland plantations.

Arabica is valued for its delicate, multifaceted taste and pronounced aroma. This type of Brazilian coffee is the most popular and expensive.

Robusta has smaller and rounded grains. The drink is distinguished by its strength and high caffeine content. Because of this, Robusta is most often blended with other varieties. Its price is lower than that of Arabica, due to the unpretentiousness of the trees and the dry method of processing raw materials.

Also, many fans of Brazilian coffee will be pleased with the cost of the product. The average price for almost all varieties ranges from 250 to 350 rubles per 100 grams. The only exceptions are rare varieties, the cost of which starts from 500 rubles per 100 grams.

Brazilian coffee varieties

In stores and on the market today, there is such a wide range of coffee that it is time to get confused. Most often, the brands of this drink are named after the area in which coffee trees grow. Brazilian coffee - lively, invigorating - is notable for its diversity:varieties and tastes, respectively, just a mass. Here are just a few of the most popular ones:

• Minas. This coffee variety is grown in the state of Minas Gerais, hence the name. The main disadvantage of the drink is a noticeable medicinal aftertaste, which appears due to the high content of iodine in the soil. But Minas can easily get rid of such a flaw by blending it with other varieties of Brazilian coffee. The advantage of the drink is a strong taste with bitterness.
• Rio. This Brazilian coffee has the same drawback as Minas. It is grown in Rio de Janeiro, where the soil is also oversaturated with iodine. Nevertheless, despite its unusual taste, the drink is in great demand in the East. For the countries of Europe, Rio is blended, as it seems too strong and bitter to the inhabitants of the Old World.
• Santos. A variety from the Arabica family, considered one of the most popular and oldest in the world. Due to the high quality, excellent taste and affordable price, Santos can rightfully be called the best Brazilian coffee.
• Conylon. Robusta variety, which occupies about 20% of the total production of Brazil. Conylon is famous for its rich taste and aroma, low price.
• Bourbon Santos. Arabica with a mild and delicate taste and refined aroma. Among all drinks, Santos Bourbon Brazilian coffee is one of the few that has a sour aftertaste. Distinctive features of a grade - high quality of an initial product. Raw materials are harvested from young trees that serve on plantations for no more than five years.
• Flat Beat Santos. Robusta, which hasunique walnut-cream aftertaste, refined aroma and low cost. Of all the Brazilian coffee varieties, Flat Beat Santos is the least in demand.
• Maragogype Brazil. The main feature of this Brazilian coffee variety are large grains obtained by crossing different types of trees. Maragogype has a tart and rich flavor.
• Brazil Mogiana. A variety of coffee with a unique, multifaceted flavor bouquet. Mogiana has notes of fruits, caramel and nuts.
• Iponema Ruby. A popular coffee variety grown in low elevations. Iponema Ruby has a bright, rich aroma and strong taste. This Brazilian coffee is great for making espresso with a thick crema.

Taste of the drink

Despite the popularity of Brazilian coffee, it is of little value to gourmets. The thing is that due to growing on the plains and unstable weather conditions, many varieties of the drink do not have a refined and refined aroma, a complex multifaceted bouquet in taste.

But, despite the mediocrity of Brazilian coffee, in many countries it is used to brew a very tasty and invigorating espresso, which is wildly popular. Also, the finished drink is great for everyday use.

One of the most popular brands of Brazilian coffee is Brazil Santos. Such a wonderful drink is considered the standard of high-quality coffee, has a strong taste and a charming aroma. BrandBrazilian coffee Brazil Santos is sold in many countries around the world, the product is presented in beans and ground form.

Another popular brand is Bourbon. It has a rich taste, persistent aroma with hints of cloves. Bourbon is sold as instant Brazilian coffee. Meets all quality standards and is in great demand in many countries, including Russia.

Drink making and recipes

Brazilians are real connoisseurs of coffee. Also, they can easily be called experts in the preparation of this magnificent drink, because the locals are considered leaders in the amount of its consumption. All ways of brewing Brazilian coffee are quite simple and accessible to every lover of an invigorating drink.

The fastest recipe

To make delicious Brazilian coffee, all you need is a special filter and ground beans. One cup is taken, a paper or fabric bag is fixed on it. 2 teaspoons of ground coffee are poured into this filter and water is poured at 80-90 degrees. It is important to boil it first, and only then bring it to the required temperature. After the liquid has completely filtered through the filter, it is removed. If desired, sugar, cloves, cinnamon or cream can be added to the finished Brazilian coffee. The invigorating drink is ready!

Brazilian coffee with cocoa and cream ice cream

This drink is very popular among sweet tooth and coffee lovers with a mild taste. If desired, ice cream in the recipe can be replaced with regular or whipped cream or not.use at all.

Ingredients

So, a set of products:

• 50ml boiled or filtered water;
• 2 teaspoons ground Brazilian coffee;
• 1 teaspoon cocoa;
• 50g ice cream or cream (optional);
• 150 ml milk (3.5% fat).

Cooking process

1. Pour the milk into a small saucepan, put on the stove and simmer.
2. Add cocoa in portions, stirring constantly.
3. Bring to a boil and remove from heat.
4. Then beat the resulting mixture in a blender or whisk until foam appears, pour into a cup.
5. Use a cezve or coffee maker to brew espresso and pour it into the cocoa in a thin stream.
6. Add ice cream or cream.

Brazilian coffee with cocoa is ready!

Cooking rules

Brazilian coffee can be brewed according to all sorts of recipes and with the addition of various ingredients. The specific choice will depend only on individual taste preferences and the availability of certain products. But it is worth remembering that before you start preparing a drink, it is important to learn all the basic rules for brewing it.

• It is necessary to take only high-quality and fresh ingredients and grains.
• In order to get a fresh and rich taste and aroma, you should take Brazilian coffee with a coarse grind or beans. Grinding it is recommended only before use.
• If in a coffee drinkother ingredients are to be added, it should be filtered after brewing.
• It is very important to correctly calculate the proportions of the ingredients and their ratio. So, for 150 ml of water you need to take no more than 10-15 grams of Brazilian coffee beans.
• It is recommended to boil water before use.

Brazil is a magnificent country, with its traditions, wonderful people and amazing nature. But still, according to coffee lovers, its main advantage is the cultivation and processing of coffee beans. It was this production that provided Brazil with recognition and fame around the world. Many people today can no longer imagine life without this wonderful drink. But one third of all coffee produced is grown in this wonderful country.

Of course, coffee is highly valued by the Brazilians themselves. Without a cup of fragrant drink, the day does not start even for the poorest families. For a real Brazilian, this is not just coffee, but the meaning of life. Because of this, breeders are constantly developing new varieties of trees and improving existing ones. It is in Brazil that you can find delicious coffee that you can fall in love with from the first sip!