Brazilian coffee producers showcase their products in Italy

06/29/2022

Last June, the Brazilian farmers were among coffee professionals from all over the world in Milan, Italy, for the World of Coffee event. It was the first edition since 2019, with a record 11 thousand attendees from over 137 countries and 350 exhibiting companies. Brazil took part in the event with more than 30 companies from different parts of the country.

The companies represented large cooperatives known for convening thousands of small farmers who work with different products and procedures to bring Brazilian diversity into every cup. This means a large variety of species, biomes, tastes, and post-harvest processes.

“Brazilian growers can source and supply demands beyond our traditional taste profile: body, sweetness, low acidity. We are able to deliver bright acidities, fruitiness, red cherry flavors, yellow fruits, and bright floral flavors,” explains Henrique Cambraia, President of the Brazilian Specialty Coffee Association (BSCA).

One in every three cups of coffee consumed in the world is Brazilian. And the producers keep on improving their practices to meet the world’s increasingly sophisticated palates. “The specialty coffee industry is committed to the ESG chain, with traceability and quality standards that place it as one of the most important players in the specialty coffee segment,” says Vinicius Estrela, BSCA’s Director.

The power of cooperatives

The Cooxupé cooperative is one of the initiatives that represent these smallholders from the Minas Gerais and São Paulo states. Through the SMC Project, the cooperative empowers producers to meet specialty coffee protocols. “We work helping in the trading, product improvement and, in doing this, we help to improve the population’s income,” says Pedro Sepini, a trader at SMC. All their products are Rainforest Alliance certified.

Sepini was one of the cooperative leaders representing Brazil in the World of Coffee event. The Caparaó Specialty Coffee team produces certified organic products at Serra do Caparaó (in Minas Gerais), which recently obtained the geographical indication for its fruity notes and peculiar characteristics from its high-altitude region. The cooperative has a strategic headquarters in Lisbon, Portugal, for direct sales.

Innovation

The Brazilian coffee chain goes beyond the farms. The World of Coffee has also presented an innovative Brazilian espresso maker. The Aram mechanism was created by Michael Aram, a Brazilian designer who works with 20 small and medium suppliers in the region of Curitiba, Paraná state, in the south of Brazil.

The machine has an exclusive pressure system to prepare espressos with no need for electricity, paper filters, or capsules. The business started with a crowdfunding project, and now it can be found in several countries: Canada, France, Italy, Japan, Korea, Switzerland, and the US.