Brazil

Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, borders ten countries including Uruguay, Argentina, Peru, and Colombia, with a total land area of 8.5149 million square kilometers. It is the largest country in South America and the fifth largest in the world. The country is divided into 26 states and one federal district, with a well-developed agricultural sector and strong industrial base, making it the world’s largest coffee producer.

The Brazilian flag is predominantly green and rectangular, featuring a yellow rhombus in the center. Inside the rhombus is a dark blue celestial globe with a white ribbon inscribed in Portuguese with the words “Ordem e Progresso” (Order and Progress). The globe also displays white five-pointed stars representing the country’s 26 states, positioned as they appeared in the Rio de Janeiro sky at 8:50 PM on November 15, 1889—the day the new government was formed (Rio de Janeiro was Brazil’s capital before it was moved to Brasília). Green and yellow are the national colors of Brazil, with green symbolizing forests and yellow representing mineral wealth and resources.

Coffee Growing Regions

Brazil has 26 states, 17 of which produce coffee. Among them, the four states of Paraná, São Paulo, Minas Gerais, and Espírito Santo account for 90% of total production. Brazilian Arabica accounts for 80% of total production, with the remaining 20% being Robusta. The main planted varieties include Bourbon, Catuai, Typica, and Mundo Novo, with harvesting periods from May to September.

Bahia: Many people consider it the southernmost coffee-producing region in the world. Although this state accounts for only 2.5% of Brazil’s total area, it produces nearly 25% of the country’s crops. However, the state lacks high-altitude areas, with the highest elevation being only 950 meters, so there are few high-quality coffees.

Minas Gerais: Located in southeastern Brazil, it has some of the country’s highest mountains, and the relatively well-known sub-regions of Cerrado and Sul de Minas are both in this state. Many coffee farms here are relatively large, so mechanical farming and harvesting are common. It accounts for 30% of Brazil’s Arabica production, with altitudes ranging from 700 to 1350 meters.