Coffee of South America

Coffee of South America

The coffees of South America represent about 70% of the world’s coffee trade.  The majority of South American coffees are mass-produced in Brazil and Colombia mainly for commercial marketing.  The climate in South America is not as stable as the Central American regions resulting often in severe conditions during the coffee season, impacting the world’s coffee market.  A history of freezing temperatures throughout the past in this region caused the awareness in the minds of the people to monitor the weather condition during the coffee growing season. In addition to weather conditions, small farming entities and the differences in their methods of coffee processing will lead to inconsistencies in coffee quality.  The majority of coffee beans from this region have different single origin varietals that are acidic, with a bold to medium body.

Brazil boasts the highest coffee production in the world. Most of the coffee growing regions in Brazil are responsible for commercial grade Robusta coffee. The varietal that is of importance to the specialty gourmet coffee market is Santos. Santos is grown mainly in the state of São Paulo, which is one of the four main growing regions. The others harvest mostly Robusta for commercial blends. However, Santos is Arabica coffee that is plucked from an original strain of bourbon trees brought to Brazil in the 18th century from the island of Bourbon.

Colombia is second only to Brazil in coffee production, but it is the largest exporter of washed Arabica beans. Grown among the foothills of the Andes mountain range, Colombian coffee is superbly balanced and said to reflect hints of caramel with a nutty accent. Beans of value are graded as "supremo" or "excelso". Supremo tends to be larger beans and more consistent in quality. Both supremo and excelso are medium-bodied aromatic coffees with good fruit.

Grown on the eastern slopes of the Andes Mountains, coffee is the largest agricultural export of Peru.  Peru has become the largest exporter of organic coffee, and is the third largest coffee producing country in South America.  As the sixth largest production in the world, 90% of Peruvian coffee is exported to the U.S., Japan and Germany, which is an indication of its high quality.  The beans are hand picked and sun dried.  Peru's best coffee grows in Chanchamayo, Cuzco and Norte.    Peruviancoffee is well-balanced and works well in blends.

In Venezuela, coffee production is making a comeback since its abandonment during the oil boom. Fincas, or coffee farms, are beginning to revive bourbon and tipica trees as well as planting new trees, laying the foundation of a new export industry.  Most coffees are roasted light to medium for exceptional flavor.  Certain coffees, however, tolerate more heat than others tolerate and excel in darker roast.  Those coffees are exhibited in the Espresso and Dark Roast Category.

Roasted South American Coffee

Green South American Coffee