With the plantations started in the north of the country, the grain was soon taken to other states, starting a new socioeconomic phase in Brazil. For almost 100 years, coffee was the country's main source of wealth, providing space for the development of cities and the growth of urban centers.

In the mid-19th century, Brazil was already the world's largest coffee producer. And to export “green gold”, as it was known at the time, a railway system was built to the Port of Santos, where grains were transported to other continents.

In the beginning, agricultural work in coffee was done exclusively by slave labor. With the advent of the Golden Law in 1888 (abolition of slavery), thousands of European immigrants came to Brazil looking for work in coffee plantations (mainly Italians and Japanese).

With the increase in internal wealth and the purchasing power of the population, other professions were emerging, new enterprises were being built and a new social class emerged: the middle class.

Coffee today in Brazil 

Since then, coffee has been one of the main commodities consumed in Brazil and exported to other countries. Brazil, today, is the largest producer and exporter of coffee in the world and the second largest consumer of the drink in the world, behind only the United States.

The diversity of Brazilian soils and climates produces different types of coffee beans – Arabica and Robusta. And the States in which the fruit developed best are: Minas Gerais (largest producer in the country, responsible for 40% of national production), São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Paraná, Bahia and Roraima (the most recent in production).

The process from planting the coffee tree, going through all the stages, until the green beans are bagged, ready for internal and external commercialization, continues to be one of the most important activities in agribusiness in Brazil, guaranteeing the culture and habits of all who consume, appreciate and value this very special drink, present in people's daily lives.

Enjoy and prepare your coffee, strained, espresso, with milk, cappuccino... your way, your preference. Good tasting!

Research Source: Portal do Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento