The best coffee is certainly grown in Brazil. This country is the leader in the production of an invigorating drink. Brazilian coffee stands out for its unique rich taste and enchanting aroma that 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 gentle 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 gave him a girl in love with him. Grains planted in the state of Para, they took root on fertile land and laid the foundation for many plantations in Brazil.
Due to the growth of production in the state, numerous factories, railways for exporting products were built, new cities were built. But with new discoveries, new troubles came. Coffee plantations were the 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 sunk into oblivion, and now, instead of slaves, many people from different parts of the earth are working on plantations.
Growing Features
Partly, Brazilian coffee gets its magnificent taste and aroma due to the characteristic climate and the location of the trees themselves. Brazilian plantations are located on the plains or minor hills, which gives the wonderful drink velvety and soft. Also, because of this, coffee does not have acidity in the aftertaste.
After the ripened grains are collected from the trees, they are lined 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 various diameter holes.
The dry processing method reduces financial costs and the consumption of running water. This affects the cost of the product thus prepared. In total, one third of all finished raw materials is produced by the dry method, the rest is wet processed.
Types of Brazilian Coffee
Both Arabica and Robusta are grown in the country. 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 humid areas, without sudden changes in temperature and weather changes;
- fertile soil with a low iodine content;
- plantations located in the highlands.
Arabica is appreciated for its delicate, multifaceted taste and pronounced aroma. This type of Brazilian coffee is the most popular and expensive.
Robusta has smaller, 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 trees and the dry method of processing raw materials.
Also, many lovers of Brazilian coffee will appreciate the cost of the product. The average price for almost all varieties ranges from 250 to 350 rubles per 100 grams. The exception is only rare varieties, the cost of which starts with 500 rubles per 100 grams.
Varieties of Brazilian coffee
In stores and on the market today there is such a wide assortment of coffee that it is just right 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 variety: varieties and tastes, respectively, are just a lot. Here are just a few of the most popular ones:
- Minas This coffee is grown in Minas Gerais, where the name comes from. The main disadvantage of the drink is a tangible drug aftertaste, which appears due to the content of a large amount of iodine in the soil. But Minas can easily get rid of this 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 European countries, Rio is blended, as it seems to the inhabitants of the Old World too strong and bitter.
- Santos. A variety from the Arabica family, is considered one of the most popular and oldest in the world. Due to the high quality, excellent taste and affordable price, Santos can rightly be called the best Brazilian coffee.
- Conilon. Robusta variety, which occupies about 20% of total Brazil production. Conilon is famous for its rich taste and aroma, low price.
- Bourbon Santos. Arabica with a soft and delicate taste and sophisticated aroma. Among all the drinks, Brazilian coffee Santos Bourbon is one of the few that has an acidity in the aftertaste. Distinctive features of the variety are the high quality of the original product. Raw materials are collected from young trees that serve on plantations for no more than five years.
- Flat Beat Santos. Robusta with a unique nut-cream finish, sophisticated aroma and low cost. Of all the varieties of Brazilian coffee, Flat Bit Santos is in the least demand.
- Maragogype Brazil. The main feature of this variety of Brazilian coffee is the large grains obtained by crossing different types of trees. Maragogype has a tart and rich taste.
- Brazil Mojiana. A variety of coffee with a unique, multifaceted flavoring bouquet. In Mozhiana, notes of fruit, caramel and nuts are felt.
- Iponema Ruby. A popular variety of coffee grown on low elevations. Iponema Ruby has a bright, rich aroma and strong taste. This Brazilian coffee is great for making espresso with thick foam.
The taste of the drink
Despite the popularity of Brazilian coffee, it is of little value to gourmets. The thing is that due to the growth on the plains and inconsistent weather conditions, many varieties of the drink do not have a refined and refined aroma, a complex multi-faceted bouquet in taste.
But, in spite of the ordinary Brazilian coffee, in many countries very delicious and invigorating espresso is brewed from it, which is very 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 quality coffee, has a strong taste and a bewitching aroma. Brazil Santos brand of coffee is sold in many countries of the world, the product is presented in grains and ground.
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.
Making a drink and recipes
Brazilians are real coffee lovers. Also, they can easily be called specialists in the preparation of this magnificent drink, because local residents are considered leaders in the amount of its consumption. All methods of brewing Brazilian coffee are quite simple and accessible to every lover of an invigorating drink.
Fastest recipe
To prepare delicious Brazilian coffee, you just need a special filter and ground grains. One cup is taken, a paper or fabric bag is attached to it. 2 teaspoons of ground coffee are poured into this filter and 80-90 degrees water is poured. It is important to boil it first, and only then bring it to the required temperature. After the liquid has completely seeped through the filter, it is removed. If desired, sugar, cloves, cinnamon or cream can be added to the finished Brazilian coffee. An 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 flavor. If desired, the ice cream in the recipe can be replaced with regular or whipped cream or not used at all.
Ingredients
So, a set of products:
- 50 ml of boiled or filtered water;
- 2 teaspoons ground Brazilian coffee;
- 1 teaspoon of cocoa;
- 50 g of cream ice cream or cream (optional);
- 150 ml of milk (fat content 3.5%).
Cooking process
- Pour the milk into a small saucepan, put on the stove and cook over low heat.
- Add cocoa to it in portions, stir constantly.
- Bring to a boil and remove from heat.
- Then beat the resulting mixture in a blender or whisk until foam appears, pour into a cup.
- Using a turkish or coffee maker, brew an espresso and pour it in a thin stream into cocoa.
- Add ice cream or cream.
Brazilian coffee with cocoa is ready!
Cooking rules
Brazilian coffee can be brewed according to various 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 starting to prepare a drink, it is important to study 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, coarse or beans. It is recommended to grind it only before use.
- If other ingredients are to be added to the coffee drink, then it should be filtered after brewing.
- It is very important to correctly calculate the proportions of 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 remains the cultivation and processing of coffee beans. It was this production that provided Brazil with worldwide recognition and fame. Many people today can not imagine life without this wonderful drink. But one third of all coffee produced is grown in this wonderful country.
Of course, coffee is highly regarded by the Brazilians themselves. Without a cup of aromatic drink, even the poorest families do not start the day. For a real Brazilian, this is not just coffee, but the meaning of life. Because of this, breeders are constantly breeding new varieties of trees and improve existing ones. It is in Brazil that you can find delicious coffee that you can fall in love with from the first sip!