Coffee beans of Latin America (拉丁美洲的咖啡)
During the publishing time of “新版咖啡學”, Latin America (拉丁美洲/中南美洲) is the largest coffee production region in the world;
Washed coffee (水洗) and Semi-washed coffee (Wet hulling 半水洗) are two common processing methods for beans in Latin America.
Brazil (巴西) is the world’s largest coffee producer. In 2016, Brazil produced a staggering 2,595,000 metric tons of coffee beans. It is not a new development, as Brazil has been the highest global producer of coffee beans for over 150 years; Colombia (哥倫比亞) is the second largest production country in this region, followed by the Honduras (宏都拉斯) recorded as the third largest production country Latin America.
Important: figure is only for reference. Please double check if the information is latest!
Below is listing the common coffee production countries:
- Brazil (巴西)
- Colombia (哥倫比亞)
- Honduras (洪都拉斯)
- Guatemala (危地馬拉)
- Peru (秘魯)
- Mexico (墨西哥)
- Nicaragua (尼加拉瓜)
- Costa Rica (哥斯達黎加)
- El Salvador (薩爾瓦多)
Brazil (巴西)
Brazil produces various types of beans like Bourbon(波旁), Caturra(卡杜拉) and Mundo Novo(新世界), Catuai(卡杜阿伊) – these types of beans only can be harvested once in every 2 years!
巴西豆: 酸味低, 堅果味重, 巧克力甜香與醇厚度佳, 但略帶木味與土味, 花香與橘香不明顯
Compare to other regions and countries in Latin America, the elevation of Brazil is relatively lower (地貌平坦) and the lack of microclimate (久缺微型氣候). In addition, farmer here tend not to used shade trees (無採用遮蔭樹), the favor tend to be “酸味低, 堅果味重, 巧克力甜香與醇厚度佳, 但略帶木味與土味, 花香與橘香不明顯”
There are three main Specialty coffee growing regions (精品咖啡產區) in Brazil: Cerrado, Sul Minas and Mogiana.
Carrado Savanna is a grassy savannah (大草原) with an elevation of 3600 -4300 feet and Sul de Minas has a high altitude, around 2000 – 3300 feet. Sun coffee is famous in this region – e.g Caturra(卡杜拉) and Mundo Novo(新世界), Catuai(卡杜阿伊); In Mogiana, there are various famous garden like “Fazenda Esperanca”, “Monte Alegre”, “Daterra Farm” and “ALto Cafezal” which produce specialty coffee.
Notes: should the elevation is higher than 3600 feet, the flavor of sun coffee would be as good as Bourbon.
Carrado : Natural coffee
Sul de Minas : PN coffee, Natural and Washed
Looking into history, Brazil produced natural coffee bean before 1990, this method led to poor quality of coffee bean and left us impression in Brazil coffee. After 1990, Pulped Natural (PN) processing becomes more common and the flavor is more attractive if the beans is producing there by using this washing method. However, having to say that, natural coffee bean is not unusual in Brazil.
