Brief history of
coffee in Brazil
Coffee arrived in Brazil in 1727, more precisely in Belém do Pará, PA, where it landed through the hands of sergeant major Francisco de Mello Palheta, who brought a seedling of Arabica coffee from the French Guiana hidden in his luggage.
At that time coffee already had great commercial value.
Due to Brazilian climatic conditions, coffee cultivation spread rapidly through Maranhão, Bahia, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Paraná, and Minas Gerais. In a relatively short time, coffee has moved from a secondary position to become the main product in the Brazilian market. For decades, Brazilian economy flourished driven by the passion for coffee and its special place in almost every household.
Coffee continues to be one of the most important products for Brazil and is undoubtedly the most Brazilian of all native products. Currently, the country is the first producer and the second largest consumer of the product worldwide.
In 2020, Brazil exported 44.5 million bags of coffee and set a new historical record, considering the sum of green, soluble, and roasted & ground coffee, according to a report consolidated by the Council of Brazilian Coffee Exporters (Cecafé).
This new export record represents a growth of 9.4% in relation to the total volume exported in 2019.
Exchange revenue from exports last year reached US$ 5.6 billion, up 10.3% compared to 2019 and equivalent to R$ 29 billion, representing an increase of 44.1% when converted into Brazilian Reais, reaching a 5.6% share in agribusiness exports and 2.7% in the country's total shipments. The average price per bag in the year was US$ 126.52.
Of the total volume shipped in 2020, 40.4 million bags were green coffee; an increase of 10.2% compared to 2019.
Green coffees are composed of Arabica coffees, whose exports totaled 35.5 million bags, up 8.4% compared to 2019 and an all-time record for this variety, and Robusta (Conilon), with 4.9 million bags exported, up 24.3% and also the highest volume shipped in history.
The port city of Santos, where Comexim's headquarters are located, is responsible for approximately 84% of Brazil's exports.
Source: ABIC (Associação Brasileira da Indústria de Café - Brazilian Coffee Industry Association) and CECAFE (Conselho dos Exportadores do Café do Brasil - Coffee Export Council of Brazil).
A multi-effect
product
A study by the New England Journal of Medicine, one of the world's leading scientific journals, analyzed coffee consumption habits of more than 400,000 American men and women (aged 50-71 years).
Considering further research on the relationship between coffee and human health, the study showed that coffee consumption might be inversely related to total mortality (when adjusted for other risk factors).
In addition, coffee drinkers had lower mortality due to cardiac causes, respiratory diseases, stroke, external causes, diabetes, and infectious diseases.
In addition, coffee drinkers had lower mortality due to cardiac causes, respiratory diseases, stroke, external causes, diabetes, and infectious diseases.
The result of this and other research indicates that daily coffee consumption is a healthy habit with several potential benefits. The possible explanation is that, in addition to caffeine, coffee contains hundreds of unique compounds with antioxidant properties that can be good for health.
Coffee improves mood and
mental and physical performance.
Coffee improves mood and mental and physical performance. It enhances well-being, joy, energy, attention, and sociability. It boosts attention, concentration, and school learning.
Coffee increases resistance during aerobic activities and improves performance in anaerobic activities.
However, beware: coffee should be consumed in moderation (up to four large cups for adults per day and half a cup for children, diluted with milk). Excessive consumption of caffeine can cause anxiety and insomnia, especially if ingested at night.
Antioxidant
Properties of Coffee
Coffee consumption, as an important source of antioxidant, can inhibit inflammation and therefore reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and other prolonged inflammatory diseases.
Inflammation is often associated with oxidative stress, and any process that reduces inflammation greatly benefits our health and well-being.
Trends
Fortifying coffee with functional ingredients is also a trend and has been the focus of innovation.
The list of coffee's functional attributes is growing, largely due to advances in innovation and technology. Today, with the help of ingredients such as protein, prebiotics, probiotics, and many others, as well as advances in textures and preparations, coffee can be even more beneficial and flavorful.
Sources: ABIC (Brazilian Coffee Industry Association) and Food Ingredients.