Brazilian News
Leo Moco , Barista from www.bikkinibarista.com.br – Santos Brazil; Paul Germscheid Rep. – La Marzocco – Sao Paulo , Brazil; Crica Wolthers – P.R. – Bikkini Barista; Christian Wolthers; Edgard Bresani, President – Brazilian Barista Association and Ipanema Coffees.
I’m back again and this time with news about Brazil.
Last week I had the pleasure to attend the Brazilian Barista National finals in the wonderful and rich Central Market Place in downtown Sao Paulo. The very fast growing Specialty Coffee retail culture and the sophisticated Barista expertise is finding an incredible support with the local coffee Industry and consumers in Brazil.
Edgard Bressani, President of the Brazilian Barista Association and also Marketing Manager for Ipanema Coffees, was my host during the final event. Local Press, culinary art critics, TV networks, Chefs and specialty coffee producers were among the many attendees cheering for their preferred candidates and coffees.
Edgard Bressani and Christian Wolthers – Coffee enthusiats extraordinaire.
The winner was Yara Thais Castanho, now working in Copenhagen for “Estate Coffees”. The famous coffee house, owned by my goof friends Claus Meyer and Soren Sylvest. Estate Coffees is also known for having sponsored the WBC 2006 World Champion ” Klaus Thompsen in Bern/CH. The Barista movement “ROCKS” and in Brazil it’s now doing the SAMBA!!!
On another note;
Despite El Nino and Antonio Carlos Jobim’s famous Bossa Nova classic, “Aguas de Marco” (Waters of March ) consistent rains have stopped falling over the Brazilian Arabica coffee belt, a brighter future with high quality coffees for this coming harvest seems promising.
Brazil will probably collect a record crop some say 50 million, others 55 million, whatever the final number will be, we are still ten months away from having a distant impression of the final result.
The good news is that whatever the weather offers during the Harvest season, the output of specialty and fine grade is evident!
The early rains in June and July of 2009 triggered record premature flowerings. These are promoting an early and certain long harvest season, this enhances sound logistics and manicured care to the incoming coffees.
In some areas, we can see 5 different maturation stages. Brazilian producers are taking advantage of this situation to get structured in time for selective harvesting, full washing and natural pulping preparations in large scale.
Full washed coffees and pulped natural Brazils have historically remained at max 2 million export bags per year. This year the output will probably reach the record high volume of 5 million 60 KG bags.
Brazilian producers are reacting to potential demand and also gambling on roaster switch from Mild and Other Mild coffee use in favor of lower grown and at least 30 point cheaper pulped coffees.
It’s certainly an interesting moment for the “Mainstream Arabica Coffee Experts”
My Million Dollar questions are:
A) Can these coffee specialists’ filter-in, Brazilian lower grown, Full Washed and/or Pulped Natural preparation coffees into the blend composition and still retain the flavor profile and their client base??
B) Can Brazil introduce its Full Washed and Pulped Natural preparation coffees this year and guarantee a stable and increased availability during the immediate next 3 to 5 years??
My Forecasts are:
Answer for A:
Probably yes, for a short period, mainstream coffee blends can be filtered down in altitude and enzymatic flavor profile coffee participation by using decreasing amounts of Mild and Other-Mild coffees.
Answer for B:
Probably not, after a bumper crop in Brazil, the plantation hangover is always dramatic, productivity on these preparations will probably fall by 40% in 2011/12 considering ideal weather conditions.
While Colombia continues to shoot its own feet with mostly politicalsta statements and measures, the entire Latin American Producing countries will be enjoying the ride. The main problem for Colombia is that Roasters might just prefer this new environment they are being thrown into.
Best regards and have a great Spring or Fall, depending on where you plant your seeds.
Christian Wolthers
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