Many countries will classify and compare coffee beans by using a screen size sorting system. The theory behind this method of coffee bean classification is that coffees of the highest altitudes are more dense and larger in size than at the other altitudes. It is also known that coffees of higher altitudes (i.e. slower coffee bean development rates) have the best flavor profiles. Therefore, there is a correlation between coffee bean size, density, and quality. However, this correlation has numerous exceptions and size classification should only be used to verify that the coffee lot is uniform in size which helps ensure a uniform roast.
The different coffee growing regions have their own preferred terminology, but the best indicator of size is to know the screen size. The screen size is usually reported as 17/18, 15/16, 13/14, etc. This means 17/64 of an inch, 18/64 of an inch, etc.
Size of Coffee Plantations in Brazil
The vast majority of coffee farms in Brazil are less than ten hectares in size. According to the Diagnóstico da Cafeicultura em Minas Gerais, 71% of farms are less than 10 hectares, 25% of farms had less than 50 hectares, and only 4% of farms were larger than 50 hectares.
Brazil is the world's largest coffee producer and produces around 25% of the world's supply of coffee. Eighty percent of coffee from Brazil is Arabica.
Brazilian Coffee History
Coffee was introduced in Brazil by Francisco de Mello Palheta in 1727 from Cayenne, French Guiana. Today, Brazil is the world's largest coffee producer and is becoming a significant player in the specialty coffee industry. Bourbon, Typica, Caturra, and Mundo Novo coffee varietals are grown in the states of Paraná, Espirito Santos, São Paulo, Minas Gerais, and Bahia.
When the International Coffee Organization (ICO) and the Brazilian Institute do Café (IBC) set quotas for importing and exporting coffees, it protected a few producers in Brazil while deteriorating the specialty coffee sector. Since quotas were set, volume was expected. Unfortunately, the focus was on coffee prices and quantity rather than quality. The Brazilian coffee producers would mix together higher-quality coffees with low-quality Brazilian coffees to meet the demands of the quota system. The producers would then rename the coffees as Santos 1, Santos 2, etc. where Santos was the port where coffee was exported. In the early 90's the new government in Brazil broke the quota and protection laws for both the coffee and sugar industry. Subsequently, both the IBC and the IAA (sugar) were closed. This brought about a revolution in how coffee was exported in Brazil, thereby bringing about a reform in how coffee was grown, processed, and treated. Slowly the amazing variety of coffee available in Brazil became evident as consumers exercised their new right to purchase estate specific specialty coffees.
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