Farm sizes vary dramatically in Brazil, from less than a hectare to thousands of hectares.

Brazil has strict environmental regulations that limit deforestation, stipulate the recycling of water at washing stations and require the conservation of native forests on farmlands. Brazil is also the largest producer of certified coffees under UTZ, Rainforest Alliance, Fairtrade and numerous private roaster verification programs.

Roughly half of Brazil’s coffee comes from Minas Gerais, which consists of three subregions: South of Minas, where small family-owned farms grow a wide range of qualities; East of Minas, an area traditionally associated with lower-quality coffees, though today producers have improved their methods and focus on washed and naturally processed coffees; and Cerrado, which was established in 1975 by migrants from Parana and São Paulo and that’s now recognized as one of the highest-quality suppliers in Brazil.

Bahia consists of Cerrado, a recently planted area with large farms and cutting-edge technology; Planalto, which boasts high altitudes, cooler temperatures and fine washed coffees; and South of Bahia, which focuses on Robusta.

One of Brazil’s most traditional coffee regions, São Paulo is comprised of three growing areas: Paulista, Sorocabana and Mogiana. The latter is known for producing a wealth of high-quality natural coffees and features flat lands and small to midsize farms. São Paulo’s renowned Santos Port ships more than 75 percent of the coffee produced in Brazil.

Coffee generates millions of jobs across hundreds of small towns in Brazil, many of which are fully dependent on coffee revenues. The country boasts 8 billion coffee trees, and 8 million people are employed in coffee.