MINAS GERAIS

MINAS GERAIS 

Located in south-eastern Brazil, Minas Gerais is bordered by São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Bahia, and Goiás. The main producing zones are Sul de Minas, Cerrado Mineiro, and Matas de Minas, with altitudes ranging from 800 to 1,300 meters. The region enjoys a mild tropical climate with distinct wet and dry seasons, annual rainfall of 1,200–1,800 mm, and average temperatures between 18 23°C — ideal for Arabica coffee cultivation.

Minas Gerais produces nearly 50% of Brazil’s total coffee output, making it the single most important coffee region in the country and a major contributor to Brazil’s export revenue and rural employment.

Production is dominated by small and medium farms using both traditional and modern cultivation methods, with widespread use of mechanization in Cerrado Mineiro. Coffees are primarily Arabica, noted for their sweetness, medium body, and chocolate and nut flavours.

Annual production exceeds 25–27 million 60-kg bags of Arabica coffee, valued at over US$6 billion in export earnings.