Do not let Colombians be upset by the title of this blog post. There is a slight touch of irony on it.

Brazil is the main coffee producer in the world. In 2004 it was responsible for 35% of the world exports. Its fame is due to the quality of the beans grown and the great variety of types of coffee.

The main coffee-producing states, in order of importance, are Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo, São Paulo, Paraná and Bahía. The best quality coffees are found in the south and the Cerrado region of Minas Gerais, and in the Mogiana region of the state of São Paulo.

In general, Brazilian coffee is known for its soft taste, pleasant flavour and balanced content. It is neither to acidic nor too bitter.

The importance coffee had for Brazil is seen in its history. It was coffee that brought waves of Italian and Japanese immigrants to São Paulo, and it was the commodity behind the growth of the city.

Don’t be surprised if, when ordering at a café the quintessential Brazilian cafezinho (expresso coffee) you feel let down. For a long time, the best Brazilian coffee beans were exported, while Brazilians drank a substandard product.

Thankfully, the last few years have seen a renaissance of coffee within Brazil, of which the opening of gourmet cafés is an unmistakeable sign.

The best cafés are found in São Paulo (the Octavio Café is unmissable), Rio de Janeiro, Santos and Curitiba. Santos is known as the “city of coffee” and is host to one of the most interesting museums in Brazil, the Museu do Café.

Brazil, the largest coffee producer in the world, and we hadn’t mentioned a café in the blog yet. It’s time to make amends.

The Octavio Café is a coffee shop that in its short existence has gained the reputation of being the best café in São Paulo. It is found in the Jardim Paulista upper-class neighbourhood, near the exclusive Rua Amauri.

As you approach the café, the first surprise is provided by its external shape – resembling the form of a coffee bean.

Inside, the café is separated in three big areas: one for smokers, one for non-smokers, and an open-air section. Thankfully, non-smokers got the best part, a beautiful space right in front of the bar.

While you sit on extremely comfortable sofas, you can watch the time go by while you take pleasure in smelling the coffee aromas that permeate the building. The ramp going up the lavatories is full of surprises. From the top there is a wonderful view of the café.

As it is to be expected, the Octavio has a extense coffee menu. Your basic order is a expresso Octavio (R$3,80), the cheapest drink you can order.

There is an extremely tempting Degustação de Cafés (Tradicional, Especial Octavio e Café Importado) (Coffee Tasting) on the menu, costing R$11. However, we’ve been to the Octavio twice and the tasting wasn’t available both times. We wonder whether it’s worth including an attractive item on the menu only to let customers down when they order it.

If you want coffee prepared on a different fashion, you can order coffee prepared on the cafetera francesa (cafetiere, costs R$5,10), a Turkish coffee (R$4,90) or the very traditional café de coador (colander coffee, R$4,90) shown on the next photo. The three coffees serve two cups.

Our only word of warning, beware of the Black Coffee, described on the menu as hot chocolate with coffee. It costs R$7,10 and if you want to feel conned, order it. You can’t say I didn’t warn you.

Other than that, the Octavio Café is a place worth visiting. Its coffee is not cheap, but then a cup of coffee is unlikely to wreck havoc on your budget.

Octavio Café. Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 2996. Jardim Paulista. Website.

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