Where to find the best specialty coffee in Rio de Janeiro

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – According to the Specialty Coffee Association, specialty coffee is defined as one that is “free of primary defect, has no quakers [cracked beans], is properly sized and dried, presents in the cup free of faults and taints, and has distinctive attributes”. Other than that, specialty coffee is considered as such when it grows under certain conditions (such as microclimate, soil chemistry, husbandry) that are capable of producing uniquely flavored coffee beans.

When it comes to coffee, Brazil reigns: the country is not only the largest world producer, but leads the exports in the global coffee market. In Rio de Janeiro alone, coffee plays a fundamental role in the economy, generating R$89 million of income to this State.

In recent years, Brazil’s internal market has experienced an increasing interest in the specialty coffee scene: consumption of higher-quality coffee grows, on average, 15% every year. Today, the Brazilian Association of Specialty Coffee registers hundreds of producers, cooperatives, and cafeterias from all over the country that are certified for working with both organic and specialty beans.

The listicle below presents seven cafés in Rio de Janeiro where coffee lovers can get acquainted with the best of Brazil’s specialty coffee, a scene that will only continue to develop in the coming years.

1) Café ao Leu – A small cafeteria next to Copacabana beach, Café ao Leu was considered the house that serves the best coffee in Rio by the “Veja Comer e Beber 2019/2020” food contest. This cafeteria and roasting house sells nine specialty coffee types – all of them are coined with the producers’ first names. One of them is “Café do Gabriel”, a sweet, full-bodied bean with hazelnut notes from Minas Gerais.

2) Fika Cafés Especiais – The original Fika is located in Rio’s historical center, but the brand opened, this year, a new house in Leblon. At Fika, one can try varieties from the most diverse Brazilian microclimates. One of them is the so-called “café do jacu”, whose beans are fermented during the digesting process of the jacu (also known as penelope, a typical South American bird). As weird as a “coffee that comes from a bird’s feces” may sound, Fika owners guarantee that this variety is a delicious one marked by notes of berries.

3) Slow Bakery – Considered the pioneer of slow-fermented bread in Brazil, this bakery in Botafogo is also the right place for having excellent coffee with a fresh sourdough-based snack. Some baristas say Slow Bakery serves the best coffee in town. Apart from the house blend (made of fermented coffee), Slow Bakery is always including a “visitor specialty coffee” in their menu. One of them is Daterra, which tastes like cashew and jenipapo, a typical fruit from Brazil’s Northeast.

4) Fazenda Paradiso – A family cafe in Rio’s downtown, Fazenda Paradiso sells the specialty coffee that comes straight from their farm, the Paradiso Farm, located in Santo Antônio do Amparo, Minas Gerais. Their 100% arabica variety can be appreciated with Argentinean empanadas, a quiche, or a typical pão de queijo recipe.

5) Kiva Café Lounge – Located in Barra da Tijuca, Kiva is a good idea for both a Sunday brunch or a Friday night: apart from specialty coffee, they serve alcoholic drinks, waffles, carpaccio, and salads. The name Kiva alludes to Kiva Han, considered the world’s very first cafeteria, from 1475, in Istambul.

6) Coffee Five – Founded in 2018 by a tea sommelier and a barista, Coffee Five has expanded and is now present in both Rio downtown and Barra da Tijuca. The available coffee varieties change every week at Coffee Five, which also serves a range of teas, drinks, sweets. What’s more, Latte Art, barista, and coffee preparing methods are some of the courses offered by the owners.

7) Okanossa Café – Okanossa not only stands out for its specialty coffee menu (which includes infused and expresso options), but for serving excellent vegan and vegetarian plates, like the chickpeas pancake filled with eggplant caponata. This cafe is located in Leblon and has already been a finalist at the “Veja Rio Comer e Beber” food contest.