A Cup of Java - Carioca Style
Rio de Janeiro is known for its sand, surf, fruit juices and caipirinhas. Coffee is not high on that list, despite the fact that Brazil is one of the largest producers in the world. It may be the sunny weather, or the fact that Carioca's (natives of Rio de Janeiro ) prefer to socialize on the beach or at a botequim (open-air bars that are packed to the rafters with beer-drinking Cariocas - often overflowing to the sidewalks), rather than huddled into a cafe. Although the first Starbucks was recently opened in São Paulo, this is not the standard by which Brazilians take their coffee. Generally, the cafezinho is enjoyed in short doses on a quick stop at the coffee bar, where patrons stand and enjoy their coffee with a Pão de Queijo (a delicious Timbit-shaped cheese pastry).
A few tips on drinking coffee in Brazil:
If you prefer your coffee 'au natural' be sure to ask for it 'sem
(pronounced "seng") açucar', otherwise it will come loaded with sugar.
Most restaurants serve traditional Brazilian coffee (very small cups of
strong coffee) for free after a meal. However, espresso and other
coffees will be added to your bill. It is not customary in Brazil to
drink coffee with dessert, so if that is when you want it, make
sure the waiter understands.
For coffee fanatics traveling to Brazil, The New York Times this weekend printed an article on Rio's coffee culture. To find out more about Brazilian food and drink, read our article on the subject or check out OTR's Cultural Cheatsheet for Brazil
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