coffee was brought to brazil in 1727 by a french guyanese man, and from that point on its cultivation spread like wildfire across the country, becoming the great driving force of the economy.

the starting point of the great plantations was the city of rio itself, formed in the forests of tijuca, as well as angra dos reis and paraty - coffee and cariocas have largely grown up together and to this day they are completely inseparable.

nowadays, across rio, people of all class, race and generation, congregate at small cafés to chat, laugh and gossip over the traditional cafezinho, meaning 'small coffee' - cariocas are liable to have a large number these great revitalisers throughout the day, at home, in a bar, during work, after a meal, or as the cornerstone for a social meeting.