Let’s take a trip out of Europe! Join our São Paulo specialty coffee tour with the World Barista Champion Boram Um. We visited 6 specialty cafes in São Paulo, many of them shaped the specialty coffee scene in Brazil. Was it the best coffee in São Paulo or we missed important coffee shops?
Visited Specialty Cafes in São Paulo
- UM Coffee (Bom Retiro)
- Pato Rei
- Coffee Lab
- UM Coffee (Thera)
- KOF (King of the Fork)
- Sensory Coffee
1. Um Coffee – Boram’s Own Specialty Coffee Haven
Our first stop was Um Coffee Co., the café founded by Boram himself. Simple yet inviting, this café is a favorite among coffee enthusiasts looking to explore diverse brewing methods.
The café focuses primarily on filter coffee, with customers able to choose from four brewing techniques. According to Boram, offering multiple brew methods helps visitors understand how different techniques can enhance the coffee’s flavor profile. The shop exclusively sells coffee from Boram’s own farm, adding a personal touch to every cup.
One innovative feature? A coffee aroma bar, where customers can smell different beans before making a purchase. Boram mentioned that since implementing this, sales of their coffee bags have surged by 20%.
2. Pato Rei – Specialty Coffee Meets Japanese Influence
Next, we visited Pato Rei, which translates to “King Duck.” Owned by Thiago, a charismatic coffee aficionado, the café doubles as a specialty coffee shop and a Japanese food spot—a nod to his wife’s heritage.
Thiago and his team are passionate competitors in Brazilian barista championships, and their goal is to bring competition-level coffee to everyday customers. The menu is bold and experimental, featuring high-acidity, funky-processed coffees that offer an entirely unique tasting experience.
3. Coffee Lab – A Pioneer of Brazilian Specialty Coffee
No coffee tour in São Paulo is complete without a stop at Coffee Lab, founded by Isabela Raposeiras, a legend in Brazil’s coffee industry and the country’s first national barista champion.
Established in 2012, Coffee Lab feels more like a cozy living room than a café, creating a laid-back, homey atmosphere. Isabela integrates a coffee school into the space, training the next generation of baristas.
A unique design touch? Baristas wear mechanic-style jumpsuits, reinforcing the idea that coffee-making is both an art and a science. The café’s branding is also deeply personal—its fox logo is inspired by Isabela’s last name, which comes from the indigenous word for fox.
4. UM Coffee Thera – The Largest Café on Our Tour
From cozy coffee shops, we moved on to UM Coffee Thera, a massive café located in São Paulo’s bustling financial district.
With 88 seats and the longest coffee bar in the city, this location is built for speed and efficiency, catering to professionals looking for a quality caffeine fix. The most common order? A classic Brazilian combination of croissant and espresso, heavily influenced by Italian coffee culture.
Terra also operates its own bakery, producing fresh goods daily. Their standout pastry? The orange croissant, a crowd favorite.
5. King of the Fork – Where Coffee Meets Cycling Culture
Next, we headed to King of the Fork, a neighborhood staple that merges specialty coffee with cycling culture.
This café and bike shop also roasts its own coffee and serves up hearty brunches, making it a prime weekend spot. We sampled three filter coffee options alongside delicious sandwiches in their relaxed outdoor seating area.
For those looking for a blend of coffee and cycling enthusiasm, this is the perfect stop.
6. Sensory Coffee – Elevating the Tasting Experience
Our final destination was Sensory Coffee, a modern café dedicated to expanding customers’ sensory appreciation of coffee.
Located in a more tourist-friendly part of the city, Sensory Coffee focuses exclusively on Brazilian-grown beans, showcasing the diversity of the country’s coffee production. They also experiment with pairing coffee with food, offering cheese and coffee tastings, much like wine pairings.
One standout drink? Their signature shakerato, a smooth and refreshing iced espresso that pairs beautifully with São Paulo’s warm climate.
A Taste of São Paulo’s Specialty Coffee Scene
This whirlwind tour barely scratched the surface of São Paulo’s incredible specialty coffee scene. Each café we visited had its own unique approach to brewing, hospitality, and storytelling, making for an unforgettable coffee journey. If you’re planning to explore Brazilian specialty coffee, São Paulo should be high on your list.
