Coffee from the Chamber, Senate and STF is superior, but cheap – 06/21/2023 – Café na Prensa

It is between one cup of coffee and another, one meeting and another, that deputies, senators and ministers of the STF (Federal Supreme Court) make some of the most important decisions in the country. But it’s not just any coffee.

Both the Chamber of Deputies, the Senate and the STF only buy superior coffee. Altogether, the three institutions together spent almost R$ 2 million of public funds to buy coffee for the period of one year.

Although the value seems high, the unit price was not expensive. The STF paid BRL 11.97 for each 500 g package. The Chamber, which paid more, disbursed R$ 12.99 for the same amount. The Senate, on the other hand, made the best deal and pledged R$ 10.97 per package.

O coffee in the press also requested, via the Access to Information Law, data on acquisitions made by the Presidency of the Republic, but has not yet received a response.

The average price of a kilo of coffee in Brazil was approximately R$ 35 at the beginning of this year. That is, R$ 17.50 for each 500 g package. This value refers to retail, not wholesale purchases. On the other hand, it refers to coffees in general, and not to the superior category.

Higher category coffees are less bitter and tend to be more expensive than traditional ones. According to Abic (Brazilian Association of the Coffee Industry), responsible for standardizing the categories, superior coffees can have almond and chocolate sensory notes.

It is, therefore, an intermediate category between the traditional, more bitter and cheaper, and the gourmet level, which have greater sensory complexity and higher prices.

See in the gallery below the difference between each of the classes and how to identify them.

Together, the three institutions purchased 80,000 kilos of coffee powder, all of a superior category, as required in the bids, from little-known companies, such as Fino Sabor and Café Coliseu.

The Chamber made a bid to acquire 48,000 kg, with roasting ranging from “moderately light to moderately dark”, for a period of 12 months, between August 2022 and August of this year.

Among deputies, civil servants, outsourced workers, interns and other employees, the Chamber has a staff of 17,624 people, which results in consumption per capita of 2.72 kg per year. consumption per capita of roasted coffee in Brazil was 4.77 kg in 2022.

In the Senate, consumption is much higher, proportionally. Also for a period of 12 months, the House made a bid to acquire 25,000 kg of superior coffee, 100% Arabica and with medium roasting and grinding.

Among senators, servants and other employees, the House has almost 6 thousand people, which results in an annual consumption per capita of 4.24 kg – a value very close to the national average.

The STF, in turn, has a consumption per person of 3.44 kg, since, among servers, outsourced workers and other employees who work at the Court, there are just over 2,000 people.

In addition to the category (superior), the court bid determines that the beans are 100% Arabica and have low to moderate acidity, moderate bitterness, characteristic and balanced flavor and low astringency.

In addition to employees, the Chamber, Senate and STF frequently receive visitors, representatives of public bodies and guests for hearings, sessions and other activities.

Everyone was welcomed with a cup of coffee. Superior, of course.

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