Heat, fires hit Brazil's coffee production

Brazilian coffee producer Moacir Donizetti first smelled the smoke and then watched in desperation as a blaze consumed his family coffee plantation last year.

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Caconde -

The 54-year-old was one of hundreds of farmers hit by a brutal forest fire in Sao Paulo state, where years of soaring heat and erratic rains are set to drive up the cost of an espresso or latte far afield in Paris, New York, or Tokyo.

Brazil, the world's largest coffee producer and exporter, experienced its hottest year on record in 2024 and a record number of forest fires.

Locals in the municipality of Caconde believe the fire broke out due to uncontrolled burning of garbage, but experts attribute its scale to drought conditions exacerbated by climate change.

"It was desperate, seeing the flames advance, destroying our plantation, coming within 20m of my house," said Donizetti.