The next time you take a sip of your morning coffee and think, “Dear God, that was delicious,” you may want to thank this group.
The Brazilian Coffee Industry Association (ABIC) is in the midst of an ongoing mission to root out all of the sneaky coffee makers that try to cut costs and corners — by loading up their products with corn, soy or wood — and tarnish the image of Brazil’s prized export.
In addition to a bitter taste and a less-pure product, coffee pumped full of impurities can upset users’ stomachs and cause them to “burp a lot,” according to ABIC Chairman Almir Jose da Silva.
So, the ABIC takes coffee from supermarket shelves (picked at random) and performs laboratory tests on it.
If it’s discovered that the coffeemakers are putting out sub-par product (Brazilian law prohibits the sale of coffee with more than 1% impurities), the AIBC reports them to Brazil’s public prosecutor and health authorities. If, however, the coffee is clean, the Association gives the brew its prestigious Seal of Purity.
In 2009, 10 companies were tossed from the ABIC and reported for bulking up their coffee.
