Museo de Café

Table of Contents

Introduction

The Museu do Café, located in the historic centre of Santos, in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, invites visitors to embark on a journey through one of the most iconic chapters of Brazilian cultural and economic history. Housed in the former Bolsa Oficial de Café building, which was inaugurated in 1922, the museum stands as a testament to the profound influence of coffee cultivation and trade on Brazil’s development. Visitors are encouraged to explore the building’s elegant architecture and rich collections that celebrate coffee as both a heritage and a national identity.

About the Museum

Founded in 1998 under the auspices of the State Secretariat of Culture of São Paulo, the Museu do Café has the mission of preserving and disseminating the intertwined stories of coffee, Brazil and the world. Situated in the former Bolsa Oficial de Café, the museum occupies a building that once bustled with negotiations over coffee prices, anchored by the Auction Room where coffee brokers mediated trades and influenced national market rhythms.

Inside, visitors will find a long‑term exhibition titled “Coffee, cultural heritage of Brazil: science, history and art”, which unfolds through several immersive modules. The experience begins with “From plant to cup”, featuring a working coffee greenhouse and various historical artifacts. A video room presents the film “Mãos do Café”, followed by a timeline covering the history of coffee, a representation of the Praça de Santos, and finally a focus on the architecture of the Bolsa Oficial de Café under “Arts and Crafts.

The museum also highlights striking artworks by the celebrated Brazilian artist Benedicto Calixto. Visitors can admire the paintings “The Port of Santos in 1822”, “The Foundation of the Village of Santos – 1545” and “The Port of Santos in 1922”, in addition to the stained‑glass window “The Epic of the Bandeirantes”, all housed in the Auction Room and evocatively reflecting urban and economic transformations over centuries.

Beyond exhibitions, the museum includes the Luiz Marcos Suplicy Hafers Centre of Preservation, Research and Reference, which provides access to publications and documents related to coffee history. It also features the Coffee Preparation Centre, which hosts educational courses and workshops on coffee preparation.

The institution is not only a museum but also a place to enjoy coffee. Its on‑site cafeteria, located on the ground floor of the Bolsa building, attracts around six hundred visitors daily and serves approximately four hundred and fifty cups of coffee. This café has earned Premium status in the national “Quality Coffee Circle” program of the Brazilian Association of the Coffee Industry, and it was awarded the title of best coffee shop in Santos by Veja magazine for seven consecutive years.

On weekends, the museum offers coffee tastings in the Coffee Preparation Centre. These are available on Saturdays and Sundays at four scheduled times—10 h 30, 12 h 00, 15 h 00 and 17 h 00—and allow participants to taste three different coffee types prepared using the traditional poured method. A barista guides the tasting and explains differences among conventional, superior and gourmet coffees, as defined by the Brazilian Association of the Coffee Industry. On Saturdays, access to the exhibition spaces is free; on Sundays, a ticket is required.

Another delightful attraction is the “Coffee Tram”, launched in 2015 in collaboration with the city tourism authorities. This themed tram, unique in Latin America, features a stylised exterior and an interior equipped with air conditioning, televisions, a coffee machine, tables and chairs, a minibar and a wheelchair lift. It accommodates up to twenty‑four passengers plus the guide, barista and tram operator. The tram operates hourly on Thursdays and Fridays in the afternoon and throughout the weekend, offering free gourmet coffee tastings for its passengers.

Interesting Facts

The museum is located in the historic Bolsa Oficial de Café, a building inaugurated in 1922 that served as the centre of coffee trading in Santos.
The Auction Room still preserves the original table and seventy chairs used for coffee negotiations.
The stained‑glass window “The Epic of the Bandeirantes” was created by Benedicto Calixto and produced by the Casa Conrado atelier. It was installed at the building’s opening in 1922 and is considered the first stained‑glass work with a distinctly Brazilian style.
The cafeteria receives around six hundred visitors per day and serves approximately four hundred and fifty cups of coffee, earning Premium status from the national quality program and recognition as the best coffee shop in Santos for seven consecutive years.
The Coffee Tram is a one‑of‑a‑kind experience in Latin America, combining public transportation with a mobile coffee tasting experience, complete with coffee service on board.

Photo Gallery

Physical Location

Contact Details

Phone: +55 133 213 1750

Website: museudocafe.org.br/home

Facebook: facebook.com/MuseudoCafe/

Conclusion

The Museu do Café in Santos is much more than a repository of objects and artworks; it is a vibrant tribute to the essence of Brazilian culture and the central role that coffee has played in shaping the nation. Visitors are welcomed into an evocative historical setting, where art, architecture, technology and taste converge in celebration of coffee’s legacy. From immersive exhibitions and restored heritage spaces to sensory delights like guided tastings and a unique tram ride, the museum offers a compelling experience for tourists and locals alike. Whether one is a history enthusiast, an art lover, a coffee aficionado, or simply a curious traveller, the Museu do Café promises a memorable and enriching encounter with the story of Brazil in a cup.