Brazilians pack coffee shops

By Peter Blackburn

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - As temperatures dip during the Southern Hemisphere winter, business is heating up at trendy city coffee shops in Brazil's biggest tourist resort, Rio de Janeiro.

Though Brazil traditionally has been the world's biggest coffee producer, its people have only recently become big drinkers of the beverage.

In the past, the best coffee was exported. Brazilians had to settle for leftovers -- often mixed with chicory, corn or other grains to save money. The sickly sweet cafeizinho was served at hole-in-wall "botequims" whose main money maker was beer and where women were seldom seen.

Improved quality and marketing have led to a boom as coffee became chic to drink in coffee shops, at work and at home.

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