Collection formation history

Museu do Café collection began forming some years ago after its opening, between 2004 and 2005. The initial goal of acquisition processes was to collect collection for assemble of first long-period museum exhibition, A trajetória do café no Brasil [Coffee Course in Brazil]. A great action for collecting collection was performed in 2005 by technical staff when visiting Carapicuiba Storage Station, where were objects belonging to old Brazilian Coffee Institute (IBC). Great part of objects incorporated to collection is originating from old brokerage offices, general storehouses or rating and exporting companies of coffee in Santos City.

This initial collection is directly linked to market and exportation of coffee. However, the incorporation of collection referring to full course of coffee was required: from cultivation and preparation of seeds, installation of coffee plantation, harvest, improvement, transportation, and storage to marketing steps and final consumption.

To fill these gaps, the acquisition, by purchase or donation, of objects which composed job scenario at coffee and cups farms and packages of main brands of national and international coffee was later resorted.

Other highlight is collection integrated to building, featured by elements of its architecture, like forefront and tower sculptures, or interior elements, like furniture from Auction Room, Benedicto Calixto paintings and stained glass, clocks, among others.

Patrimonial Base

In 2011, two years after Museu do Café becoming-statal process and Associação dos Amigos do Museu do Café (old name of INCI) qualification process as social organization of culture, the research department performed a study for definition of patrimonial clippings (generator bases) which may contribute for research, rating and organization of collection. The result was the division of content into five bases:

  • Production (Coffee farm installation, coffee handling, harvest, coffee processing, etc.)
  • Rating (Commercial Rating)
  • Commercialization (market)
  • Consumption (Products Design)
  • Artistic/Architectonic Patrimony (Paintings, stained glass windows, furniture, sculptures, clocks, etc.)