Cafés and specialty coffee in João Pessoa

Article 146 of 100 · October 07, 2026 · 1 min read · Destino João Pessoa

The capital brings together specialty-coffee cafés, but hours vary and it is worth checking before going.

Specialty coffee in João Pessoa is a growing niche and already appears frequently in the local press. In a report from August 9, 2026, the Paraíba Business portal gathered five cafés and confectioneries for a Sunday outing: São Braz Coffee Shop and Havanna, both at Manaíra Shopping; Café São Braz Experience, focused on specialty coffees produced in Paraíba and other regions of the country; Empório Café, which combines a café, bakery and bistro; and Sodiê Doces.

The article makes a caveat that applies to this whole guide: Sunday hours vary among the establishments, and readers should check the official profiles before going. For this reason, this text does not give hours or prices. Nor is there, in the sources consulted, a ranking or award that would allow pointing to the city's best café, and that kind of title will not be used here.

There is an agricultural backdrop for those who want to understand what's in the cup. The Paraíba Brejo, a highland region where coffee was grown starting at the end of the 19th century, has been reviving the activity. In September 2024, UFPB launched the Grãos da Parahyba brand, developed by the Núcleo de Estudos em Cafeicultura on the university's farms in the Brejo, with arabica varieties such as Catuaí and Catucaí, natural drying and artisanal roasting. Nothing indicates, however, that this coffee is sold at the cafés mentioned.

In practice, anyone seeking specialty coffee should ask at the time of purchase about the bean's origin and the brewing method, and check whether the venue is open on the desired day and time. Malls have their own hours, which change on holidays.