Vietnamese specialty coffee brings great economic value because of its large consumption demand while extremely low output. Moreover, Vietnamese specialty coffee is also a new experience for coffee lovers.
Contents
- 1 Overview of Vietnamese specialty coffee
- 2 Famous types of Vietnamese specialty coffee
- 3 Requirements in the supply chain of Vietnamese specialty coffee
- 3.1 The stage of growing Vietnamese specialty coffee
- 3.2 The stage of harvesting Vietnamese specialty coffee
- 3.3 The stage of processing Vietnamese specialty coffee
- 3.4 The stage of roasting Vietnamese specialty coffee
- 3.5 The stage of preserving Vietnamese specialty coffee
- 3.6 The stage of dispensing Vietnamese specialty coffee
- 4 The potential of Vietnamese specialty coffee
- 5 How Vietnam promotes Vietnamese specialty coffee
- 6 How to buy Vietnamese specialty coffee
- 7 Top Vietnamese specialty coffee suppliers
Overview of Vietnamese specialty coffee
Vietnam’s specialty coffee is a high-quality coffee type with great economic profitability, which is particularly interested by the state in general and many coffee businesses in particular who are planning to develop this potential product in the future.
General information of specialty coffee
The concept of specialty coffee was first mentioned by Erna Knutsen – the founder of Knutsen Coffee Ltd – in her speech at an international coffee conference held in Montreuil, France in 1978 to refer to different types of coffee which are created in particular climates, having a single origin, unique flavor characteristics, is freshly roasted and properly brewed or linked to a compelling story.
Women first mentioned the concept of specialty coffee
The World Specialty Coffee Association’s assessment process includes many steps from visual evaluation to taste tests by Coffee Quality Institute Q-Graders certified experts. Coffees that score at least 80 points or more (on a scale of 1-100) are considered specialty coffees. This scale was built by SCA based on detailed and strict requirements on 10 criteria of aroma, taste, aftertaste, acidity, strength, balance, uniformity, cleanliness, and richness.
Specialty Coffee Association & Coffee Quality Institute
Definition of Vietnamese specialty coffee
Vietnamese specialty coffee is a concept that was first mentioned in 2019. It is coffee farmed, processed, and roasted according to SCA standards, with the aim of promoting exports and developing domestic markets for geographically indicated coffees to enhance the reputation and position of Vietnam in the coffee industry.
Vietnamese specialty coffee
Characteristics of Vietnamese specialty coffee
- Meet international standards: Vietnamese specialty coffee has to achieve at least 80/100 points according to the assessment of the World Specialty Coffee Association (SCA), based on 10 criteria of quality and taste.
- Growing process: Vietnamese specialty coffee is cultivated in ideal conditions of altitude, soil quality, and climate. Every stage from seeding, cultivation, harvesting, processing, preservation, packaging, and preparation needs to be ensured to get the best quality.
- Sustainability: Vietnamese specialty coffee has to bring higher added value to farmers and do not affect the ecological environment.
- Shelf life: Specialty coffee tastes best when medium-roasted. This premium product is best used within a month of roasting. Doing so to ensure freshness, ensure the taste of coffee.
- Target audience: Specialty coffee is a product mainly served at Specialty Coffee Shops. Customers are not only looking for high-quality coffee beans, but also for the store’s service style. They are usually people who understand and value coffee culture, wanting a comprehensive and perfect experience for enjoying.
- Price: According to the latest statistics, a kilogram of roasted Specialty coffee beans can range from $35 to $65. In addition, due to limited output and high demand, the price of Specialty Coffee through auctions has been raised to a new level.
Famous types of Vietnamese specialty coffee
Vietnamese specialty coffee now has three outstanding varieties that are loved by many people: Arabica Dalat – Cau Dat, Arabica Lac Duong, Arabica Lam Dong Honey
- Arabica Dalat – Cau Dat specialty coffee beans
Arabica Dalat – Cau Dat is a Vietnamese specialty coffee bean produced entirely of hand-picked and fully cleaned Cartimor, Bourbon, or Typica cherries grown at elevations of 1550 to 1700 meters above sea level. It has a fruity, balanced flavor with decent acidity and chocolate flavor.
Arabica Dalat – Cau Dat specialty coffee beans
- Arabica Lam Dong Honey specialty coffee beans
Vietnamese specialty coffee bean Arabica Lam Dong Honey is grown at elevations between 1550 and 1700 meters above sea level. The coffee is 100% hand-picked, and the honey has been treated to bring out the sweetness of brown sugar while keeping a good balance.
Arabica Lam Dong Honey specialty coffee beans
- Arabica Lac Duong specialty coffee beans
Arabica Lac Duong coffee beans are grown at altitudes of 1450 to 1650 meters. The coffee is 100% hand-picked and fully washed. Arabica Lac Duong beans provide a full-bodied flavor with undertones of chocolate and hazelnut.
Arabica Lac Duong specialty coffee beans
Requirements in the supply chain of Vietnamese specialty coffee
An important foundation of specialty coffee is to ensure that the links in the supply chain can preserve and promote the unique characteristics of coffee. Necessary conditions to produce specialty coffee must reach ≥ 80/100 points on the scale (SCA/CQI); full flavor; little or no primary mistake. Besides, to be able to assess the quality of coffee beans, during the inspection for purchasing, coffee experts will conduct inspection and classification with main criteria such as soil, geographical location, how to fertilize, how to harvest, and post-harvest handling, classification, and tasting.
The stage of growing Vietnamese specialty coffee
Specialty coffee must be grown in areas with ideal natural conditions of altitude and soil quality and suitable climate. Different farming areas will create different specialty coffee flavors. In addition, it is also necessary to choose the right variety, the most popular one today is Arabica.
During the planting process, people need to take care of the tree, not to let the tree get sick and regularly trim the foliage to meet international standards.
Currently, in Vietnam, Arabica coffee trees, in 8 provinces invested to develop Vietnamese specialty coffee, Lam Dong and Quang Tri are the two most appreciated places.
The stage of growing Vietnamese specialty coffee
The stage of harvesting Vietnamese specialty coffee
Harvesting is an important step in the supply chain because when and how it is harvested will greatly affect the quality of coffee. The ripeness of the coffee cherries will determine the entire flavor of the coffee beans later, and no processing process can replace the quality of the coffee in a 100% ripe state. Therefore, all stages of fruit harvesting must be done by hand, to ensure that only fully ripe coffee cherries, bringing the best beans, are harvested.
The stage of harvesting Vietnamese specialty coffee
The stage of processing Vietnamese specialty coffee
From the time of harvest, environmental factors such as humidity, temperature, and storage materials can negatively affect the taste of coffee. Therefore, specialty coffee needs to be quickly processed by fully washed, honey, or natural methods. In the processing process, from peeling, to fermentation, to drying, all must be strictly controlled in terms of time and temperature so as not to degrade the quality of specialty coffee.
The stage of processing Vietnamese specialty coffee
The stage of roasting Vietnamese specialty coffee
This is the transition period from raw green coffee to roasted coffee. Roasters must accurately determine the potential of the beans, developing the right flavor. Inexperienced roasting, unsafe operating equipment, and poor quality finished coffee packaging can devalue any specialty coffee.
The stage of roasting Vietnamese specialty coffee
The stage of preserving Vietnamese specialty coffee
It needs to be stored in a sealed glass jar or bag with a one-way valve, put in a dry place to avoid mold. Vietnamese specialty coffee beans should only be used within 1 month for the aroma and taste of coffee to be fully preserved.
The stage of dispensing Vietnamese specialty coffee
The quality of specialty coffee will be ultimately decided at the brewing stage. Regardless of the technique used, the standards of water quality, temperature, coffee/water ratio need to be ensured to fully exploit the potential flavor in each specialty coffee.
The stage of dispensing Vietnamese specialty coffee
The potential of Vietnamese specialty coffee
Currently, the world is facing a shortage of specialty coffee supplies. Meanwhile, Vietnam owns the large land of Robusta coffee in 5 provinces of the Central Highlands and Arabica coffee in Son La, Dien Bien, and Quang Tri, which has a great potential for farming Vietnamese specialty coffee.
In recent years, Vietnamese specialty coffee has begun to be noticed by the global coffee market, especially by roasters in demanding countries.
Benefits of developing Vietnamese specialty coffee
The market share of specialty coffee is only about 2% of the total world production, but its value is 5-10 times higher than that of regular coffee.
The strategic development of specialty coffee in our country will help exploit new market segments, diversify products, and contribute to improving the quality and value of Vietnamese coffee and geographically indicated coffees.
Benefits of developing Vietnamese specialty coffee
The potential of Vietnamese specialty coffee
The global specialty coffee market was formed about 30 years ago, first in the US, then to European countries and Japan. The trend of consuming specialty coffee is growing strongly. According to a report by SCA, the percentage of adults who drink specialty coffee daily increased from just 9% (1999) to 41% in 2017.
The potential of Vietnamese specialty coffee
- The potential of Vietnamese specialty coffee in the EU market
Vietnam is the second coffee exporter to the EU market, accounting for 16.1% market share in volume (after Brazil 22.2%). The EU is also Vietnam’s largest coffee consumption market, accounting for 40% in volume and 38% in export turnover.
Although completely dependent on imported coffee materials, the EU has a developed coffee roasting industry. In particular, the specialty coffee segment is very attractive to consumers in the EU market. Specialty coffee thrives most in the Northwest region due to the high level of income, awareness and coffee culture in this region.
- The potential of Vietnamese specialty coffee in the US market
Coffee is the most loved beverage in America and plays an important role in the country’s economy.
In addition, information from the US Department of Agriculture also shows that this is the second largest coffee importer in the world (after the EU) with a turnover in 2019 at 26.5 million bags. The share of specialty coffee in the US by cup also grew strongly from 10% (2010) to 59% (2017). This number increased to 61% in 2019.
- The potential of Vietnamese specialty coffee from the domestic market
The living standard of Vietnamese people is improving day by day, so many people are looking for high-quality produce to enjoy. Besides the traditional milk coffee, many people have been interested in specialty coffees in Da Lat and have begun to pay attention to high quality coffee with a special taste of Quang Tri Arabica.
How Vietnam promotes Vietnamese specialty coffee
Vietnamese specialty coffee is a product with high economic profitability, so the government and businesses pay special attention and focus on development.
Vietnamese specialty coffee competitions
The contest “Vietnamese specialty coffee” was born in 2019 and is organized according to the model of prestigious specialty coffee competitions in the world with the goal of honoring specialty coffee producers, introducing Vietnamese specialty coffee products to consumers, domestic and foreign roasters; connecting roasters with specialty coffee producers; developing and expanding Vietnamese specialty coffee market.
State support policies
- The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development issued Decision No. 1329/QD – BNN – TT on April 2, 2021 approving the project on “Development of Vietnamese specialty coffee in the period of 2021 – 2030”. The goal is to develop Vietnamese specialty coffee suitable with the process of international economic integration, meeting the increasing demand for specialty coffee in export and domestic markets, and at the same time increasing the competitiveness of Vietnamese coffee products on the world market.
- In August 2020, the Vietnam – EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) officially took effect. Commitments related to cutting tariffs and other trade barriers in the EVFTA will create opportunities for Vietnam to increase coffee exports to the EU market. In particular, processed coffee and specialty coffee will benefit more than green coffee. Specifically, the EU will cut 93% of tariff to 0% for coffee imported from Vietnam right after the Agreement comes into effect. However, in order to export to the EU market under EVFTA, Vietnamese coffee must meet strict standards of hygiene, animal and plant quarantine, and transparent labeling of food safety and environmental information.
State support policies
How to buy Vietnamese specialty coffee
To buy Vietnamese specialty coffee is not difficult, there are many ways to buy Vietnamese specialty coffee whether it is a small or large quantity.
How to buy Vietnamese specialty coffee
- Search wholesale coffee beans suppliers on the Internet
The Internet is one of the most valuable free resources in today’s developed industrial society. The advancement of Google’s algorithm aids searchers in locating credible suppliers on the first page of search results.
- Search wholesale coffee beans suppliers on the E-commerce platforms
In the “fever” of the e-commerce industry, online shopping is easier than ever thanks to the support of multinational E-commerce platforms such as Amazon, Alibaba. Above, Vietnamese coffee wholesale suppliers always update complete information about products, ways to buy and the price.
- Participate in agricultural fairs
Agricultural trade fairs are typically held by the government or big organizations and corporations in order to connect with other small and medium businesses. As a result, it is a potential opportunity to find reputable Vietnamese coffee wholesale suppliers.
Top Vietnamese specialty coffee suppliers
Among the many Vietnamese specialty coffee suppliers, here are the top 3 reputable Vietnamese specialty coffee suppliers.
PM Coffee Co., Ltd specialty coffee suppliers
PM is one of the pioneers of specialty coffee in the Central Highlands, having won an award at the “Vietnamese specialty coffee” contest. PM Coffee promises to bring the best quality specialty coffee products of the Central Highlands – where buyers can be assured of quality.
PM Coffee Co., Ltd specialty coffee suppliers
Contact information:
Whatsapp: +84 855555837
K-Agriculture Factory specialty coffee suppliers
With a 25-year history of delivering Vietnamese agricultural products to the world, K-Agriculture Factory is one of the leading companies distributing Vietnamese specialty coffee to the international market.
K – Agriculture is also supported by a partner, Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade – Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency – VIETRADE to promote Vietnamese coffee wholesale to international markets such as EU, US, Japan,…
K-Agriculture Factory specialty coffee suppliers
The products are carefully selected and handcrafted to ensure the quality of each coffee bean before being preliminarily processed and released to domestic and international markets.
Contact information:
Email: info@k-agriculture.com
Website: https://k-agriculture.com/
Whatsapp: +84855 555 837 (Ms. Sarah)
EATU Cafe specialty coffee suppliers
EATU Cafe is a system of specialty coffee cooperatives stretching from the North to the South and is one of the reputable specialty coffee suppliers. Excellent EATU Cafe is proud to receive FLO Certificate (FairTrade) – FLO ID: 33762 and Certificate of Geographical Indication Buon Ma Thuot Coffee -BUONMATHUOT COFFEE
EATU Cafe specialty coffee suppliers
Contact information:
Whatsapp: +84 855555837
