Vietnamese coffee is an emotion for a handcrafted brew that has travelled globally with its signature bold notes, nutty undernotes, and affirmative flavour. A cup of Vietnamese coffee can make a person’s evening after an adventurous day at work. Is the growing popularity of this brew a myth, or does the world love this caffeine’s authentic notes? We spill the beans on this and many other interesting facts about Vietnamese coffee and its popularity in this blog. By the end of this write-up, you might be tempted to fill your cup with some coffee, so keep reading. 

Some statistics on trade and health benefits

Vietnam is the second largest coffee exporter in the world, next to Brazil, and this position convincingly justifies its popularity. The leading importers of Vietnamese coffee are Germany, Japan, Algeria, Thailand, Italy, the USA, the Philippines, Spain, and Russia. Amongst the top consumers, Germans import coffee worth 228 million USD and Americans 143 million USD in a 6-month duration, a whopping number. 

Vietnamese coffee consists primarily of robusta beans that grow into alluring coffee shrubs in various climates and altitudes, give higher yields, are less prone to pest infestation, and are a sustainable alternative to the high-demanding arabica beans. Robusta coffee is proven to have health benefits with 60% fewer sugars and fats than arabica coffee, is less or non-acidic, and contains a higher level of an antioxidant called chlorogenic acid, which is beneficial to keep blood pressure and fats under check. Due to the minimal sugar levels, robusta displays tasty undernotes of bitter melon, scotch and nuts like almonds. The phin filter method of brewing gives drip coffee that is bold, extremely strong and boasts of complexity without a complicated brewing method. 

Clearly, this robusta variant, the USP of Vietnamese coffee, is a global favourite, gracing every cup and satiating everybody’s caffeine needs. 

A little historical journey

Though the French introduced coffee to the Vietnamese in the 1800s, Vietnamese accepted this beverage, made it a part of their lives, and used creativity to brew their signature Vietnamese coffee varieties. Vietnam’s first commercial coffee processing plant was built in 1950, and this seamlessly propelled it to be at the number one position on the globe of coffee aficionados.

Vietnamese passion for coffee and some sought-after concoctions

For Vietnamese, coffee is a way of life, and they start their day with a cup of hot steaming coffee and call the day off with a brewing cup of caffeine. In Vietnam, you would find mini-baristas with a “di” or an aunty serving coffee. Friends and neighbours would gather around a table overlooking a busy street and enjoy their cuppa coffee while indulging in some “batam” or gossip and discussing the neighbourhood’s latest gossip, global news and politics. They consider coffee a cemented connection to be in close knits with friends and family.

Over the years, Vietnam used art and creativity to brew signature coffee concoctions, and these have marvelled tourists and locals. Some sought-after coffee concoctions are yogurt coffee, banana-avocado coffee blend, coconut coffee, and egg coffee. These cocktails have taken the world by storm, and people are lured by the unique taste of these concoctions on their taste buds. As creativity has no end and passion has no boundaries, we can expect more Vietnamese coffee cocktails in the future. 

Finally, the gutsy pick-me-up with an international travel record, is here to boost your senses and calm your nerves. A healthier choice, a stronger tongue tantalizer, and the most-voted caffeine contestant, Vietnamese coffee’s popularity is cemented and here to stay. 

A well-liked quote about Cafe Sua Da says:

“When you run out of Vietnamese coffee, If you’ve had it, you know how amazing it is. Just one cup and a traditional Americano just doesn’t taste the same. And if you’ve never had it, you HAVE to try it. You won’t be disappointed!”

Those who have witnessed its grandeur and complexity would definitely agree with this!