Chapter 1: Coffee 101
Coffee thrives in nutrient rich volcanic soil found in many areas around the world. It requires plentiful rainfall and mild climates which appear in regions throughout Vi?t Nam. Each variety of coffee has its own ideal growing conditions and the process from bean to cup is intricate. The cultivation, processing, and roasting techniques are fundamental to create a balanced drink that is as unique as the region it comes from. Understanding this framework leads to a greater appreciation of both coffee and Vi?t Nam.

Chapter 2: History of Coffee
Tea has long been considered one of the most traditional drinks of Vi?t Nam and has played a foundational role in Vietnamese society for thousands of years. However, ever since French missionaries brought the first seedlings to the country over 160 years ago, coffee has come to have a more significant impact on the country’s culture and livelihood.

Chapter 3: Historic Cafes
In a country where a good cup of coffee is rarely more than a few steps away, Vi?t Nam has made coffee drinking an experience brimming with culture, history, and heritage. Savoured, rather than rushed, coffee drinking creates an opportunity to pause, escape the heat, or shelter from the rain. Cafe culture has also become a staple around the country. Today, both H? Chi Minh City and Ha N?i are over￢ flowing with modern cafes and hole￢-in￢-the￢-wall shops, but there are a few remaining that date back to a time when Vietnam’s coffee origins.

Chapter 4: Local Stories
The production of coffee is a craft. In Vi?t Nam, much of this craft has long focused on quantity over quality. However, there is a growing number of those within the country’s industry that have adapted their focus to more sustainable practices. Those included in this group are farmers specialising in high quality Robusta, traders focused on the relationship between smaller producers and their buyers, and others who share knowledge of modern and traditional methods with their communities.

Chapter 5: Movers and Shakers
As Vietnam’s coffee continues to improve, a group of coffee-preneurs have emerged with a shared vision to enrich the country’s coffee culture. They are working along all links of the farm-to-cup value chain to raise the calibre of Vietnamese coffee and open up new markets both domestically and abroad. Those included within the group have opened Vietnam’s first specialty cafes and work directly with farmers to improve their cultivation and processing methods, thus improving the quality of their coffee.