As the world's second-largest coffee exporter, Vietnam is renowned for its high-quality coffee beans and mature production processes. In September 2024, our company's R&D department visited Vietnam to conduct an in-depth investigation of local coffee plantations and coffee production facilities. The purpose of this investigation was to understand the current state of Vietnam's coffee industry, explore potential cooperation opportunities, and lay the groundwork for our company's future coffee procurement and production.

Visiting Coffee Bean Plantations: The Starting Point from Seed to Cup

The first stop of the inspection was a coffee plantation in the central highlands of Vietnam. This region boasts a suitable climate and fertile soil, making it a primary production area for Vietnam's Robusta and Arabica coffee beans. The plantation manager provided a detailed overview of the coffee bean cultivation, harvesting, and initial processing procedures.

Vietnam's unique geographical conditions provide an ideal environment for coffee cultivation, particularly in provinces like Dak Lak and Lam Dong, where significant day-night temperature differences and ample rainfall result in coffee beans with rich flavours and moderate acidity. Robusta beans, known for their high caffeine content and robust taste, are the main variety exported from Vietnam.

 Many plantations have adopted organic farming and shade-grown cultivation techniques to reduce pesticide use while protecting the ecological environment. Some farms have also introduced fair trade certification to ensure fair income for coffee farmers and enhance the sustainability of the supply chain.

Visiting coffee production factories: modern processing and quality control

Research and development representatives visited several large-scale coffee processing factories in the area, observing the entire production line from green bean processing to roasting and packaging.

The factories utilise modern hulling, grading, and roasting equipment to ensure consistent coffee bean quality. Some companies have also introduced European-imported roasting machines that can adjust roasting curves according to different market demands, producing coffee products with distinct flavours. Every step from green bean selection to finished product shipment undergoes strict quality control.

During this trip to Vietnam, our R&D representatives gained a deep understanding of the operational model of Vietnam's coffee industry chain, providing valuable experience and identifying several high-quality potential partners for the company's future coffee product research, development, and production. We believe that this visit will enable H&S to deliver high-quality coffee products to its users.