Nguyen Coffee Supply, a U.S.-based Vietnamese coffee roaster specialising in robusta, recently launched its Ready-To-Drink Coffee based on 100% robusta coffee beans from Vietnam. The first of its kind in the U.S., the no-sugar robusta cold brew will be available on Whole Foods shelves.
After studying the RTD coffee market in the U.S. for years, I could only find ‘100% Arabica’ or nondescript blends. We’re excited to show the world the potential of Vietnam’s beloved robusta.
Sahra Nguyen, Founder, Nguyen Coffee Supply
Vietnam is the second-largest coffee producer in the world and the top producer of the robusta variety. Despite this, the country hasn’t had a big presence in the speciality coffee market, which Nguyen Coffee Supply hopes to change.
Since its inception in 2018, Nguyen Coffee Supply has advocated for robusta bean. “In addition to being a relatively unknown but delicious brew, robusta’s farming practises are more sustainable and utilise fewer pesticides. Its beans, higher in caffeine content, are lower in fats and sugars.
The company started with the Ready-To-Drink cold brew made of 100% robusta beans. It buys coffee directly from farmers in Vietnam and roasts it in New York. Ngyuen Coffee Supply plans to launch several RTD beverages, the first one being a Classic Black Cold Brew made with 100% natural ingredients, no sugar added, dairy-free/vegan, gluten-free and shelf stable.
Robusta has long been discriminated against on the basis of its generally agreed-upon lower quality. Many quality-oriented buyers automatically consider robusta beans as inferior, focusing only on the more beloved Arabica beans. Nguyen Coffee Supply wants to “set out to change the narrative, educate consumers and expand the coffee conversation to be inclusive of robusta.”
Nguyen Coffee Supply ships across the U.S. but also internationally to Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Singapore and the United Kingdom. The coffee is freshly roasted in a variety of brew styles, “including the traditional ca phe sua da (Vietnamese coffee with sweetened condensed milk and ice) as well as Chemex, French press, drip, espresso and cold brew.
In an industry that is a leading advocate of inclusivity, diversity and sustainability, it seems almost hypocritical that robusta beans and farmers have been excluded from the premium markets. However, the pattern has been changing lately, as some robusta farmers have been producing robustas that are more pleasant to the palate. Following this trend, companies like Nguyen Coffee Supply can showcase their efforts and coffees to the world.
