Vietnamese Coffee Very Much A Growth Industry

No blog on coffee would be complete without an examination of the world's second largest coffee producer: the nation of Vietnam. According to Wikipedia, coffee is Vietnam's second most important agricultural export, after rice. Coffee production has been a major income producer for Vietnam since the early 20th century, accounting for approximately 14 per cent of the world's total output. Vietnam's market share would probably be even greater were it not for the fact that the vast majority of the coffee produced in this country consists of Robusta beans, which are considered inferior to the other major type of bean (Arabica) due to the fact that Robusta beans produce a more bitter-tasting coffee.

Coffee production was first introduced to Vietnam by the French in 1857. By the beginning of the 20th century, Vietnam was a major exporter of coffee in Asia as small-scale production shifted to mass produced coffee beans through the development of plantations. By the time of the Vietnam war, coffee production had declined considerably, particularly in the Buon Ma Thuot region, which is located between North and South Vietnam. After the North Vietnamese victory, the coffee industry, like most of the nation's agricultural production, was collectivized into state-owned enterprises, which limited private enterprise and resulted in low production.

Following reforms in 1986, private enterprise was once again permitted. During this time, many new companies involved in coffee production were established. By the late 1990s, Vietnam had become the world's number two coffee producer. By the year 2000, coffee production had grown to 900,000 tonnes per year, though by 2003 this had dropped to around 600,00 tonnes per year because of price decreases. By 2009, exports had rebounded to 1.17 million tonnes, with a total value of around $1.7 billion U.S. And though Robusta beans continue to make up the majority of coffee beans exported, recent government initiatives have focused on the increased planting of  Arabica beans as well as specialty coffee such as the highly-prized kopi luwak variety. 

In the United States, Vietnamese coffee is sometimes confused with the type of coffee drunk in Louisiana by Vietnamese immigrants, who are often unable to obtain Vietnamese coffee. The French roast style of coffee produced in Louisiana is similar to that of Vietnam in that both have a relatively coarse grind, which makes it ideal for the single-serving brewing method traditional in Vietnamese society. Unlike the coffee in Louisiana, however, Vietnamese-produced coffee has a medium roast and doesn't contain chicory.