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Vietnam coffee bush (Photo: Hugh Derr flickr )
What country in the world produces the second largest amount of coffee beans? You might think the number one and two spots would be countries in South America, but you would be wrong.The world’s number one coffee producer is Brazil and number two is…Vietnam.That’s right.The former French colony has been producing coffee since the late 1850s.Vietnam’s highland climate is ideal for producing the delicious and profitable bean. And over the past hundred or so years, Vietnam has created its own coffee-producing and drinking culture.
The two stars of the coffee bean world are the more-expensive Arabica bean and the humble Robusta bean.Vietnam produces mostly Robusta beans: high in caffeine, bitter tasting and ideal for use in instant coffee and espresso. Ninety-seven percent of all Vietnam beans are Robusta. According to the Vietnam Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in 2014 the country produced 1.5 million tons of coffee worth an estimated $3 billion. Data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows that while the coffee yield in 2015 will be slightly below record levels in 2013-2014, output for the next two years should be pretty good. And to keep things rolling along in a positive direction, Reuters reported on May 13, 2015, that the Vietnam Agribank will provide soft loans to coffee growers until 2020 to replace old trees and boost output.
Vietnamese food and phin filter coffee (Photo: Christina Andrada flickr )
As for coffee drinking, Vietnamese coffee is made using a metallic filter device called a phin. (No paper filters are involved.) Traditionally, condensed milk is added to the coffee cup, then coffee and hot water are added to the filter. The coffee drips through, and the coffee can be stirred and drunk once the filter is removed, or the coffee and milk mixture can be poured over ice for delicious iced coffee. Either way, the coffee is an excellent compliment to Vietnamese foods and snacks. To slow down, relax and enjoy a good cup of coffee is important for those experiencing stressful modern life, and the Vietnamese way to do that is one of the best.
About coffee/Trung-Nguyen Co. (Vietnam)
http://www.trung-nguyen-online.com/about-vietnamese-coffee.php
US Deptment of Agriculture/ Coffee World Markets and Trade 2015-2016 Forecast
https://apps.fas.usda.gov/psdonline/circulars/coffee.pdf