Vietnam coffee

500–1500 m · picked November to March · About 95% robusta, with arabica around Da Lat

The world's second-largest producer and by far the biggest robusta grower, almost all of it planted in the Central Highlands since the 1980s. Cà phê sữa đá, strong robusta dripped through a phin filter over condensed milk, is the national drink.

Grown in: Dak Lak (Buon Ma Thuot), Lam Dong (Da Lat), Gia Lai, Son La
Varieties: Native robusta; Catimor arabica
Processing: Natural for robusta; washed arabica

In the cup: Strong, dark chocolate, bitter-sweet, heavy. Da Lat arabica is mild and clean.

Next to Indian coffee: The phin and the South Indian filter are cousins: slow drip, strong coffee, sweet milk. Vietnamese robusta is the one to compare with a South Indian filter blend.