Dak Lak
Great Cherry Robusta
Introducing Great Cherry Robusta: A Partnership Rooted in Quality and Innovation
We are excited to introduce our new green coffee supplier from Vietnam, Great Cherry Robusta, a Fine Robusta Producer based in Cư M’gar, Đắk Lắk Province. This young and innovative team has impressed us with their commitment to reviving an old robusta coffee variety through modern processing methods, creating Canephora specialty coffee of exceptional quality.
Our cumpa Paul and Tony, from the Great Cherry team, first met in Saigon, Vietnam, in 2023 after a long and friendly exchange via email with Will Nguyen, the head of the operation. Over the past year, our relationship has strengthened since our visions about Fine Robusta aligned and we have been impressed by the quality of their coffee samples. Overall, they convinced us about their potential to become another strong partner in Vietnam.
The Great Cherry Robusta Story
Great Cherry Robusta was founded by a dedicated team that is based in Vietnam with Will, one of the founders, currently living in Sydney, Australia, where he lives with his family. They recognized that robusta coffee was often undervalued due to commercial harvesting practices that did not prioritize quality, often stripping both green and ripe pods and drying cherries without much care.
At Great Cherry Robusta, the team believes in the potential of robusta to be a delightful coffee experience when proper harvesting and processing methods are employed. Their mission is to showcase the best robusta Vietnam has to offer, focusing on creating value and improving conditions of their community through their high-quality products.
Commitment to Quality and Sustainability
The Great Cherry team is very particular about their farm practices and coffee processes. They are dedicated to bringing premium robusta coffee from Vietnam to the global market. Their meticulous approach is evident in their work with the so called Sẻ variety, which was introduced to Vietnam long ago, likely by French colonists. Robusta Sẻ beans are small and dense, making up about 85% of their harvest, and offer a deep flavour of tropical fruit with rich body, and lingering sweet aftertaste.
To enhance production, farmers have adopted other varietals such as TR4, TR9, and TR11, which can produce 5-7 tons per hectare with larger seeds. These newer varietals offer different flavour qualities and suppose to help improve yields for farmers, ensuring a sustainable and productive coffee harvest. However, being experts on their farms, the team at Great Cherry rises to the challenge and delivers a great product and is confident about their plants.
The Unique Terroir of Cư M’gar
Great Cherry Robusta’s farms are located in Cư M’gar, a district in Đắk Lắk known for its ideal coffee-growing conditions. The region’s volcanic basalt soil is rich in minerals, and the significant temperature variation between day and night in the highlands of Vietnam enhances the development of the coffee’s flavour profile.
Vietnam’s coffee industry has evolved significantly, shifting from producing large quantities of lower-quality coffee to crafting exceptional products for the specialty market. Great Cherry Robusta embodies this transformation, proving that with care and dedication, Vietnam can produce some of the world’s finest robusta coffee.
A Call to Canephora Enthusiasts
If you appreciate high quality Canephora coffee and are open-minded about exploring new flavours, we encourage you to try Great Cherry Robusta’s offerings. Visit Vietnam with us and engage with the suppliers in person. You’ll discover the outstanding quality and potential that lies in Vietnamese Robusta coffee production.
At Great Cherry Robusta, the passion for coffee is tangible, and we are proud to partner with them. Together, we are committed to bringing you the best of Vietnamese Robusta coffee, crafted with care and innovation.
