In December 2024, Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) took a select group of Brazilian Robusta coffee suppliers on a journey across the globe to Vietnam, the world’s largest Robusta producer. The purpose? To strengthen business relationships through shared experiences and offer our Brazilian partners unique, firsthand insight into a different coffee-growing context.
Representing approximately 24% of Brazil’s Robusta production, the participating farmers hailed from the states of Bahia and Espírito Santo, and were invited to experience firsthand how coffee is grown, processed and enjoyed in Southeast Asia.
Over the course of a week, the group visited LDC’s local warehouses, toured our joint venture iLD Coffee Vietnam instant coffee plant and explored the country’s coffee-growing regions to observe Vietnamese Robusta production up close, accompanied by LDC’s Rafael Barbosa (Senior Coffee Trader), Potyguara Siqueira (Origination Manager) and Rayyan Mahmood (Trader Trainee).
The farmers gained a unique perspective into how a familiar crop takes on new dimensions in a different part of the world, coming away with a sense of shared purpose through a fascinating comparison of two countries deeply rooted in coffee, each with its own approach to growing, processing and consuming Robusta.
While both Brazil and Vietnam cultivate the Coffea canephora species – known globally as Robusta and in Brazil as ‘Conilon’ – their respective methods reflect the distinct social, economic and environmental landscapes of each country.
Vietnam produces roughly 27 million bags of Robusta annually – about 40% of total global production. Much of this comes from small, family-run farms where producers are increasingly embracing sustainable practices and technological innovation for resilience to climate challenges. Despite the smaller average farm size, the country’s robust infrastructure and tight-knit farming communities support high production volumes and growing global relevance.
In contrast, Brazil’s Robusta (or Conilon) cultivation is concentrated primarily in the state of Espírito Santo, where medium- to large-scale farms leverage advanced irrigation and mechanized harvesting systems for crop consistency, quality and resilience in the face of changing climate conditions.
And the differences go beyond agronomy. Coffee holds a significant place in both societies, though expressed in different ways.
In Vietnam, quán cà phê (local cafés) are part of daily life as a gathering place, workspace and cultural ritual, where coffee is often consumed iced with condensed milk (cà phê sữa đá) or whipped with egg (cà phê trứng), brewed slowly through a metal filter known as a phin. The resulting drink is intense, sweet and characteristically Vietnamese.
Brazilian coffee culture is equally rich. The cafezinho – a small cup of hot filtered coffee – is a fixture in homes, workplaces and many public places – even gas stations! The flavor profile of Brazil’s Conilon – milder and smoother than its Vietnamese counterpart -carries familiar notes of chocolate and nuts, perfect for long breakfasts or mid-afternoon breaks. Brazilian Robusta is often blended with Arabica or used in soluble coffee products, thanks to its intensity and body.
For LDC, the trip reflects our commitment to work hand-in-hand with producers and partners in fostering shared understanding and growth. This spirit of collaboration underpins our business model – from commercial relationships to sustainable practices, as a lever for elevated quality and value creation at every stage of the coffee chain.
The journey was also a reminder that while coffee is often a very local tradition, the dedication to produce it for consumers is a truly global story. From the highlands of Vietnam to the farms of Brazil, there are different chapters to the tale of Robusta in every region – but they all have something in common: passionate people.
By sharing knowledge and experiences – across borders and across the value chain, we can continue to cultivate not just better coffee, but a more connected and resilient global coffee community.
