I’ve been researching and working in the growing specialty coffee industry in Vietnam since 2012.

My mission is to change the way the world sees Vietnamese coffee.

I work with growers, green coffee processors, roasters, cafe owners, and baristas in Dalat and Saigon as a teacher, consultant, and enthusiast.

I always want to talk about specialty coffee in Vietnam.

Specialty Coffee in Vietnam

In January 2013 I returned to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam after six years’ absence, and what I found when I returned was a completely different country. I had come back on a mission to find high quality arabica in the mountains of Dalat, but I ended up finding so much more.

I worked the bar, roasted coffee, trained baristas, trained roasters, judged competitions, and helped people open cafes. I supported anyone I could find who was dedicated to raising the bar for coffee in the country. I quickly became part of a small and young community of producers, processors, green coffee buyers, roasters, nerds, and cafe entrepreneurs who are trying to make Vietnamese coffee something legit and worthy of attention. 

Why Vietnam?

Well, my mom is Vietnamese and that’s what brought me there in the first place, but what keeps me engaged in the country are the people that I meet and work with, and its potential for producing great coffee – and a fascinating cafe culture that is growing quickly.

In August 2015 I moved to Portland, Oregon to take a dream job with Modbar. I remained a champion of Vietnamese coffee, and made periodic trips to check in and contribute to the community.

In December 2018 I returned to Saigon with my partner Kel, this time to start our own business.