Summary
Origin: Future Farm (Bao Loc, Lam Dong, Vietnam, 900 MASL)
Processing: Natural Carbonic Maceration
Recommended for drip coffee, cold brew
Reminded us of dark fruits, dark chocolate
Detail
Future Farm Coffee, based in Bao Loc, Lam Dong Province, is one of the premier coffee producers in Vietnam dedicated to improving the quality and value of their Robusta beans.
We first encountered their Fine Robusta Winey Natural beans through one of our coffee trading contacts at Karmic Circle. We were pleasantly surprised by the “bourbon, winey” flavor when we roasted the beans to a medium/dark and made into a refreshing cold brew.
In 2022, we had a great opportunity to share a vendor booth with Future Farm’s Mr. Toi at the Specialty Coffee Expo in Portland, Oregon. This connection has resulted in our current batch of green beans that we use for our offerings.
The Beans
Robusta is the most yielded coffee variety in Vietnam, but it’s commonly criticized for its rubbery flavor and bitterness that may be a result of its high caffeine content. Due to such reputation, coffee enthusiasts have largely slept on Robusta’s potential, leading to it being sold in the “low end of the market” [2].
However, this is not your average Robusta. Future Farm’s Robusta beans are carefully cultivated, sorted and processed with as much care as specialty Arabicas. This higher level of quality earns it the designation of “Fine” Robusta.
These beans were processed through a method called
Carbonic Maceration Fermentation (CMF), which is adopted from winemaking to develop grapes. After sorting and washing, the beans undergo fermentation inside a sealed container, where carbon dioxide (CO2) are being pumped in and oxygen (O2) are subsequently removed. This creates an anaerobic environment that allows the beans to develop their unique flavors. After fermentation, the beans are left to dry on raised beds for about 10 days depending on the volume and weather condition.
The Roast & Flavor
We have tried about five different roast profiles for the Fine Robusta and found that this bean is quite “versatile”. This means that any of these roasts could fit your choice of brewing and taste.
While the beans could be roasted as dark as a French roast, the choice to going lighter is completely our personal preference. Since these are high quality beans with a unique processing, we don’t want to roast too dark where the beans could lose some of its characteristics.
Currently, we offer two different roast levels: medium and medium-dark.
Cà Phê Ru 