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Vietnamese Coffee Caffeine Content

Vietnamese coffee is famous for being one of the strongest and harshest types of coffee in the world. It is because of high caffeine content in it and some other features that we will talk about in this article. What main types of coffee produced in Vietnam, what exactly makes it so strong, and what is Vietnamese coffee caffeine content? Read on to get answers!

Main coffee varieties produced in Vietnam

Vietnam produces both Robusta and Arabica coffee, with Robusta making up the larger part of production. USDA’s 2025 Vietnam coffee report describes this production pattern and the importance of the Central Highlands. For the coffee you buy, identify the species or blend, processing, roast and ingredients.

Growing conditions differ by location and variety. The World Coffee Research variety catalogue includes Arabica varieties with different adaptation, including varieties suited to lower elevations. For sourcing, ask for the origin and variety information of the coffee offered.

Our Arabica and Robusta comparison gives background on the species. For the purchase itself, identify the exact product and compare samples using the same recipe and finished cup size.

Why Vietnamese coffee is so strong?

Robusta helps explain the caffeine reputation of many Vietnamese coffees: ICO’s Coffee Development Report 2020 describes it as containing more caffeine than Arabica. The coffee dose and the amount of water used in a recipe also affect how concentrated a drink tastes. Compare the actual product, recipe and finished serving when deciding what “strong” means for your menu.

The FDA’s caffeine overview notes that amounts vary by product and serving size. Ask for information about the specific coffee and the serving you intend to prepare.

For a brewing trial, follow the product or equipment instructions and record dose, grind, water, preparation time and finished volume. Keep the recipe and any available caffeine specification together, including the method and serving size behind a measured result.
Coffee grind. During an extraction process (that takes place while coffee is brewing) soluble substances are mixed with water. Thus, the finer the coffee grind, the larger the area of contact with water and the faster the extraction. Brewing coarse coffee takes more time to get a strong drink. For different methods of making coffee, there is a general rule applies: the longer the coffee is brewed, the coarser the grind should be. An exception is brewing coffee in a cezve, where the fine grind provides a nice thick consistency.

What is Vietnamese coffee caffeine content?

As it was already mentioned before, Robusta is mostly used to produce coffee in Vietnam. It has high caffeine content (1.5 - 3.2%) and a low content of essential oils (about 8%). Such features create this strength and astringency taste of Robusta.
Arabica caffeine content equals 1 - 1.5%, that’s why it has more delicate taste.

1 cup of coffee (around 250 ml) made from Robusta beans has 265 mg of caffeine. While Arabica has nearly 120-140 mg, which twice as less than Robusta.


Mr. Viet offers Vietnamese coffee made from both Arabica and Robusta beans. We provide freshly roasted coffee prepared in accordance with the traditions of Vietnam. Our coffee beans are carefully selected and expertly roasted in Dalat region. Follow us to learn more about Vietnamese coffee and taste the best one from Mr. Viet!

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