The second drop of our “Limited Release” coffees was created with an adventurous proposition: to challenge the stigma that robusta coffees are limited to intense and bitter flavour profiles. Tamba Mountain Fine Robusta is every bit as fine as its name implies, and living proof that robusta beans can be just as prized in the specialty coffee world.
It features specialty-grade robusta coffee from Vietnam, particularly the lot sourced from Tamba Farm, situated amidst mountainous terrain in the Gia Lai province.
Producer Luu Vinh Quang and his family are in charge of the entire production, with skilled workers managing everything in the meticulous process, from the growing to harvesting to processing of beans, even ensuring that they're roasted on-site as well.
Make no mistake though, this is a complex and arduous process of coffee growing and production, where those precious plants receive six months of sunshine and proper water circulation by self-digging water reservoirs. Furthermore, only 100% red cherries are handpicked during harvesting, which are then dried for about 30 days on raised beds, completing their fermentation journey.
Each strife for excellence makes for outstanding coffee quality all round, especially when it comes to their specialty-grade robusta, known for its delightful notes of apricots, raisins and dark cacao.
Being in the family business for over 30 years, there's also great care in making sure that their practices are both sustainable and ethical — for one, the farm collaborates closely with the Dong Bao Jarai ethnic community, offering long-term employment and guiding them to self-cultivation along the way.
They're also big on organic farming, where plants are grown without chemical pesticides and herbicides, while processing water is redirected back to irrigation channels, or coffee pod skins are reused as plant fertiliser; all these green practices qualify them for the prestigious Rainforest Alliance certification.
As for Tamba Farm's fine robusta, we like how the coffee itself offers a low bitterness and high sweetness — contrary to the typically strong, bitter flavour of commercially-grown robusta.
This specialty-grade version is one of a kind, and truly curated every step of the way so you get to enjoy a sweet and full-bodied cup, with comforting notes of chocolate malt.