Mr. Toi’ Changed Cumpa Forever

When we founded cumpa in 2018, our hearts and focus were only in Moyobamba, Peru, working closely with Aproeco and their beautiful Arabica coffees. It was the foundation of our young company—solid, transparent, and origin-centered. We were interested in Fine Robusta, but in Peru, none of that was to be found.

Then came a twist of fate. We were looking to expand into new origins—an ambition driven by both curiosity and the need to diversify our risks. During a vacation to Vietnam in 2020, Daniel met local coffee producers—though not yet Mr. Toi. Still, the decision to include Vietnamese coffee, and especially Vietnamese Fine Robusta, in our portfolio marked the beginning of a journey that would change everything for us.

We didn’t know it yet, but we had just met someone who would reshape the DNA of our company.

From the beginning, Mr. Toi approached Robusta with a kind of reverence we had rarely seen. In a country where Canephora is often treated as a commodity, he saw potential. He loved it. And it showed.

The first time we opened his coffee bags—double-sealed in GrainPro and Ecotac—it felt like opening a treasure chest. The aromas, the sorting, the precision. Everything was immaculate. His coffees stood shoulder to shoulder with the best Arabicas we’ve ever worked with, and that’s saying something.

From selective picking to controlled fermentation and smooth drying, Mr. Toi doesn’t cut corners. His attention to detail makes him a pioneer in Fine Robusta, not just in Vietnam, but globally. Quakers? Rarely seen. Defects? Almost none.

And yet—we’re still talking about Vietnamese Robusta. A name once synonymous with bulk, bitter brews. Thanks to Mr. Toi’s work, Vietnamese Robusta has entered Germany’s best specialty coffee roasteries, often in 100% Canephora roasts. His lots are near-mythical in their quality—as close to perfection as green coffee gets.

He didn’t just change the perception of Vietnamese coffee. He helped redefine what’s possible for the entire Canephora species.

What started as a partnership with one pioneering farmer – Mr. Toi – has since grown into a movement. In 2023, we launched Canephorum—a global event series dedicated to exploring and celebrating Fine Robusta. And by 2025, we are proudly working with Canephora producers not only in Vietnam, but also in Peru, Panama, and Brazil. What once felt like a side path has become one of our company’s strongest convictions.

Right now, we are not seeking for new Arabica relationships. We only want new Non-Arabica relationships. We want to show, that every Coffea species can be specialty. For us, Canephora is instrumental to accomplish this mission.

In a system built around volume over value, Mr. Toi has chosen a different path. Today, he manages hectares of organic-certified Canephora, grown in agroforestry systems. For Vietnam, this is revolutionary. Until recently, such farming was unthinkable.

His human approach to sustainability and strategic foresight make his farm a living blueprint for what a Future Coffee Farm can and should be.

At cumpa, we look back and recognize: we were lucky. Lucky to become Mr. Toi’s partners. Lucky to learn from his consistency, humility, and drive.

His coffees were the starting point of our Canephora conviction. Today, we don’t just import Fine Robusta—it has become our main goal to champion Canephora.

We’re grateful to Marian (Zanya) and Paul for connecting us with Mr. Toi, and our growing circle of Robusta partners—Tamba, Great Cherry Robusta, and others for sharing the vision.

You changed cumpa forever.
You changed how we see Canephora.
You changed how the world sees Vietnamese coffee.

Cảm ơn ya, Mr. Toi—may our partnership continue to change the world for good.