Quảng Trị
96B Coffee Company
96B Coffee Company: Liberica back in spotlight
We are proud to announce our partnership with 96B Coffee Company, a pioneering force in Vietnam’s specialty coffee scene. Founded in 2016 by Hana C., an SCAE-certified roaster, brewer, and barista, 96B began as a humble experiment which later grew into a renowned café and roastery. In 2020, Thai Dang joined the team, bringing a strong focus on efficiency and leading a complete rebranding to 96B Café & Roastery. Since then, 96B has continued to evolve, expanding beyond roasting and retail to become a coffee exporter, recognized for its innovation, education, and commitment to rare coffee varieties — especially Liberica.
A Shared History in Coffee
Our connection to 96B dates back to 2019, when our cumpa member, Paul, first met 96B’s coffee roaster, Nghia, at a co-roasting space in Saigon. Paul was roasting for his own Saigon-based brand at the time, while Nghia worked for the shared roasting facility. They bonded over the shared passion of coffee.
In January 2025, Paul met Nghia and Hana for a Liberica cupping session at their roastery in Saigon. Together, they explored a range of processing techniques for this often-overlooked coffee species, solidifying our decision to import 96B’s Liberica Microlots — a first for cumpa.
Pioneers in Liberica & Coffee Innovation
96B has been working with Liberica since 2016, dedicating years to sourcing, processing, and experimenting with this rare coffee species. After scouting multiple regions in Vietnam, they chose to focus on the Huong Phung commune in Quảng Trị province, a remote but promising location despite its lower elevation (600 masl).
This region offers unique advantages for high-quality Liberica production:
A rich diversity of old Liberica cultivars, originally introduced by the French in the early 20th century. An ideal microclimate, with temperatures ranging from 24-26°C and relatively high humidity. Situated in a unique agroforestry model, where Liberica trees grow alongside Arabica plantations to shield them from wind.
Historically, Liberica cherries from this region were either sold at extremely low prices under the name “pseudo Arabica” or transported elsewhere to be labeled as “Culi” (a special Robusta). 96B aims to transform this region into a recognized high-quality Liberica-growing hub, improving both economic opportunities for farmers and recognition for Vietnamese Liberica on the global stage.
96B’s Liberica Project: Pushing the Boundaries
In 2023, 96B launched the Liberica Project Group, working directly with five farming families to elevate the quality and value of their Liberica production. The 2024 crop year marks a major step forward, as 96B has experimented with diverse processing techniques, including Natural, Washed, Honey, Lactic fermentation, and Champagne yeast inoculation. They also began identifying different Liberica cultivars based on their phenotypes and developed plans for a dedicated nursery, with the goal of cultivating specific Liberica varieties suited to different processing methods.
Why This Partnership Matters
At cumpa, we share 96B’s commitment to coffee excellence, experimentation, and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in specialty coffee. By working with like-minded and innovative producers, we are bringing something truly special to our community in Europe, introducing Vietnamese Liberica with distinctive processing techniques and a clear sense of terroir.
