This coffee from Vietnam was a wonderful gift and surprise from Mara, one of our dearest friends. She gave it to me after her trip through several parts of Vietnam, which I was deeply envious of.
There was a funny story about this coffee getting lost along the way and only with the help of some of Mara’s friends, did it make its way from Vietnam, to Malaysia and then to Japan.
The flavor was darker and creamier than I’m used to, it was closer to the profile of an espresso or darker roast, although maybe that’s just my bias from mostly drinking only light roasted coffee. It felt smooth and full bodied with very little acidity.
A wonderful part of this gift was the memories it stirred of my time in Vietnam, one of my absolute favorite countries. The people, sights, smells, food and lifestyle, it truly is a magical place filled with the most down to earth people who will welcome you into their homes.
With this coffee I was able to see Fra and Mara and make it for them when they visited. Even with a comparison light coffee, they both enjoyed this more and found the acidity and sourness of the light roast too overpowering. It makes me think of keeping some darker beans on hand to make for friends when they visit.
This coffee helped me get through quite a hectic time, both overwhelmed from school and also trying to adjust and manage difficulties at home. It came just before the spring and almost heralded the warming weather.
With this coffee I enjoyed some of the first buds from the cherry blossoms, going out for drives into the countryside and seeing the coast near Kamakura.