Lao Coffee Varieties and Production
Laos cultivates approximately 100,000 hectares of coffee. Historically, this is dominated by Robusta, however there is now a notable shift to Arabica, which offers higher quality and market value. Laos’ high potential in specialty coffee exports supports rural development and economic diversification.
Main varieties, including Catimor (Arabica) and C. canephora (Robusta), are well established, while specialty beans like Java, Typica, and Yellow Caturra are gaining attention. The rare Liberica variety also grows in Laos.
Laos is unique in its cultivation of high-altitude Robusta beans grown at 800 m in the rich, fertile Bolaven Plateau in southern Laos. Only a handful of places in the world can produce high-altitude Robusta.
Lao Arabica has also been long recognized for its quality, thanks to the country’s soil, high elevation, diverse coffee varieties, and the skill of its farmers in the wet processing method.
Lao Arabica is especially appreciated for its medium body and delicate citrus and floral notes.
In 2022, Laos held its first online coffee auction, attracting over 40 international buyers, including from Australia, Canada, France, Hong Kong, Japan, Sweden, and Thailand. Geisha specialty Arabica from the Bolaven Plateau won the highest bid with $US37.6 per kg, more than twice the opening bid.
Lao coffee production is projected to reach 60,000 tons annually by 2025. Around 10% is consumed locally, 20% processed domestically, and 65% is exported as green beans, roasted, and instant coffee to over 20 countries, meeting rising global demand.
Production
& Harvest
Robusta: 1,000 trees per hectare, yielding 400kg of green beans per hectare. Harvested from December to February
Arabica: 3,000 trees per hectare, yielding 800kg of green beans per hectare. Harvested from October to January
Liberica: Limited production in the Bolaven, (only 2%).
Giant Liberica trees used as living fences at Paksé
Liberica Coffee
Introduced in the 1950s, Liberica is a giant among coffee bushes, reaching up to 18 meters. It is more common as living fences than for commercial cultivation.
Liberica’s distinct flavor profile – smoky, woody, and nutty with hints of dark fruit and floral undertones – is a key selling point.
Laos could potentially produce specialty Liberica in the future.
Currently, only a few specialty coffee farms in the Bolaven, such as Suan Gaia and Plantation Hills Artisans Ltd, cultivate Liberica commercially. Miraclelao Coffee also sells it.
Market growth: In 2024, Liberica coffee beans were valued at $1.47 billion globally. The market is projected to grow to $3.2 billion by 2032 reflecting a compound annual growth rate of 10.2%.
Regional: The Asia-Pacific region, particularly the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia, leads in Liberica coffee production and consumption.
Climate resilience: Liberica thrives in challenging climates, making it increasingly relevant in the face of climate change.
While Liberica accounts for less than 1.5% of the global coffee market, it has unique characteristics and climate resilience.
This interest is spurred by the warming climate and its distinct flavor profile, making Liberica a viable alternative in the coffee supply chain.
Photo by Nicole Motteux
Local coffee industry players
The Lao coffee sector is supported by the Lao Coffee Board, the private-sector-led Lao Coffee Association, producer cooperatives, and the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Government involvement spans national, provincial, and district levels through the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
The Lao coffee industry continues to develop and grow, with both international and domestic players.
Lao Coffee Association
Pakse, the capital city of the southern province of Champasak, at the Bolaven foothills, is home to the Lao Coffee Association (LCA).
A non-profit organisation, the LCA aims to advance the coffee sector by uniting stakeholders, fostering collaboration, and linking producers to buyers and markets.
LCA’s 89 members represent over half of the country’s coffee producers and exporters. They are primarily coffee producers, processors, roasters and millers.
It’s a diverse mix, including exporters and international companies like Paksong Highlands, and Outspan now Covoya Specialty Coffee under Olam, Sinouk Coffee, a pioneer exporter and specialty producer, and Plantation Hills Artisans, known for its carbon-neutral focus.
LCA prioritises quality, sustainability, and farmer incomes, supporting its members through consultancy, training, and development programs. Key initiatives include climate resilience, quality improvement, model farms, health safeguarding, GI tracking, and membership to the International Coffee Organization (ICO).
Key members
Paksong Highlands & Outspan (linked to Olam/Convoyeur Coffee) – Large-scale exporters
Sinouk Coffee (Sinouk Café Laos) – A pioneer in specialty coffee exports
Plantation Hills Artisans Ltd – A producer focused on carbon-neutral coffee
McCullagh (Laos) Ltd – An internationally connected supplier
Many members specialise in niche and premium markets, offering unique fermentation methods, natural and washed processes. This diversity strengthens Lao coffee’s position in regional and global markets.
Lao Coffee Association Meeting. Since 1994, the Lao Coffee Association unites 89 members, promoting quality coffee and market expansion from Pakse. Photo by Nicole Motteux
LCA Exports
In 2023, the Lao Coffee Association reported that 25 of its members exported 24,000 tons of coffee, collectively valued at $61.1 million.
Arabica:
Volume: 9,403 tons (39% of total Lao coffee exports)
Value: $23.81 million
Robusta:
Volume: 14,977 tons (61% of total exports)
Value: $37.97 million
Popular
Lao coffee
brands
In the capital of Vientiane, specialty coffee has been popular since 2015, with pioneering local cafes actively sourcing beans directly from highland farms. Some also support coffee farmers with training, seedlings, improved market access, and sustainable practices.
Many of these cafes have become popular brands, promoting Lao coffee both domestically and internationally.
Naked Espresso pioneered serving cafe-style specialty coffee, raising standards in Vientiane.
Le Trio Coffee highlights regional blends from the Bolaven Plateau and Xieng Khouang.
Dam Dam serves single-origin coffees in a restored 1958 shophouse.
Abile has award-winning barista Bibee Mounlamay serving Robusta and specialty coffees.
Comma Coffee offers high-quality local coffee in a peaceful reading room cafe in Vientiane.
Starbucks broadens Vientiane’s coffee scene and helps put Laos on the global map.
Sinouk Coffee was the first Lao branded coffee, championed by Sinouk Sisombat, founder of the Lao Coffee Association.
Laos’ coffee industry offers opportunities for traders sourcing premium beans. The country combines traditional farming with innovations in processing and sustainability.
As specialty coffee markets expand, Laos stands out as a reliable source of high-quality coffee with distinctive flavours.
Naked Espresso by Ariya Khamvongsa brings Australian-inspired coffee excellence to Laos, merging Sydney's vibrant café culture with local charm in Vientiane and Vang Vieng. Plans for further expansion are underway.
Le Trio Coffee in Vientiane showcases a rustic-modern design, offering a warm, inviting space with wooden furnishings and a cozy, artisanal atmosphere, perfect for enjoying top-quality coffee and pastries
