Lao Coffee Varieties and Production

Laos cultivates approximately 100,000 hectares of coffee, with approximately 60% dedicated to Robusta and 40% to Arabica. 

Main varieties include 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 produces small volumes of Arabica, yet it is high-quality, thanks to the soil, elevation, varieties grown, and mastery of the wet process.  Lao Arabica is prized for its medium body and subtle citrus and floral notes.

Laos is unique in its cultivation of high-altitude Robusta beans grown at 800 m in the rich, fertile Bolaven Plateau in southern Laos. 

Laos held its first online coffee auction in 2022 with 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 set 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, making up only 2% of total production.

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 could potentially be produced as specialty coffee in the future. Currently, only a few specialty coffee farms in the Bolaven, such as Suan Gaia, grow the variety commercially, and Miraclelao Coffee 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.

  • Flavour profile: Liberica’s distinct taste – smoky, woody, and nutty with hints of dark fruit and floral undertones — is a key selling point.

  • Climate resilience: Liberica thrives in challenging climates, making it increasingly relevant in the face of climate change.

Liberica accounts for less than 1.5% of the global coffee market. With its unique characteristics and climate resilience, it shows strong growth potential but remains a niche product in the larger coffee market.

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 coffee industry is developing and growing, 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 McCullagh (Laos) Ltd, Paksong Highlands, and Outspan (linked to Convoyeur Coffee under Olam), Sinouk Coffee, a pioneer exporter and specialty producer, and Plantation Hills Artisan, 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 Artisan – 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.

LCA Exports

In 2023, 25 LCA members exported 24,000 tons of coffee worth $61.1 million. This accounted for 98% of total coffee exports.

  • 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 cafés actively sourcing beans directly from highland farms. Some also supported 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 café-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 Sisouk Sisombat, founder of the Lao Coffee Association. 

Laos’s 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.