Vietnam's Robust Coffee Boom Drives Deforestation and Biodiversity Loss

Vietnam has become the world's leading producer of robusta coffee, a key ingredient for instant coffee and low‑cost blends. Rapid expansion of coffee plantations in the Central Highlands has cleared more than 207,000 hectares of tropical forest since 1990, reducing forest cover to about 19% and threatening species such as tigers, elephants and the rare saola. The loss of forest undermines water regulation, climate stability and the livelihoods of rural communities, while the coffee industry continues to prioritize volume over sustainable practices.

The same beans also underpin a distinctive Vietnamese coffee culture. Popular drinks include classic black coffee (cà phê đen), creamy egg coffee (cà phê trứng) that originated in Hanoi, frothy coconut ice coffee (cà phê cốt dừa), and the savory Hue salt coffee (cà phê muối), each reflecting regional traditions and the country's deep connection to coffee.