This coffee is a specialty Robusta from Lam Dong Province in Vietnam's central highlands, cultivated by smallholder farmers at 900-1200 meters altitude. It is a Red Honey processed coffee, meaning the mucilage is partially retained during processing, creating a rich and complex cup. The beans offer a full body with chocolatey notes, nuanced with black cherry and a hint of lime, while retaining characteristic robusta depth with subtle earthy and leathery undertones. Roasted to a medium level, this represents an experimental push to elevate Vietnamese Robusta into the specialty coffee sphere.
Bard Coffee was founded in 2010 by Bob Garver and Jeremy Pelkey in downtown Portland, Maine, and was named by CNN as one of the country's seventeen best coffee makers. The roastery uses Loring Smart Roast technology, which cuts energy consumption by up to 80% while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Both co owners have visited every single farm featured on the menu, sourcing through a direct trade model that prioritises transparency and support for growers. Bard specialises in single origin coffees roasted in house and received a 2017 Good Food Award for its commitment to building a responsible food system. Bob Garver also co founded Wicked Joe Coffee with his wife Carmen.
