Opening of Preliminary Round of Vietnam Specialty Coffee Competition 2021 (06/05/2021, 08:56)

On the morning of April 20th, Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Association opened the preliminary round of Vietnam Specialty Coffee Competition in 2021.

Chairman of Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Association Trinh Duc Minh speaking at the opening session of the Competition

The Specialty Coffee Competition 2021 was launched online from December 20th, 2020 to February 20th, 2021 and registered according to the form from February 20th, 2021 to February 15th, 2021.  

Up to now, the Organization Committee have received 74 samples of 41 units from Ho Chi Minh City, Ha Noi and the provinces of Son La, Quang Tri, Dak Nong, Gia Lai and Dak Lak including 45 Robusta samples and 29 Arabica samples. Dak Lak province has the largest number of samples with 24 samples from 16 units.  

From March 17th to April 18th, 2021, all 74 samples were surveyed independently, sampled and sealed according to code. From April 14th – 18th, 2021, the organizing physically faulted the samples towards the SCA standards.

Expert Le Trung Hung, Head of the judges speaking at the opening of preliminary round

According to plan of the contest, the preliminary round will take place from April 20th – 23rd, 2021. The Final Round will be held from April 24th – 27th, 2021 at Biet Dien hotel, Buon Ma Thuot city. And the declaration of Results and Awards takes place at 16:00 April 30th, 2021 at Sai Gon – Ban Me hotel.

Both of preliminary and final councils of Examiners will be led by expert Le Gia Hung and each sub-committee has 7 members. 2 foreign examiners from Malaysia and Korea will be invited at the Final round.

Members of the Judges taking photos at the opening of the preliminary round

As stated by the leader of Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Association, there will be a new point of Vietnam Specialty Coffee Contest in 2021. Robusta samples must earn 81 points or more and 29 Arabica samples must earn 82 points or more based on the scale of the World Specialty Coffee Association to be qualified to enter the Final. This criteria is 1 – 2 points higher compared to 2020.

The schedule of Vietnam Specialty Coffee Contest in 2021

Besides, at the contest this year, the Organization Committee will not record the clip of “the journey of specialty Coffee” but only “the process of the contest”. At the declaration, the Organization Committee will make a slideshow for tourists to learn about each part of the contest like sampling the sealed batches of goods, cupping at the preliminary round and final round.

Moreover, the organizers will honor and award a certificate to the unit that has “specialty” samples for 3 consecutive years, in order to encourage and recognize the accompanionship of the unit with the contest.

Beside the declaration of Results of Vietnam Specialty Coffee on April 30th, 2021, Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Association will accompany with Tinh Tu Exhibitions and Communication Co., ltd. to organize the event of “Experiencing VietnameseSpecialty Coffee” at Sai Gon – Ban Me hotel.
This is one of the “DEM TRANG BAN ME” festival events organized by Tinh Tu Exhibitions and Communication Co., ltd. from April 30th to May 6th, 2021 at the provincial Cultural center of Dak Lak.

Attending the event of “Experiencing Vietnamese Specialty Coffee”, there will be coffee roasteries, importers and competing units to experience the top 10 Robusta and top 10 Arabica samples.  

Visitors will enjoy kinds of Vietnamese specialty coffee through many methods of preparation: Espresso, Cold Brew, Pour Over, Filter and Pour-over filter conducted by PR FIN team from Ho Chi Minh city.

Kim Bao