Coffee’s Long Journey Through Southeast Asia

Coffee has been around for a long time, tracing its origins to Ethiopia in the 11th century, then making its way across the Middle East, India and Persia before arriving in Southeast Asia. Along the way, coffee has been woven into many cultures and customs, and is now enjoyed throughout the region.

The earliest records of coffee arriving in Southeast Asia come from the Dutch East Indies in the 1690s. It made its way to Indonesia, Java and Sumatra, and the Dutch began to build plantations and cultivate coffee beans there. By 1711, coffee had become a popular commodity in Indonesia and was being exported to Europe and the United States.

Coffee was also brought to the Philippines in the 1700s by Spanish traders, who had gained access to the islands through their colonial rule. It was then introduced to Malaysia and Singapore by the British in the 1800s. By the mid-19th century, coffee had become a popular drink in these countries, as well as in Thailand and Vietnam.

In Thailand, coffee was a popular drink among the royal court and was sometimes served on special occasions. The beans were ground by hand and brewed in a traditional coffee pot. In Vietnam, coffee was a popular morning drink and people would often gather in coffee houses to socialize and debate the issues of the day. Coffee was first popularized during the French colonial era in the country, when the French brought over coffee plants from their own colonies in Africa and Southeast Asia. Since then, Vietnam has become a major producer of both Robusta and Arabica beans, and the country is now the second largest coffee exporter in the world, after Brazil. 

Coffee consumption in Southeast Asia grew rapidly over the years, and by the end of the 20th century, coffee had become a staple in many households. In Thailand, coffee is often served with sweetened condensed milk and ice. In Vietnam, due to the lack of fresh milk during the war times, many variants of sweetened coffee, such as the famed egg coffee, emerged.

Today, coffee continues to be a significant part of life in Southeast Asia, and the region is home to some of the world’s finest coffee producers. It is enjoyed not only as a delicious beverage but also as a symbol of tradition and culture.