Coffee is a perennial industrial crop that is widely grown and developed in the world and in Vietnam. In Vietnam, there are more than 710,000 hectares of land used to cultivate this crop. Each coffee crop season takes place with strict closed processes to ensure good techniques for the best yield. One of the important stages that determines yield and quality is harvesting. Harvesting at the right time and in the right season is necessary for the coffee to have high quality. Let’s find out with Hello 5 Coffee the coffee harvest time in our country.
How Many Coffee Harvest Seasons Are There Per Year?
In Vietnam, the annual coffee harvest is divided into two main seasons: the main harvest season and the secondary harvest season.
- Main Harvest Season: Coffee is harvested when 92% to 95% of the cherries in the plantation have reached optimal ripeness. This is when the Vietnam coffee harvest season yields the highest productivity and best quality. Coffee beans from the main harvest are processed into premium-grade coffee and are primarily destined for export markets.
- Secondary Harvest Season: This involves collecting remaining coffee cherries left on the trees after the main harvest. The secondary harvest typically begins immediately after the main harvest concludes. The yield and quality of beans from this season are classified as lower grade.
Factors Affecting Vietnam Coffee Harvest Season
Soil and Terrain Conditions
For each coffee variety, climate and soil conditions significantly determine harvest timing. When grown in suitable environmental conditions, coffee cherries ripen evenly and can be harvested on schedule. However, unexpected droughts or floods can delay the ripening and harvest timeline. Understanding the cultivation requirements of each coffee variety is essential for ensuring a quality harvest season. Research indicates that regions with cooler climates and higher elevations tend to have earlier coffee maturation compared to tropical, humid lowland areas.
Here are the soil and terrain requirements for the two main Vietnamese coffee varieties:
- Arabica Coffee: Thrives at elevations above 1,500m (above sea level), with temperatures between 18°C and 24°C
- Robusta Coffee: Thrives at elevations between 900m and 1,000m (above sea level), with temperatures between 24°C and 26°C
Coffee Variety Determines Harvest Timing
Beyond soil conditions, the coffee variety being cultivated plays a crucial role in determining when coffee is harvested in Vietnam. Vietnam primarily cultivates two coffee varieties: Arabica and Robusta. Arabica coffee typically has an earlier harvest season compared to Robusta coffee, which is Vietnam’s dominant export variety.
Climate Conditions and Rainfall
Research shows that regions with stable annual weather patterns and rainfall see more predictable coffee harvest cycles. Areas where the rainy season arrives early with adequate rainfall will experience on-time (or even earlier) coffee maturation compared to regions where rains arrive late or are excessive. Arabica requires an average annual rainfall of approximately 1,200mm to 2,200mm, while Robusta needs annual rainfall exceeding 2,000mm.
Age of Coffee Trees
Younger coffee trees, particularly those between 4 and 6 years old, tend to have earlier harvest times compared to older trees (15 to 20 years old). This affects the overall coffee harvesting schedule across different plantations.
Vietnam Coffee Harvest Season: Timing and Schedule
Understanding when coffee is harvested in Vietnam is crucial for coffee importers and buyers planning their sourcing strategy. In Vietnam, the main harvest season varies depending on whether the plantation grows Arabica or Robusta.
- Arabica Harvest Season: The Arabica coffee harvest in Vietnam typically runs from September to November for the main crop. In some highland regions, this can extend from November through April of the following year.
- Robusta Harvest Season: The Robusta coffee harvest season in Vietnam typically runs from October through January of the following year. This is the peak period for Vietnamese coffee exports, as Robusta accounts for approximately 95% of Vietnam’s coffee production.
The secondary harvest season occurs from May (immediately after the main harvest concludes) and extends through September.
Vietnamese Coffee Harvest Calendar by Region
The Vietnam coffee harvest season varies slightly by region:
- Central Highlands (Dak Lak, Lam Dong, Gia Lai): October to January – the prime coffee growing region
- Highland Arabica Regions: September to November, with some extending to April
- Southern Provinces: November to January
Find more: 3 Major Vietnam Coffee Growing Regions
Important Notes During Coffee Harvest Season
Pick only cherries that have reached optimal ripeness (the ripe portion must cover more than ⅔ of the entire coffee cherry).
Harvest coffee when the plantation reaches 95% naturally ripe cherries. The harvest is divided across multiple days and typically split into 3 phases:
- Phase 1: Harvest 3% to 5% of the cherries on the trees
- Phase 2: Harvest 90% of the cherries on the trees
- Phase 3: Pick remaining cherries and collect ripe cherries that have fallen to the ground
If coffee flowers are still blooming during the harvest season, pause harvesting for 3 days to allow the pollination process to continue.
Why Vietnam Coffee Harvest Season Matters for Coffee Buyers
Coffee harvest timing significantly impacts the yield and harvest efficiency for the entire season. For international buyers and importers, understanding the Vietnam coffee harvest season is essential for:
- Planning procurement schedules
- Ensuring fresh crop availability
- Negotiating competitive prices during peak harvest
- Understanding coffee bean quality variations throughout the year
At Hello 5 Coffee, we understand that attention to harvest timing in Vietnamese coffee plantations helps maximize the productivity and quality of coffee beans each season. Our expertise in Vietnam’s coffee harvest cycles ensures our export customers receive only the finest Vietnamese coffee, sourced at optimal times for maximum freshness and quality. Whether you’re looking to import Robusta or Arabica from Vietnam, knowing the harvest calendar helps you make informed sourcing decisions.
