There is no romantic backstory here yet — just a cup that stopped the table. We tasted this on our March 2026 origin trip alongside shop regulars and a handful of B2B green buyers who came with us. No one disagreed: this coffee needed to come to the states. The producer — Bui Coffee Supply, Nam Ban, Lam Ha — took second place at the Vietnam Amazing Cup 2026 and also won "Most Popular Robusta Sample" at the same competition. Two distinctions, one lot. The competition drew 182 entries from 81 producers across seven growing regions, evaluated by a 12-judge panel including seven international specialists. 83% of entries reached specialty threshold. This lot cleared that bar and then some. On the process. TR4 and TR9 are WASI-bred Robusta clones — Vietnam's most widely planted and officially recognized specialty Robusta cultivars. TR4 has been a national variety since 2006; TR9 since 2011. At 1,080 masl in Nam Ban, they're grown at the upper range for Robusta elevation in Lam Dong, which slows ripening and concentrates sugars the same way altitude works for Arabica. The processing is the variable that earned this lot its score. Anaerobic Natural means whole cherries ferment in a sealed, oxygen-limited environment before drying — extending fermentation contact, developing complexity, and preserving fruit character. The infusion stage — salt, ginger, and pepper — happens during anaerobic fermentation, not after. This is not flavoring added to finished beans. The compounds interact with the mucilage and cherry pulp during active fermentation, contributing to the spiced, savory depth in the cup without masking origin character. For importers: this process is unusual and buyer interest will be high. We recommend disclosing the infusion clearly on all downstream labeling — buyers who know what it is will want it, and the ones who don't will want to know. In the cup: what you'd expect from a well-processed high-altitude Robusta — heavy body, low bitterness, fruit-forward. The infusion registers as warmth and spice at the finish, not as a flavored coffee. Bright but not sharp. Moisture landed in Oakland at 12% — within range, at the ceiling. Cup promptly and store in a climate-controlled environment. Technical Sheet Producer Bui Coffee Supply — Nam Ban, Lam Ha Competition Vietnam Amazing Cup 2026 — Robusta 2nd Place + Most Popular Sample Region Nam Ban, Lâm Hà, Lâm Đồng, Việt Nam Altitude 1,080 masl Varietal TR4 · TR9 (WASI-bred Robusta clones — national variety recognition 2006 / 2011) Process Anaerobic Natural with Salt, Ginger & Pepper Infusion (infusion applied during fermentation, not post-process) Harvest January–February 2026 Moisture 12% (landed Oakland)