ASIA
BEAUTIFUL FELLOW
2ND COHORT
FINAL REPORT
ASIA
BEAUTIFUL FELLOW
2ND COHORT
FINAL REPORT
Collaborating with farmers to produce eco-friendly coffee
Van Thi Loan
Real Bean Coffee
Established in 2019, Vietnam
About
Real Bean Coffee uplifts coffee farmers in Vietnam’s Central Highlands through a sustainable, inclusive, and climate-smart coffee value chain
Sustainable Development Goals
ⓒ Pixabay
Vietnam is the second largest coffee exporter(USDA, 2025), and approximately 80~90% of Robusta Coffee is cultivated in the Central Highlands(UNEP, 2021). To maximize harvest yields, farmers have adopted sun-grown monoculture and chemical fertilizers. However, this has led not only to declining yields, but also to soil degradation, biodiversity loss, and greater vulnerability to climate crisis(UNEP, 2021).
The more soil degraded in the Central Highlands, the less arable land becomes available for farmers(ACIAR, 2025), and the more unstable farmers' livelihoods become as their income decreases(Viet Nam News, 2023).
Threatened by the climate crisis, the need for sustainable coffee farming in Vietnam rises.
Real Bean Coffee provides climate-resilience capacity-building programs for farmers in Vietnam's Central Highlands to sustain their coffee farming.
Real Bean Coffee provides climate-resilience capacity-building programs for farmers in Vietnam's Central Highlands to sustain their coffee farming.
Climate-Resilient Farming
The sun-grown farming requires lots of water as it cultivates coffee beans under the sunlight without shadow. Providing farmers regular empowering training, Real Bean Coffee expands 2-3 layer agroforestry farms and increases adoption of organic fertilizers to restore soil and biodiversity.
Support for Coffee Beans Markets
Real Bean Coffee purchases farmers' coffee beans at a cost 30-40% above the commercial market rate, in order for farmers to continue their sustainable farming and create a stable income.
Eco-Friendly Production Value Chain
To reduce environmental impact during the production process, Real Bean Coffee replaces plastic bags with kraft and recyclable packaging in its products and utilizes eco-friendly shipping.
Local Community Collaboration
Real Bean Coffee works with schools, women's unions, and local SIBs to organize environmental and responsible consumption events.
Sustainable & Specialty Coffee
Real Bean Coffee merchandises premium Fine Robusta and Arabica beans sourced from Dak Lak and Lam Dong, offering them under the Real Bean Coffee brand in a diverse product range, roasted and eco-packed as whole beans, Vietpresso, drip bags, and gift sets.
OEM / Private Label Service
Real Bean Coffee supplies high-quality coffee beans to partners, customizes roasting, packaging, and branding, and fairly trades to Korea, Japan, and Thailand.
Real Bean Coffee connects high-quality coffee to the market in a traceable and eco-friendly way, enabling climate-vulnerable smallholder farmers to transition to sustainable agriculture and achieve more stable livelihoods.
By empowering professional agricultural training and local community cooperation, Real Bean Coffee has successfully built and expanded a network of farmers and communities committed to responsible production and consumption.
(Benchmark: 2023.10 - 2025.10)
2-3 Layer Agroforestry Farms Area Expansion
Fair-trade Purchasing Beneficiary Farmers
Farmers’ Income Growth
Training Programs for Farmers
Local Community Events
Social Impact Business Network (SIB)
Loan has introduced responsible consumption and production through communication with other ASEAN entrepreneurs, such as UNDP Vietnam Women Entrepreneurs Network.
Awards and International Recognition
Real Bean Coffee has gotten recognition for its environmental and social impact from several institutions, such as ‘ASEAN She Wins Climate SEA TOP 24’(2025), ‘Vietnam TWIN Transition Challenge TOP 6’(2024), etc.
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Transitioning toward 100% Environmentally Certified Farms
Real Bean Coffee plans to transition its farms to 100% environmentally certified operations, aiming for 4C and B Corp certifications.
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Establishing Cooperatives
Real Bean Coffee consolidates farms into 1-2 cooperatives for better compliance with new government regulations.
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Maintaining Identity as a Social Impact Enterprise
While expanding eco-friendly product lines sourced from the Central Highlands, Real Bean Coffee will maintain its social responsibility by ensuring 70% of employees are women and from vulnerable communities. Through these efforts, Real Bean Coffee aims to serve as a reference model for young Vietnamese agrifood enterprises.
I could reflect on myself and significantly grow over the last two years with the Asia Beautiful Fellow Program. I realized that it is important not only to work hard, but also to work strategically and sustainably. Now, I know that a good leader is one who inspires others.
Last time when I was in the Trade Expo, I was at the same booth with 3rd Cohort Fellow Hoai(CEO of Palmania). Yesterday, I met 4th Cohort Fellow Hai(CEO of Alterno). As we are Asia Beautiful Fellows, we can open our minds to each other with greetings like 'You are the 2nd cohort', 'I am the 3rd cohort', etc. I was so glad when I met with 3rd Fellow Aby(CEO of Adena Coffee), who also works in the coffee industry, at the Asia Social Enterprise Program in Thailand.
Not only supporting financially, but The Beautiful Store Foundation has also encouraged fellows to share our network concurrently. We are from different countries, but we all seek one hope ㅡ to make the community better. Belonging together and proudly introducing Real Bean Coffee, I learned how to empower myself through teamwork.
Real Bean Coffee Sales manager
Kieu MyReal Bean Coffee Sales manager
Working with Loan, I learned to solve problems more flexibly. At the beginning of the Real Bean Coffee, I was afraid that my works are not going well as I'd planned. But after six years with Loan, I learned we need to keep calm, as there are always solutions to any event.
Loan keeps calm in any kind of problem and reacts gently. One day, an order from Japan suddenly requested us to provide new packaging. Loan adjusted the schedule pliably communicating with different stakeholders, including customers, factory laborers, and farmers. As a result, she finished every requirement on time. Nobody can forecast every problem, but Loan proves that there is always a way to fix it.
Like Loan, I try to think out of the box and look at things with different view and angle. I want to be calm and flexible like her. Now I can control my feelings properly in interacting with suppliers and customers. Focusing on the target and goal, I could conduct my work smoothly even in a stuffy situation.
Collaborating Woman Farmer
Ms. PhoungCollaborating Woman Farmer
Real Bean Coffee always encourages and supports us in adopting eco-friendly farming methods. With the new farming skill, our health definitely became better. We avoid using chemicals, earn more income, and get a better working environment with Real Bean Coffee.
I love working with Real Bean Coffee as my work makes good effects for the future and the next generation. As we no longer need to use chemicals, I and my family members get far better health. We can also supply healthier coffee and fruits to customers. I am really grateful to Real Bean Coffee to give us a chance to contribute to these changes.
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