STiR coffee and tea magazine

44 STiR coffee and tea | 2025 Quarter 2 Summer (Jun/jul/Aug) M By Mainbayar Badarch Myanmar Produces Quality Coffee Despite Adversity yanmar is keen to stand out as a producer of high-quality coffee. According to surveys by independent coffee grading organizations, most coffees from the country score 85 points or higher. Myanmar's premium specialty coffee is recognized in international competitions for having a rich and balanced flavor, and the domestic demand for coffee is growing. However, increasing exports to neighboring countries and rising coffee prices make sourcing green beans and meeting domestic demand difficult for Burmese coffee roasters. Coffee Sector Overview In 2023 the total area under coffee cultivation in Myanmar was estimated at 20,242 hectares (50,000 acres) and annual coffee production is around 10,000 tons. Arabica coffee is predominantly grown in Shan state and the Mandalay region, while robusta coffee is mainly cultivated in Kayin state, the Ayeyarwady, and Tanintharyi regions. The Myanmar highlands are a subtropical region located at an altitude of about 1,300 meters above sea level. Coffee is grown in the rainy season and harvested in the dry season. These favorable natural conditions produce top-quality coffee beans. The National Executive Council supports the development of micro, small, and medium-sized coffee-producing enterprises and ensures long-term sustainability. Sev- eral groups have formed to help improve Myanmar's coffee sector. The Coffee Central Committee, consisting of relevant ministries, regional and state governments that grow coffee, the Myanmar Coffee Association (MCA), and related organizations, are work- ing to further develop the coffee value chain. MCA conducts quality inspections, provides technical training, and takes food safe- ty measures to help produce high-quality coffee. Their training content covers the CQI Introduction to Post-Harvest Processing curriculum from the Coffee Quality Institute of the United States, led by CQI-certified lecturers. Coffee growers and roasters face multiple challenges on a daily basis in Myanmar, however in spite of adversity the country continues to produce exceptional coffee. Photo courtesy the Lady Specialty Coffee The increasing demand for green coffee from neighboring Thailand makes it difficult for local coffee roasters like Aung Win of Hlaing Kyi Coffee to meet their raw coffee supply requirements. Photo courtesy Hlaing Kyi Coffee Industry Insights Myanmar aims to export about 2,000 tons of coffee in the 2024-2025 fiscal year. Between 1,000 and 1,500 tons of coffee are projected to be exported to China and Thailand through border trade, and between 500 and 800 tons of coffee is shipped by sea to European nations, Ja- pan, and other Asian countries. Domestic coffee consumption is cur- rently higher than ever before, and indi- vidual interest in coffee is also increasing. In an interview with STiR, Aung Win of Hlaing Kyi Coffee said: "As Myanmar's coffee prices are currently lower than those in neighboring Thailand, the de- mand for green coffee from Thailand is increasing, and most local coffee roasters are currently struggling to meet their raw coffee supply requirements, even though they are in short supply. The recent surge in the domestic market for commercial grades from Thailand has made it diffi- cult for local coffee roasters to cope." He continued, "I started by hand roasting, then I bought a small roasting machine. After that, I bought some pro- cessing machines from China and India to process green beans. Until now, process- ing machines have only been purchased and used by hobbyists and researchers. Currently, we specialize in arabica cof- fee and roast up to 100 kilos of coffee per day, with two employees. As a cof- fee roaster, I wanted to learn more about green bean processing, so I started a mini processing mill as a hobby."

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