Farmers In Brazil
A LASTING LEGACY OF COFFEE FARMING
In touch with the land, farmers carefully cultivate the coffee trees that contribute to a great cup of coffee. Farms are where coffee begins, and farmers are the ones responsible for tending these coffee trees and cherries. We benefit from their deep, often-lifelong understanding of the land, and their ongoing commitment to managing their farms with skill, awareness and passion.
Rafael Bortolini
Join Rafael as he continues the rich legacy of his family’s farm in Brazil.
Farming for life
Rafael Bortolini, from Linhares (Espírito Santo), in Brazil, is proud to be a fourth-generation farmer, but it all could have turned out differently. “I thought about being a lawyer, working in the city,” he explains. His family ties proved stronger, as did the allure of coffee production. Over time he realised that he could make a difference, both to how the farm operated and to the families involved. “Our workers are the real heart of the farm,” he says. “There’s a shared desire to build it and grow together.”
A family legacy
Traditions for the future
“I’m inspired by seeing the farm evolve,” says Rafael. New to farming, he learnt existing techniques from his father, all while introducing modern methods. “I have brought in technologies that improve the farm’s productivity, and the quality of work for our employees,” he explains. These include using drones to map the land, and regenerative agriculture practices – like the introduction of natural wind breaks to protect the coffee trees - suggested by NESCAFÉ® agronomists like Liliane Céo. “I’m passionate about technological growth, and understanding how to make it work,” he says.
Using new technologies
Providing training and technical assistance for farmers is a cornerstone of the NESCAFÉ® Plan field programs.
Coffee is heritage
Rafael is well aware of how essential coffee farming is to his country. “Agriculture is a major economic contributor in Brazil,” he says. “It’s also culturally significant to Brazilians.” In retrospect he’s happy he never settled in the city, and instead embraced the opportunity to grow his family’s legacy. It’s not just because he’s helping forge new successes, it’s because contributing to a delicious cup is part of his identity. “For me coffee represents a signature from my family,” he says.
An identity created by coffee
I have brought in technologies that improve the farm’s productivity and its balance with the environment and the quality of work for our employees.
Meet the people behind every cup you drink
Crafted by experts every step of the way, each cup is a collaboration between NESCAFÉ® partners and teams globally. This is their story.
Better blends for a better world
Discover our diverse range of sustainable coffees to suite your taste.
Agronomists in Brazil
GROWING WITH PASSION
PLANTING FOR THE FUTURE
NESCAFÉ® agronomists work to help improve coffee farming methods, and assist farmers in adopting them. Our agronomists support farmers with their knowledge and innovation. This in-depth understanding helps shape ongoing efforts to implement regenerative agriculture practices.
Liliane Céo
Learn more about the important work Liliane does with coffee farmers in Brazil.
All about agriculture
Liliane Céo has always enjoyed a deep love for farming. “When I was little, I saw my grandparents working on their cocoa farm,” she says. “I identified with the environment and was excited by the life of plants.” She followed her heart, studied to be an agronomist, and now helps coffee farmers improve yields with regenerative agriculture practices that help to optimise soil care, improve water efficiency and tailor fertilizer usage to specific soil needs. “My passion for my work is built on my connection with farmers,” she says.
Liliane's deep connection
Rock-solid relationships
By engaging directly with coffee farmers like Rafael Bortolini, Liliane contributes to improved harvests. “I show how regenerative agriculture practices can lead to greater productivity,” she says. She approaches each farm differently, initiating a two-way conversation built on trust. “I hear stories in the fields,” she says. “And from these I develop specific techniques to deal with specific challenges.” This allows her to build a tailored approach that's unique to each farm's individual needs and requirements.
Two-way conversations
“When I was little, I saw my grandparents working on their cocoa farm. I identified with the environment and was excited by the life of plants.”
The benefits of science
Liliane believes that awareness empowers farmers. “I share information and introduce innovative technologies that help them grow more resilient coffee trees,” she says. These healthy crops are essential to a delicious cup of coffee. Her solutions are science-based, yet practical, and range from planting methods and fertilization to irrigation, which supports farmers and enhances resilience to climate challenges. Over time she’s seen the results of her work. “The impact is extremely positive,” she says. “I’ve seen farmers rediscover ways to cultivate coffee in a more conscious way.”
A working collaboration
Since 2021, we've had over 800 agronomists working with our network of coffee farmers around the world.
Meet the People behind every cup you drink
Crafted by experts every step of the way, each cup is a collaboration between NESCAFÉ® partners and teams globally. This is their story.
Better blends for a better world
Discover our diverse range of sustainable coffees to suite your taste.
Meet Our Makers
Made with passion
Meet the people behind every cup you drink
From carefully tended coffee trees and our expertly roasted beans, to the aromatic taste you enjoy, every cup of NESCAFÉ® is made with passion, craft, and most of all dedication.
Crafted by experts every step of the way, this process is a collaboration between valued partners and NESCAFÉ® teams around the world. This is their story.
DISCOVER THE PASSION AND EXPERTISE OF OUR NESCAFÉ® COFFEE MAKERS.
Made with passion
Coffee Farmers in Vietnam
A journey towards sustainable productivity
Strengthening bonds with coffee farmers
Coffee farmers are our foundation. We’ve been strengthening these bonds, focusing on implementing regenerative agriculture practices to enhance productivity.
Tran Thi Lien
A farmer’s passion for knowledge is helping transform her business
Tran Thi Lien shares her passion for productive farming
Planting the seeds for sustained growth
Tran Thi Lien aims to keep improving. A second-generation coffee farmer, she learnt the basics from her parents, before adopting regenerative farming practices comprising of planting trees and practices that support soil health (such as composting, crop rotation, soil testing, etc.).
All these practices aim to harvest great quality Robusta beans that are essential to our coffee’s rich flavours. Empowered by knowledge that has helped reduce farming costs, Lien has made her farm efficient, and is creating a brighter future for her family.
Positive outcomes
The result is an enhanced harvest of the ripe Robusta beans that are essential to our coffee’s rich flavours. Additionally, Lien has managed to reduce operating costs. It’s good for her future, and good for her. “The fresh environment makes my spirit more relaxed,” she smiles.
When it comes to growing coffee, it’s about the soil. NESCAFÉ® helps several thousands of farmers improve the health of the soil with regenerative agriculture practices.
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Tasters in Vietnam
The coffee experience is all the more enjoyable thanks to tasters.
Maintaining quality and impeccable taste
Tasters affirm our commitment to distinctive flavour. Their astute senses and deep understanding of the production process are instrumental to maintaining high levels of quality and consistency.
Bui Hai Nhi
Find out how Nhi relies on her senses to excel in her job as a taster
Bui Hai Nhi details the skills required for tasting
A taste for quality
Bui Hai Nhi is a taster and member of the quality assurance department at our Tri An roastery in Đồng Nai, Vietnam. She ensures that our products meet NESCAFÉ’s highest standards to be enjoyed by you! “The taster’s role is to maintain quality consistency before delivering to the consumer,” she says. Sampling just a spoonful, she tastes green and roasted coffee, as well as the finished product. “You will feel either a thin or thick body,” she says of the experience. “And the aroma spreads to your mouth and nose.”
Inspirational ideas
Nhi is excited about what the future holds. “My aspiration is that we will have more and more new products to introduce to the consumer,” she says. She has always been inspired by coffee’s taste and aroma, and began her career here at the roastery. She also believes that it’s a good idea to start the day off with a cup. “Coffee is like my destiny,” she says. “And I’m motivated, knowing that I’m involved in producing what I think is the best coffee in the world.”
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Extractors in Vietnam
Adding flavour one drop at a time
Once the coffee grinding is complete, a process of extraction is used to capture and concentrate the taste of roast and ground coffee. By precisely controlling the pressure and temperature, our experts pass water through the ground that gradually produce concentrated liquor with a rich flavour profile. We also capture the alluring aroma of the coffee at this point and then re-introduce it after the drying process.
Our experienced extractors ensure that our coffee retains the most delicious flavours. They work with our customised technology, making every drop count.
Nguyen Minh Nhat
Learn about the processes Nhat follows to extract great coffee flavours
Nguyen Minh Nhat explains his work as an extractor
Capturing flavour
Nguyen Minh Nhat helps keep our coffee consistently delicious. As an extractor, he works at the NESCAFÉ® Tri An roastery in Đồng Nai, Vietnam. “We carefully extract compounds such as fats, acids, sugars and fibres,” he explains. “These give coffee its distinct flavour.” To collect and concentrate such delicate flavours, he slowly adds hot water to ground coffee, ensuring a flavourful extract. It’s a simple process, but Nhat’s experience is crucial. “Each drop requires a lot of concentration,” he says.
Finding balance
Nhat underwent extensive training, learning how to use our customised technologies, and acquiring the skills to operate the line. “We seize the extremely captivating aroma during the extraction process and after the drying process,” he explains. “And then we pour that scent back in.” His job requires deep understanding and precise judgement. “We need to know exactly how to get the freshest, longer-lasting coffee flavours,” he says. “And then we have the perfect cup of coffee every time.”
“As an Extraction Operator, I feel happy and proud to just add hot water into coffee and that we can create the best coffee flavor and bring it to everyone”
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Grinders in Vietnam
There’s an art to producing freshly-ground coffee, and grinders have mastered it.
Capturing flavours straight from the bean
Grinders play an important role, maintaining the quality of our products. We value their precision and commitment to flavour.
Nguyen Ngoc Tu Anh
Discover how Anh maintains our coffee’s flavour.
Nguyen Ngoc Tu Anh shares what it takes to be a grinder
Integral skills
Nguyen Ngoc Tu Anh takes great pride in being a coffee grinder. He has worked at our Tri An roastery in Đồng Nai, Vietnam for over a decade. He ensures that the grinder produces the right particles size which means the correct coffee flavour can be extracted at the next stage of the process. This stage requires intense concentration and attention to detail. Over the years he has honed his skills, mastering this integral part of the coffee-making process. “Grinding is one of the steps to create the best coffee flavour,” he says.
A passion for flavour
Anh is inspired by a pioneering spirit that prevails at the roastery. “I believe NESCAFÉ® Roastery has the best technologies,” he says. “These make the coffee flavour more delicious and give it a fresh taste.” He is also committed to ongoing growth and development. “I am trained in coffee grinding technology and techniques every year,” he explains. All this stems from a deep passion for his job, and his love for a good cup of coffee. “Coffee gives me creativity and excitement,” he says.
The main stages in the NESCAFÉ® pure soluble coffee creation process include: Growing, harvesting, roasting, grinding, extraction, drying and filling.
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Roasters in Vietnam
Having mastered their craft, roasters know exactly how to enhance flavour and aroma.
Coffee roasting to unlock the senses
Roasters help determine our flavour profiles by monitoring roasting time, temperature and airflow, this helps maintain our coffee’s quality and consistency. These highly trained individuals are integral to our production process and passionate about producing world-class products.
La Mihn Quang
Learn about how Quang has mastered the art of roasting
La Mihn Quang explains how to roast to perfection
Capturing quality
Roaster La Mihn Quang is committed to quality. “The roasting process changes the aroma and taste of coffee beans,” he says. “It is the moment that most fully reveals a coffee bean’s flavours and characteristics.” It takes intense focus to oversee and control temperature and time during the roasting process, but it’s all worth it in the end. “This is what brings out the full flavour in each coffee bean, and contributes to the unique characteristics of NESCAFÉ®,” he says.
Making sense of the senses
Quang knows that coffee lovers employ many different senses when enjoying a cup, and that his
role is to help enhance this experience. “What I am most passionate about is evaluating the sensory quality of coffee,” he says. “The taste, the smell, the feel.” By taking great care to roast at the right time, at the right temperature, he’s contributing to greater quality and consistency. “Coffee needs balance. Coffee needs harmony,” he concludes.
Now that you've discovered the Roaster, why not meet more people behind every cup of Nescafe you enjoy.
Explore the dedication and skill of our NESCAFÉ® coffee artisans.
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Producers in Vietnam
Coffee producers enhance our product quality by being careful and considerate
Knowing when’s best to harvest
Because it involves selecting ripe coffee cherries, harvesting is essential to producing high-quality coffee and ensuring a truly exceptional cup.
Mai Thi Nhung
Find out how Nhung knows when’s the best time to pick the perfect coffee bean.
Mai Thi Nhung explains how to pick productively
The perfect pick
Farmer Mai Thi Nhung knows her farm inside out. She keeps a close eye on her coffee cherries, watching as they change colour, grow and ripen. “If we pick ripe beans, the taste of coffee will be more delicious,” she says. She picks with great care, preserving the branches so that they bear fruit the following year.
A sense of place
Being outdoors makes Nhung happy. “What I like best is the sunny weather,” she smiles. But coffee isn't just her family’s major source of income, it's also her passion so she invests time and effort to stay abreast of new developments, innovations and techniques. She’s constantly looking to grow her knowledge, and her potential around coffee, “I am learning more about the taste and flavour of coffee all over the world,” she says, “Because maybe someday I will become the very best coffee blender.”
Responsibly Sourced Coffee is traceable to the farms – like Mai Thi Nhung's farm – or groups of farms where it is harvested from. It is then produced in accordance with our Responsible Sourcing Standard.
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Agronomists in Vietnam
We work with agronomists to help find better ways to farm
Planting for the future
Our agronomists support farmers with their knowledge and innovation. This in-depth understanding helps shape ongoing efforts to implement regenerative agriculture farming practices.
Nguyễn Hữu Thông
Step inside Thông’s inspiring world, where innovation is improving farming practices
Nguyễn Hữu Thông explain his work as a coffee agronomist
Empowering farmers with knowledge
"Agronomist Nguyễn Hữu Thông is passionate about knowledge sharing. An agricultural expert, he has understanding of new and efficient regenerative farming techniques. These he shares with coffee farmers across Vietnam, helping them to farm with an approach that works with nature. “Agricultural officials play an important role because we are the ones with access to science and technology,” he says. “We learn from our studies and share our collective learnings with farmers, for them to apply effectively.”
Meaningful results
Thông is inspired by the many successes he has witnessed first-hand. Seeing farmers achieve positive impacts feeds his quest for knowledge. “As an agronomist, I am passionate about learning more about new techniques,” he says. “I'll impart and introduce these to other farmers, in order to support better farming practices, and help them improve their incomes.” This sense of purpose helps encourage farmers, contributing to improved harvests that culminate in great cups of coffee.
More than 800 agronomists and specialist staff worked with coffee farmers around the world, in NESCAFÉ® Plan field programmes.
Better blends for a better world
Discover our diverse range of sustainable coffees to suite your taste.
Today’s community favourites
Discover some of the most enjoyed articles from across the site