Where Indonesian Coffee Fits in the U.S. Market | Asia Forward | Episode 9

Americans drink an estimated 463 millions cups of coffee every day. In a market shaped by major chains and daily habits, how does an Indonesian coffee shop introduce specialty coffee and new flavors to U.S. consumers?In this episode of Asia Forward, host Ei Thant Sin visits DUA DC Coffee in downtown Washington, D.C. for a conversation with founder Vivit Kavi about what it takes to bring Indonesian specialty, single-origin coffee into the U.S. market. Indonesian coffee has long been associated with Sumatra. But Vivit says Indonesia’s coffee story is much broader, with beans and flavors shaped by regions across the archipelago, including Java, Bali and Sulawesi.Vivit shares how DUA DC Coffee began as a way to bring something from home in Indonesia to Washington, how the business survived the COVID-19 pandemic and why direct relationships with Indonesian farmers remain central to its mission. She also explains how familiar drinks, such as lattes, Americanos and cortados, can become an entry point for customers trying Indonesian beans for the first time.The conversation also looks at the flavors and stories behind Indonesian specialty coffee, including excelsa from Central Java, as well as Southeast Asian ingredients such as pandan and aren, or the sweet sap of the sugar palm tree. The episode also explores how a small coffee shop can help introduce Indonesia’s products, people and culture to the U.S. market.Watch the full conversation with Vivit Kavi and host Ei Thant Sin on Asia Forward. Subscribe for more forward-thinking conversations on U.S.-Southeast Asia business.