When the coffee cherries turn bright red, it marks the beginning of the harvest season—a signal of a bountiful year, carrying the dedication of farmers and the essence of nature. So, when does the coffee harvest season start? Let’s explore the details with Goce Coffee in the article below!

What is the Coffee Harvest Season?

The coffee season is the time when coffee cherries are harvested after a year of cultivation. Typically, it begins from October to December each year in the Central Highlands—the coffee capital of Vietnam. This is a crucial stage that determines the quality of the beans, as fully ripened cherries deliver a complete flavor and the distinctive aroma of each coffee variety.

In Vietnam—the world’s second-largest coffee exporter—the harvest season not only holds economic significance but also represents a cultural tradition closely tied to the lives of millions of farmers.

It not only provides the main source of income for coffee growers but also offers opportunities for purchasing and exporting enterprises to source high-quality coffee for both domestic and international markets.

When is the Right Time to Harvest Ripe Coffee Cherries?

To produce high-quality beans, choosing the right harvesting time is extremely important.

• Harvest when cherries are 95–100% red: At this point, the beans reach peak sweetness with a balanced sugar and acid level, resulting in a richer and more aromatic flavor.
• Harvest in the right season: Picking too early leads to poor quality and weak flavor, while picking too late causes cherries to fall or over-ferment, affecting quality.
• Proper drying and storage: After harvesting, coffee beans must be processed quickly to preserve their flavor and prevent mold or quality loss.

Harvest Time for Different Coffee Varieties

Robusta Coffee

Robusta is Vietnam’s main coffee variety, accounting for over 90% of the cultivation area, concentrated mostly in the Central Highlands provinces such as Đắk Lắk and Gia Lai. Thanks to the tropical climate, fertile basalt soil, and an average altitude of 500–800m, the trees grow vigorously and yield high productivity.

The Robusta harvest season usually runs from October to December, sometimes extending to January of the following year due to its late-ripening nature. The cherries often ripen simultaneously, allowing farmers to harvest in large batches. Robusta beans are known for their bold flavor, slight bitterness, and high caffeine content.

Arabica Coffee

Arabica is considered a premium coffee variety. Although its cultivation area is smaller, it holds higher export value. In Vietnam, Arabica thrives best in Lâm Đồng, especially in Đà Lạt – Cầu Đất, where altitudes range from 1,200–1,600m and the climate is cool year-round.

The Arabica harvest season generally comes earlier than Robusta, lasting from September to November each year. Unlike Robusta, Arabica cherries ripen gradually, so farmers must pick them multiple times to collect only the perfectly red cherries.

Arabica beans are famous for their elegant aroma, mild acidity, sweet aftertaste, and are highly favored in European and American markets.

Culi Coffee

Culi coffee is not a separate variety but a natural mutation, where the cherry develops only one bean instead of two. Culi beans are usually rounder, larger, and denser, making up about 3–5% of the total yield.

Since it depends on the parent variety, the harvest season is similar: Robusta Culi is harvested from October to December, while Arabica Culi falls between September and November. Thanks to its unique structure, Culi has a strong flavor with a distinctively sweet aftertaste, often roasted separately to create a specialty coffee line.

See more: How many types of coffee are there in Vietnam? Which provinces and cities are they grown in?

Cherry Coffee

Cherry coffee, also known as Excelsa, is grown in small areas, mainly in the Central Highlands and central provinces. This tree is highly resilient, drought-tolerant, with large cherries and thick skin.

The harvest season usually falls between November and January of the following year. Though less popular than Robusta and Arabica, Cherry coffee has a distinctive flavor—light acidity and a fragrant profile—often used in blending to balance and diversify commercial coffee flavors.

Liberica Coffee (Jackfruit Coffee)

Liberica is a less common variety, sometimes called jackfruit coffee due to its large leaves and cherries. In Vietnam, Liberica is sparsely grown in the Central Highlands and some central provinces.

Its harvest season also falls between November and January of the following year. Liberica beans are flat-shaped, with a mild flavor and an aroma that is not very strong. Therefore, this variety is rarely consumed on its own and is mainly used as rootstock or in blends during processing.

Vietnam’s coffee harvest season is not only the farmers’ time of abundance but also the golden period to produce high-quality beans—contributing to the global reputation of Vietnamese coffee. Understanding the harvest cycle, choosing the right picking time, and ensuring proper post-harvest processing are the keys to preserving the essence of flavor in every cup of coffee.