The History of Coffee in Cambodia – From French Colonial Roots to a Modern Revival
Introduction: A Beverage That Shaped a Nation Coffee is more than a drink in Cambodia – it is a thread woven through the nation's modern history. From its introduction by French colonists in the 19th century to its...
The history of coffee in Cambodia – from French colonial roots to a modern revival – is a case study in supply chain disruption, infrastructure collapse, and systematic reconstruction.
🔹 The History of Coffee in Cambodia – From French Colonial Roots to a Modern Revival
Coffee cultivation in Cambodia began in the mid-1800s when French colonists introduced the crop to the northeastern highlands. The climate and soil parameters in Mondulkiri and Ratanakiri provinces proved suitable for cultivation. For decades, Cambodia functioned as a raw material exporter, shipping unprocessed green beans to France with zero domestic value-add infrastructure.
The Khmer Rouge regime (1975-1979) eliminated the industry entirely. Coffee plantations were abandoned, processing infrastructure was destroyed, and cultivation knowledge was lost. Recovery began in the 1990s as farmers returned to the northeastern provinces, but production remained fragmented and focused on low-grade commodity volume.
The history of coffee in Cambodia took a measurable turn in the 21st century. Phnom Penh now operates over 800 coffee shops. More significant for B2B operators: in September 2025, KOFI's Bousra Coffee became the first Cambodian coffee to receive Fine Robusta classification from the Coffee Quality Institute (CQI). This represents the first international quality certification in Cambodia's coffee history.
Current procurement parameters for Cambodia fine robusta sourcing:
🔸 Primary growing regions: Mondulkiri, Ratanakiri provinces
🔸 Elevation range: 800-1,200 meters
🔸 First CQI Fine Robusta certification: September 2025
🔸 Domestic market: 800+ retail outlets in Phnom Penh alone
🔸 Processing infrastructure: Rebuilt post-1990s
🔸 Specialty robusta grading: CQI R-Grader protocols now applicable
OCC tracks Cambodia as an emerging origin for operators seeking diversified robusta supply chains. The gap between colonial-era cultivation and modern specialty robusta grading represents 150 years of interrupted development, now measurably closed by CQI certification protocols. For B2B buyers evaluating the history of coffee in Cambodia – from French colonial roots to a modern revival – the September 2025 Fine Robusta classification is the first quantifiable quality benchmark.
Full article: https://origincafekh.com/blog/the-history-of-coffee-in-cambodia-from-french-colonial-roots-to-a-modern-revival
Tags