Global coffee production continues to rise, reflecting steady growth in the sector (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)
🎧 Opening
Can you guess what connects people today?
A shared frustration with government? Of course!
Old memories? Maybe.
The same hobbies? Possibly.
Those conversations do create connection, but often, they’re driven by one simple thing: coffee. The quiet connector that lets conversations flow.
Let’s talk about coffee and its huge potential in Southeast Asia, shall we?
Hello and welcome to The Southeast Asia Desk Weekly Dispatch Podcast.
I’m Akasha Viandri, this is where we slow down the headlines and make sense of the stories shaping Southeast Asia region.
🌏 Southeast Asia’s Coffee Potential in the Global Market
“Let’s grab a coffee and tell me everything”
“Oh, I haven’t had my coffee today, let me grab one before the next meeting”
“This weekend, it’s just me, my coffee, and a good book.”
Sounds familiar, right?
Coffee is that extra energy in a day full of chaos, and a quiet companion when things slow down.
And beyond the cup, there’s a growing potential, especially in Southeast Asia.
According to the International Coffee Organization, global coffee consumption reached around 175 million 60-kilogram bags in the 2024–2025 season.
And production isn’t far behind, with the United States Department of Agriculture estimating global output at around 178 million 60-kilogram bags in 2025.
And a large share of that comes from just a few countries.
Around 73 percent of global production is concentrated among the top five producers: 🇧🇷 Brazil, 🇻🇳 Vietnam, 🇨🇴 Colombia, 🇮🇩 Indonesia, and 🇪🇹 Ethiopia.
See? Two of the world’s top five producers are from Southeast Asia.
Together, 🇻🇳 Vietnam and 🇮🇩 Indonesia produce around a quarter of the world’s coffee and export about the same share.
⚡ The Region’s Coffee Potential
Within the region, Southeast Asia’s coffee market continues to grow steadily.
And while 🇻🇳 Vietnam ranks higher globally in production, Indonesia leads the region.
It’s followed by 🇹🇭 Thailand, 🇻🇳 Vietnam, 🇵🇭 the Philippines, 🇲🇾 Malaysia, and 🇸🇬 Singapore.
So, why is that?
First, 🇮🇩 Indonesia clearly has the capacity in terms of production.
But it’s not just about supply.
🇮🇩 Indonesia is also the most populous country in Southeast Asia and many people here love coffee.
That demand shows up clearly.
There are now around 460 thousand coffee shops across the country.
And brace yourself…
It’s the highest in the world based on data from the Global Point of Interest database as of November 2025.
Even 🇨🇳 China in second place, has fewer than 200 thousand.
Other Southeast Asian countries are also climbing.
🇻🇳 Vietnam ranks fourth globally, with around 132 thousand coffee shops.
🇹🇭 Thailand follows, with nearly 97 thousand.
And the 🇵🇭 the Philippines ranks ninth, with around 60 thousand.
🎯 The Wrap
So what does this tell us?
Southeast Asia is no longer just part of the global coffee supply chain.
We’re becoming a key player in how coffee is consumed.
Production and consumption are beginning to align.
And that creates something powerful.
Not just connections between people, but momentum in the economy as well.
And when the economy moves well, people tend to live better.
What do you think?
I’m Akasha Viandri, and this has been The Southeast Asia Desk Weekly Dispatch Podcast, where we slow down the noise and follow the region’s compass.
If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe
to our newsletter at thesoutheastasiadesk.com, and join us again next weekend for stories to linger over, one weekend at a time.
