Table of contents
Taiwan
$ 2 - $4 per ounce
| Varieties | Arabica, Robusta |
| How to Serve | Usually served as Espresso or instant coffee |
| Flavor | Very mild and milky flavor with a hint of fruit |
| Recommended Machine | Pourover, Espresso Machine, Percolator |
| Good As | Americano, Latte, Cappuccino, Mocha |
| Price Range | $2 – $4 per ounce |
| Caffeine Level | 0.3% on average |
Taiwan’s booming coffee sector has received a lot of attention over the last decade. Taiwan’s coffee history starts in the late 1800s, but it wasn’t until the age of Japanese colonialism that some of the greatest beans were successfully produced for sale to Japan. Even today, amid the shadows of Taiwan’s more well-known tea farms, these coffee farms are just now getting deserved notice due to their high quality and distinct flavor profile. Japan is still a significant importer of Taiwanese coffee, and it is almost impossible to locate Taiwan-sourced coffee beans in other locations.
Taiwanese coffees, as aromatic as they are, are costly due to micro-scale private plantations and significantly greater labor expenses when compared to other coffee-growing emerging nations. When roasted dark, African coffees often have vivid flowery and acidic tones, whilst Taiwanese coffee tends to be full-bodied, nutty, and earthy, with less acidity.
Currently, the country grows both Arabica and Robusta. According to most coffee-lovers, the beverage produced in the country seems to be high-quality. While it is true that the coffee industry in Taiwan has seen some ups and downs, it seems to stay strong still. Since 2003, Taiwan’s Gukeng Coffee Festival has been held every year in an effort to capitalize on the coffee revival for agritourism growth. In this guide, we will be talking about all the important stuff that you need to know about Taiwanese coffee beans.
The Japanese have mostly selected Gukeng Township in Yunlin County in southern Taiwan for their coffee plantations. The beautiful, forested mountains that surround Taiwu Village in Pingtung County have recently established themselves as one of Taiwan’s primary coffee-producing locations.
Coffee is farmed in the slopes of northern Tainan, in addition to Gukeng, Yunlin County. There is a roadway known as the “coffee highway” (175) that runs south of the hot spring village of Guanziling. There is also a little-known indigenous settlement named “Dewen” that is reported to produce good coffee.
Alishan is another location for Taiwanese coffee beans. Its clean air and environment are excellent for producing superb coffee, after a long harvesting season from late November to May, when the beans are plucked in stages only when completely mature.
Coffee has long been a popular beverage in Taiwan. Over the last 30 years, the industry has developed not just in terms of bean development, but also in terms of coffeehouse culture. Another reason why this location draws attention is its high elevations that are typically somewhere between 2000 and 2500 meters. Additionally, the average annual rainfall there is around 2200 mm which falls within the established range and makes this place perfect for Taiwanese coffee production.
Currently, Taiwan mostly relies on imports to fuel its domestic coffee consumption, since the current output barely fulfills overall demand. As a result, only a small fraction of the specialty coffee leaves the nation, which now has the largest market for coffee consumption.
If you happen to already have tasted Taiwanese coffee beans and would like to get to know some alternatives, then we have prepared a special list for you. These ones come with similar taste and flavor profiles, so they can be used as perfect replacements. Getting them is pretty easy with Amazon, so make sure to check them out.
| Vietnamese Coffee | Indonesian Coffee | Malaysian Coffee | Chinese Coffee |
As for people who are looking forward to tasting Taiwan coffee brands, I recommend you stick with this part of the article. I mostly buy my coffee from Amazon, as purchasing high-quality products with it is pretty easy – Additionally, you can get your product in less than 24 hours (if you use Amazon Prime). Unfortunately, Taiwanese coffee is very hard to come across on Amazon, so we’ve listed the best alternatives down below which come from Vietnam and Malaysia.
We pay attention to the following:
For more detailed information on how exactly we rate the coffee products we suggest in our guides, click here.
In order to help you make the decision that suits your interests the best, we will do individual overviews of our top choices, as simply naming them would not be enough. We will state all important facts and features about them, so you can make sure whether a specific product is worth your time, money, and attention. Get ready to discover alternatives to the best Taiwanese coffee brands.
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Price: $$11.99 (subject to change) |
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Size: 12 ounces |
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Type: Robusta |
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Roast: Medium |
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Producer: VN Roaster |
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Beans: Ground |
The first on our list is Vietnamese Butter Roasted Robusta. This one is my absolute favorite due to several important reasons. First of all, beans come from Dak Lak, a location that is known as the “capital” of Vietnamese coffee production. Secondly, these beans are roasted in butter which means that they come out creamy and silky.
The coffee is strong, yet well-balanced – My understanding is that it’s a Vietnamese bean that comes directly from Vietnam. Additionally, it is easy to drink and has a silky aftertaste. This one is a perfect option for people that are not fans of bitter or acidic coffee. I have also tried adding condensed milk to my cup, which created an amazing taste! Additionally, you can brew it using different types of machines including a Vietnamese coffee maker or even a simple Moka Pot.
And another important thing why this is a high-quality alternative for Taiwanese coffee online – The packaging! If you check out the picture, you will not see anything impressive, however, the package comes with a beautiful pull tab and an easy-to-close zip lock. I believe that it also will be able to keep your coffee fresh for a long period of time. A 12-ounce package of this product costs $11.99 which is a very good price for the quality that you are going to get.
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Price: $$21.49 (subject to change) |
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Size: 12 ounces |
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Type: Robusta |
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Roast: Medium |
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Producer: Nguyen Coffee Supply |
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Beans: Ground |
Peaberry Ground Robusta is another type of coffee that can be used as a great alternative for Taiwanese organic coffee. This product does not include any additives or artificial ingredients, so consuming it is completely healthy. However, it is important to note that this one might not be a good option for people that do not love their coffee with a lot of caffeine in it – Robusta beans have approximately two times as much caffeine as Arabica beans, and 60 percent fewer sugars and fats.
A little information about the company itself – Nguyen Coffee Supply is New York’s first and largest Vietnamese-American-owned importer and roaster of Vietnamese coffee beans. The company is promoting third-wave coffee culture by recognizing diversity in the coffee community, providing ethically sourced organic beans, and advocating for the people who produce the world’s second-biggest amount of coffee.
From my personal experience, I can say that Peaberry Ground Robusta tastes precisely like real Vietnamese coffee, but without the full impact of traditional Vietnamese coffee bitterness. One thing I have also noticed is that this coffee can boost your energy even when brewed at half strength.
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Price: $$27.99 (subject to change) |
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Size: 16 ounces |
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Type: Arabica & Robusta blend |
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Roast: Dark |
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Producer: Robarica |
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Beans: Ground |
This one is also a Vietnamese coffee that is a combination of Arabica and Robusta. Due to the fact that both of these varieties are being produced in Taiwan, I believe that the taste is very close to the best Taiwanese coffee. This one can also be prepared with any kind of machine including Espresso, Vietnamese coffee filter, etc. I myself was not very impressed with this one, as I am not a lover of strong coffee, however, for the ones that enjoy a strong kick from their cup of coffee, this can be a very good choice.
So, what kind of taste do you get when you blend Arabica and Robusta together? This mixture produces a balance of sourness and bitterness, as well as enticing smells of fruits, herbs, and dark chocolate. It can leave you with a pleasant, smooth, and long-lasting flavor after each drink. I have also tried making iced coffee with condensed milk and I have to admit that I enjoyed this one more than the hot version of it.
A 16-ounce package of these Vietnamese beans costs $27.99 – The price can be justified by the size of the bag, however, if you are looking for a low-budget version, be sure to check out other products recommended by us.
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Price: $$24.69 (subject to change) |
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Size: 36 oz |
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Type: Arabica & Robusta Blend |
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Roast: Medium |
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Producer: Coffee Round The World |
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Beans: Instant |
Are you a smooth coffee lover? Ipoh White coffee is a coffee that comes with a lot of creaminess and sweetness but also leaves a pretty good aftertaste. The only drawback of this product can be its price (a 36-ounce package is $24.69) as it is perfectly possible to find a similar product with much less money. However, there are other things that are definitely going to catch your attention.
First of all, this one is a perfect combination of Robusta and Arabica and has no artificial flavoring. Additionally, it is super easy to prepare – all you need to have is hot water, meaning that it is possible to take the product with you everywhere. I personally was intrigued by this one as the majority of reviews were positive. Well, they did not disappoint – I am not a fan of instant coffee but this one really tasted different. However, I feel the need to mention that coffee enthusiasts particularly those who do not like to add cream or sugar to their coffee, may find this product unpleasant. All in all, if you wish to buy Taiwanese coffee online that tastes sweet, but were not able to find the one, then you should definitely give Ipoh white coffee a try!
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Price: $$14.99 (subject to change) |
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Size: 16 oz |
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Type: Robusta |
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Roast: Medium |
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Producer: Old Town |
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Beans: Instant |
So, below we reviewed a product for sweet coffee lovers. So, what if you do not like the sweetness? Then you can go for Malaysia Old Town White. For the health-conscious, this is an excellent coffee substitute. Full-bodied white coffee has no added sugar or calories and comes directly from Old Town, Malaysia.
The good news is that you can not only enjoy a hot version of this coffee, but it is also perfectly possible to chill it with ice and enjoy a cold cup of coffee on a hot summer day. This one is actually cheaper than the one above, but the taste is not of lesser quality (for some, it can taste much better). A 16-ounce package costs $14.99 and it contains convenient single-serve stick packs. This can be very convenient while traveling – Single-serve packages let you enjoy coffee whenever and wherever you choose.
All in all, this product can be a good alternative to Taiwanese instant coffee. Besides being tasty with less sugar, it also is easy to use and can help brighten up your day at any time.
Now that we have reviewed our top favorite products, it is time to discuss different methods for brewing them. So, how do you like your coffee made? There are a lot of different ways for brewing, some might cost you cheaper, some more expensive. In the end, it all comes to your personal preferences – for instance, with manual brewing techniques, you can have more control over the taste and strength. Right now, I will share recommended machines for brewing Taiwanese coffee beans – all of these can help your coffee taste much better.
Making your coffee with an Espresso machine might sound difficult at first and yes, for the first time you might not be able to make a perfect cup. However, if you are committed, it is perfectly possible to improve even after a few tries. All you need to have is coffee, an espresso machine, and then follow these steps that we have listed below:
When you make your coffee with an Espresso machine, it is always a good idea to add milk once your cup of coffee is ready, as it will definitely help improve your Taiwanese coffee quality.
Percolator is considered an old-fashioned way by the majority of coffee consumers, however, if you do things in the right way, it can actually produce a pretty decent cup of coffee. Additionally, this method is pretty simple, affordable, and nothing too complicated. Here’s the list of things you are going to need:
If you have all of these ingredients at home, then you are perfectly ready to start your brewing process, which looks something like the following:
Pour over is another simple method of brewing but it is also the cheapest. However, that does not mean that it can’t produce a good-tasting coffee. From what I have made and tasted, this one can definitely help you brew easily, in a high-quality manner. So, you just need to grab:
Once you have collected all of these things, it is time to start the brewing process which is super simple:
