Brewing Tradition and Innovation: Mimi Nguyen on Cafely’s Mission to Showcase Vietnamese Robusta Coffee

Mimi Nguyen, founder of Cafely, is transforming the global coffee scene by championing Vietnamese robusta coffee's bold, chocolatey flavours.

Drawing from her childhood in Vietnam and a deep appreciation for coffee's cultural significance, Mimi has built a brand that balances authenticity, sustainability, and modern innovation. In this interview, she shares her journey as a woman entrepreneur in a male-dominated industry, the meaningful partnerships she has made with Vietnamese farmers, and how Cafely is making a global impact while staying true to its roots.

Nicolle: What inspired you to create Cafely, and how does your Vietnamese heritage influence your approach to showcasing robusta coffee?

Mimi: The inspiration for my company, Cafely, comes from the desire to pass along the real, authentic experience of Vietnamese coffee, especially the robusta variety. People rarely hear about the robusta drowned out by the better-known arabica around the globe. My childhood in Vietnam allowed coffee to transcend beyond being a tasteless beverage; it is a culture, ritual, and root. I feel that this heritage affects everything from the quality of the coffee we produce to the stories we share about the farmers behind each bean.

Nicolle: Working with homegrown coffee farmers in Vietnam is a key aspect of Cafely. Can you share more about these partnerships and how they promote sustainability?

Mimi: Direct partnerships with Vietnamese coffee farmers form a core part of the mission at Cafely. Through these partnerships, we see that we can pay reasonable wages while enhancing farming practices that will yield a healthier environmental footprint. We work with growers who implement intercropping, which increases fertility while fostering biodiversity. It feels satisfying to be able to help preserve both their livelihood and the environment.

Nicolle: As a woman entrepreneur in a male-dominated industry, what were some of the biggest challenges you faced, and how did you overcome them?

Mimi: The hardest may be that we have to prove our credibility in an industry that is always male-dominated. Of course, the early days were when people just wouldn't believe I could run the company, and so I tried to learn as much as I could, build up my network, be willing to take smart risks. And just letting the quality of our products and the strength of our mission speak for itself also helped overcome some of those challenges.

Nicolle: You’ve mentioned partnering with other women-owned businesses. Why is this collaboration important to you, and how do you envision it shaping Cafely’s future?

Mimi: Something that is deeply meaningful to me is working with women-owned businesses because it multiplies our collective impact. This work, in and of itself, really inspires innovation, mutual growth and empowerment, and I see how women entrepreneurs will help each other grow businesses like Cafely while inspiring the next generation.

Nicolle: Sustainability is central to Cafely’s values. What specific steps have you taken to ensure that your business aligns with these principles?

Mimi: Sustainability is actually interwoven into every part of our business. The use of eco-friendly packaging, promotion of less waste in production, and other environmentally-friendly practices that help reduce our ecological footprint are all part of it. We also educate our customers about where their coffee is coming from and why such consumption is ethical.

Nicolle: How do you hope to inspire younger girls and women who aspire to break into male-dominated industries, and what advice would you give them?

Mimi: I hope to pass this message to the younger girls and women, that they are capable and can thrive in any industry, no matter how tough it is. My advice to them is: believe in your vision, be persistent, and seek out a community of people who support you. Mentorship is priceless wouldn't be here if I didn't learn from others, and I look forward to paying that forward.

Nicolle: What are your long-term goals for Cafely, both in terms of expanding your reach and continuing to support the coffee farming communities in Vietnam?

Mimi: My vision for Cafely is to extend our international footprint while moving deeper into support of the farming communities of Vietnam. We are developing some new lines that echo Robusta's versatility and are planning initiatives to invest in education and resources for the farmers with whom we work.

Nicolle: What makes Vietnamese robusta coffee unique, and how do you ensure that Cafely delivers an authentic coffee experience to your customers?

Vietnamese robusta stands out with its bold, chocolatey notes and naturally higher caffeine. But to brew a true experience, we roast our beans in small batches using traditional roasting methods while making sure that every step-from bean to cup-respects the flavours and stories behind the coffee.

Nicolle: Can you share a specific moment or milestone in your journey with Cafely that reaffirmed your passion and commitment to your mission?

Mimi: A very memorable milestone was when a long-time farmer partner told me how Cafely had allowed them to send their daughter to school. It reminds me of why I started Cafely and continues to motivate me to keep going in our mission.

Nicolle: How do you balance the traditional aspects of Vietnamese coffee culture with modern trends in the coffee industry to appeal to a global audience?

Mimi: Balancing between tradition and modernness of Vietnamese coffee culture indicates respect for the past and innovation for the future. For example, where we welcome the traditional brewing system such as those from the phin filters, we introduce modern advancements in the form of cold brews and ready-to-drink options to meet contemporary tastes. A nice balance avoids the loss of roots without becoming too outdated.

Mimi Nguyen’s Cafely is more than a coffee brand; it’s a bridge between tradition and innovation, culture and commerce, heritage and global trends. Her dedication to empowering Vietnamese coffee farmers, fostering sustainability, and inspiring women entrepreneurs sets her apart as a visionary in the industry.

As Cafely continues to grow, Mimi’s unwavering commitment to authenticity and community ensures that every cup tells a story—one of resilience, passion, and the rich legacy of Vietnamese coffee.

_

Nicolle Knapova is a little bit of everything. She is a freelance translator, and content creator. She loves indie music and is always browsing through Spotify to find the next amazing artist to obsess over. Her love for storytelling means she’s always writing something and she’s not afraid of any genre. Her biggest dream is to be a published author. If she’s not writing her fan fiction, she’s writing her poetry and sharing it on her Instagram @elisecaverly.