DON'T WAIT FOR OPPORTUNITY, CREATE IT - Motivational Speech (Sahra Nguyen)

TL;DR

Sarah Wen is revolutionizing the specialty coffee industry by highlighting the lack of transparency and representation of Vietnamese coffee.

Transcript

sarah wen is a first-generation vietnamese-american activist and entrepreneur she's on a mission to change the future of specialty coffee just going back to your background in addition to be a journalist you majored in ethnic studies at uc berkeley you studied with a historian ron takaki and then you went on to produce content for nbc asian america... Read More

Key Insights

• ☕ Vietnamese iced coffee became a trend in specialty cafes, but they were not using actual Vietnamese coffee beans, raising issues of transparency.
• ☕ Vietnam is the second largest producer of coffee in the world, yet it has been overlooked in the global coffee conversation.
• 🫘 The coffee industry perpetuates the belief that arabica beans are superior, neglecting the potential of robusta beans and the communities that cultivate them.
• 😷 Sarah Wen's journey to building her business involved asking questions, taking one step at a time, and treating her creative career as a second job.
• 👨‍💼 Clear boundaries and putting the needs of the business first are essential in managing business partnerships.
• 🥺 Personal growth and reflection led Sarah Wen to realize that business decisions should not be taken personally.
• 😍 Rushing to achieve success can hinder one's ability to enjoy the journey and appreciate the process.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why were specialty cafes not using Vietnamese coffee beans in their Vietnamese iced coffee?

Specialty cafes were using house brazilian or house ethiopian coffee beans instead of Vietnamese coffee beans, which raised concerns about transparency and recognition for the actual producers.

Q: Why is the lack of transparency and visibility a problem for the coffee industry?

Lack of transparency and visibility leads to a missed opportunity for cultural connection, appreciation, and the advancement of livelihoods for coffee producers at the end of the supply chain.

Q: What is the perception of arabica beans versus robusta beans in the coffee industry?

The coffee industry has created an elitist culture by considering arabica beans superior and robusta beans inferior, when the quality of coffee depends on the production process rather than the inherent qualities of the beans.

Q: How did Sarah Wen approach building her coffee business?

Sarah Wen approached building her business by focusing on finding one piece of the puzzle at a time, asking questions, and taking action. She started by developing a direct trade relationship with a producer in Vietnam and then learned about importing coffee beans to the United States.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Sarah Wen noticed that specialty cafes were not using actual Vietnamese coffee beans in their Vietnamese iced coffee, which led her to question the lack of transparency and recognition for Vietnamese coffee producers.

• She discovered that Vietnam is the second largest producer of coffee in the world but has been rendered invisible in the global coffee conversation.

• Sarah aims to break down the elitism in the coffee industry and create a culture of appreciation for robusta beans and farming communities.