Journal

News from the roastery

Roastery updates, new bean releases, cupping events and the odd bit of press — straight from the team.

Vietnamese Coffee Taste vs Global Coffee Trends: Where They Differ and Where They Meet

RetailOct 1, 2026

Vietnamese Coffee Taste vs Global Coffee Trends: Where They Differ and Where They Meet

Vietnamese coffee taste—bold Robusta—is meeting global trends toward lighter, fruitier brews. Learn the differences and how to pick coffee that fits your palate.

Semi-automatic vs fully automatic espresso machines: which one for your café?

Semi-automatic vs fully automatic espresso machines: which one for your café?

Semi-automatic or fully automatic? Compare cost, speed, staff skill and consistency to choose the right espresso machine for your café.

How long does a practical barista training course take, and what does it cost?

Barista Training

How long does a practical barista training course take, and what does it cost?

A practical barista training course: how long it runs and what it costs, plus how to pick a course that is worth it for a new café.

Café opening timeline: from signing the lease to opening day

Café opening timeline: from signing the lease to opening day

A realistic café opening timeline keeps you from cramming everything into the final week. Key milestones from lease to launch.

How much minimum order (MOQ) and lead time should you plan for OEM?

How much minimum order (MOQ) and lead time should you plan for OEM?

MOQ and production lead time are the two numbers that decide your private-label coffee launch. How to plan them so you are not late to shelf.

Roast-batch quality control: what is cupping and sensory evaluation?

Roast-batch quality control: what is cupping and sensory evaluation?

Cupping lets a B2B roasting partner verify the taste of a batch before delivery. Here is how sensory evaluation works with a contract roaster.

Reading processing info on a coffee bag: Washed, Honey or Natural?

Reading processing info on a coffee bag: Washed, Honey or Natural?

Washed, honey or natural? Learning to read the processing line on a coffee bag helps you pick the cup you actually like, every time.

Espresso machine repair or maintenance now: 7 warning signs to catch early

Espresso machine repair or maintenance now: 7 warning signs to catch early

7 warning signs your espresso machine needs repair or maintenance now: weak pressure, strange noises, off flavors. Catch them early to avoid costly breakdowns.

Standardising Coffee Recipes So Every Shift Tastes the Same

Barista Training

Standardising Coffee Recipes So Every Shift Tastes the Same

Standardised coffee recipes keep every shift tasting the same. How to build a one-page recipe card, taste checkpoints, and consistent barista training.

Building Your First Menu and Standardizing Recipes for a New Coffee Shop

Building Your First Menu and Standardizing Recipes for a New Coffee Shop

A guide to building a lean 8-12 item opening menu and standardizing recipes so every cup tastes the same from day one.

Designing Custom Labels When Launching Your Own Coffee Brand

A practical guide to coffee label design for OEM brands: required info, balancing brand identity with compliance, and packaging choices that matter.

What Is MOQ in Coffee Roasting, and Why It Matters for Private-Label Orders

What Is MOQ in Coffee Roasting, and Why It Matters for Private-Label Orders

MOQ (minimum order quantity) decides whether you can get a custom coffee roast made. Learn how MOQ is calculated and how to size your first B2B order.

Specialty Coffee in Vietnam: Why More People Are Switching from Regular Ground Coffee

Specialty Coffee in Vietnam: Why More People Are Switching from Regular Ground Coffee

Specialty coffee is reshaping how Vietnamese drink coffee. Learn what makes coffee specialty, why the trend is growing, and how to start exploring it.

Routine Espresso Machine Maintenance: How to Extend Your Café Equipment’s Lifespan

Routine Espresso Machine Maintenance: How to Extend Your Café Equipment’s Lifespan

A daily, weekly, and monthly maintenance schedule that helps cafés avoid sudden breakdowns, cut repair costs, and keep every cup consistent.

Why New Cafés Should Invest in Proper Barista Training From Day One

Barista Training

Why New Cafés Should Invest in Proper Barista Training From Day One

Why new cafés should train baristas properly from day one to keep quality consistent, retain customers, and avoid daily operational mistakes.

Choosing Your Café Model: Take-Away, Patio, or Specialty?

Choosing Your Café Model: Take-Away, Patio, or Specialty?

Take-away, patio, or specialty café? Compare cost, space needs, and target customers to pick the right model before you start building out your shop.

Choosing Packaging for OEM Coffee: Keep the Aroma, Build the Brand

A practical guide to OEM coffee packaging: moisture and oxygen barriers, degassing valves, choosing the right pouch format, and label layout when launching your own brand.

Working With a B2B Coffee Roaster: From Sample Roast to Full Production Orders

Working With a B2B Coffee Roaster: From Sample Roast to Full Production Orders

Working with a B2B coffee roaster: from sample roasting and cupping to locking in a full production order — a step-by-step guide for cafes and F&B brands.

How to Tell Pure Coffee From Coffee Cut With Soybean or Corn

How to Tell Pure Coffee From Coffee Cut With Soybean or Corn

How to spot pure roasted ground coffee by color, smell, taste, and label — and avoid coffee cut with soybean, corn, or additives.

How to Choose a Coffee Grinder for a New Coffee Shop

How to Choose a Coffee Grinder for a New Coffee Shop

Choosing a coffee grinder for a new shop: burr type, peak-hour capacity, grind adjustment and budget — practical advice from EPIC.

Phin, Espresso, and Beginner Latte Art: Where New Baristas Should Start

Barista Training

Phin, Espresso, and Beginner Latte Art: Where New Baristas Should Start

Should you learn phin, espresso, or latte art first? A practical order for beginners learning phin brewing, espresso basics, and latte art.

Budgeting to Open a Coffee Shop: What to Plan For Before You Start

Budgeting to Open a Coffee Shop: What to Plan For Before You Start

A practical breakdown of every cost category to budget for when opening a coffee shop — from lease deposits to equipment and working capital reserves.

Khoảnh Khắc Tại EPIC & 4 Lô Cà Phê Đặc Sản Mới Về Kho

Khoảnh Khắc Tại EPIC & 4 Lô Cà Phê Đặc Sản Mới Về Kho

Xem lại khoảnh khắc tại quán EPIC (49 Ngô Thời Nhiệm) và khám phá 4 lô cà phê đặc sản mới về: Kenya, Peru Gesha, Colombia Anaerobic và Ethiopia Yirgacheffe.

OEM Coffee Ordering Process, Step by Step, for New Coffee Brands

OEM Coffee Ordering Process, Step by Step, for New Coffee Brands

The full OEM coffee ordering process, step by step — from sample roasting and MOQ to packaging and delivery, for brands launching their own line.

Why Custom B2B Roasting Beats Buying Pre-Roasted Coffee

Why Custom B2B Roasting Beats Buying Pre-Roasted Coffee

Pre-roasted coffee vs. custom B2B roasting: how private roast profiles give cafes and F&B chains more control, consistency, and a flavor identity.

How to Store Coffee at Home So It Stays Fresh Longer

How to Store Coffee at Home So It Stays Fresh Longer

How to store coffee at home correctly to keep its aroma fresh longer: use an airtight container, avoid light, heat, and excess moisture.

How to Choose the Right Espresso Machine for Your Café’s Size

How to Choose the Right Espresso Machine for Your Café’s Size

Picking an espresso machine isn’t just about price — your café’s size, daily cup volume, and running budget matter more. Practical guidance from EPIC.

A Beginner’s Roadmap to Learning Barista Skills

Barista Training

A Beginner’s Roadmap to Learning Barista Skills

A beginner barista roadmap: coffee fundamentals, espresso machine skills, and latte art, broken into clear, practical training stages you can start today.

Buy, Rent, or Repair: How to Choose a Coffee Machine

Buy, Rent, or Repair: How to Choose a Coffee Machine

Should you buy new, rent, or just repair your current machine? Practical guidance for choosing a coffee machine that fits your shop’s scale and budget.

From Street Stall to a Real Café: Setting Up a Coffee Shop the Right Way

From Street Stall to a Real Café: Setting Up a Coffee Shop the Right Way

Starting from a street stall? Here’s what to have in place first, and when it’s time to expand — practical café setup experience.

What Is a Private Roast Profile?

What a private roast profile is, how the process works, and why more cafés are choosing it over off-the-shelf roasted coffee.

How to Choose Roasted Coffee for Your Taste: Dark, Light, Arabica or Robusta?

How to Choose Roasted Coffee for Your Taste: Dark, Light, Arabica or Robusta?

A practical guide to roast levels, Arabica vs Robusta, and how to pick the roasted coffee that actually matches your taste.

Robusta Honey from Bảo Lộc: Origin and Bean Profile of a Signature Honey-Processed Coffee

Discover how Bảo Lộc’s highlands and the honey-processing method give EPIC Roastery’s Robusta Honey its caramel, chocolate and fruity sweetness — a true signature cup.

Lâm Đồng Arabica Coffee: Bright, Delicate Notes from Vietnam’s Highlands

Lâm Đồng Arabica Coffee: Bright, Delicate Notes from Vietnam’s Highlands

Grown above 1000m in Lâm Đồng and washed-processed, this Arabica delivers bright acidity and a complex, layered aroma.

Bảo Lộc Robusta Natural Coffee: A Highland Classic

Bảo Lộc Robusta Natural Coffee: A Highland Classic

Discover Bảo Lộc’s growing region and how Natural processing shapes this bold, naturally sweet Robusta.