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Stepping through the doors of the World Coffee Museum, I felt as if I were entering a realm of memories. The space was both expansive and yet somehow compelling, urging one to delve deeper, to listen to the story of the coffee bean – that tiny seed that has transformed the land and the rhythm of life of the people of the Central Highlands.
The World Coffee Museum is a place that opens up a realm of memories about coffee from around the world.
The museum's architecture bears the distinctive mark of the Central Highlands.
My first impression wasn't the smell of roasted coffee, nor the glittering artifacts behind the glass, but the building itself. The museum's architecture is inspired by the Ede longhouse, with its curved roof and body clad in solemn basalt stones. From a distance, it looked like a giant stone xylophone embedded in the red soil of Buon Ma Thuot, both sturdy and graceful.
The architecture of the World Coffee Museum is inspired by the distinctive longhouses of the Ede ethnic group in Buon Ma Thuot.
The glass door swung open, and a cool breeze swept in, carrying the earthy scent of wood and moss, mingled with the faint aroma of coffee from the nearby shop. I suddenly felt as if I had stepped across the boundary between everyday life and a distant realm of memories.
Inside, natural light streamed through the gaps in the ceiling, filtering through the transparent panels, making the space feel more open. The high vaulted ceiling created a sacred feeling, like standing in a coffee temple. I heard the soft sound of my footsteps on the wooden floor, each step seemingly leading me back in time.
The museum is filled with light.
In the lobby, I was introduced to famous coffee civilizations around the world, the lands of coffee beans across continents on a glass map. Then, with a simple turn, traces of Central Highlands culture such as the H'gơr drum (buffalo hide drum) of the Ede people, gongs, pottery products, agricultural tools, musical instruments… unfolded before my eyes, revealing a distinct Vietnamese culture, both familiar and new.
Map of the home countries of coffee beans around the world.
A journey into the past - From the coffee plant to a civilization
The first exhibit transported me back to the history of world coffee. Ceramic pots, grinders, and coffee makers from various cultures appeared one after another under warm yellow light. I paused before an antique pot from Ethiopia, the homeland of coffee, then gazed intently at the exquisite yet mysterious copper teapots from Turkey. From antique European roasters to the familiar aluminum coffee filter of Vietnam, each exhibit seemed like a slice of history, telling the story of the coffee bean's journey across thousands of miles to become a global beverage.
Experience the Turkish sand-themed coffee experience.
I lingered for a long time in front of the old cast-iron roasting machine, touching its rough, time-worn surface. I imagined that in the old days, the smoke emanating from it must have permeated an entire street corner. Precious books were displayed in glass cabinets, meticulously detailing the cultivation process and the journey of transporting coffee from one highland region to another. These words reminded me that coffee was never just a crop, but a small civilization in itself.
The exhibition displays various types of coffee roasting machines that have appeared around the world.
The history of coffee is closely linked to the cultural identity of the Central Highlands.
After strolling through the world of coffee, I stopped at the Central Highlands cultural exhibition area. There, rows of gongs were lined up, the light shining at an angle, each pattern carved on the bronze seemingly glowing. There were also folk musical instruments: the T'rưng, the khene, the drums, each instrument seemingly containing the sound of the wind, the stream, the human heart. Beside them were traditional costumes with brocade patterns. I closed my eyes, imagining the resonant sound of gongs in a festival, harmonizing with the drums and khene, creating a sacred rhythm of the mountains and forests.
Exhibition area of gongs and musical instruments of the Central Highlands culture.
I paused before a special display corner, where familiar farming tools such as hoes, machetes, baskets, and woven bamboo containers, worn with time, were on display. Placed alongside coffee artifacts, they served as a reminder that every coffee bean passes through the hands of laborers, that the sweet flavor in today's cup of coffee is the culmination of sweat and perseverance. I touched the rough bamboo surface, feeling as if I were touching the memories of countless people who had carried entire coffee harvests over mountain passes and steep slopes.
The cultural exhibition made me realize that the museum not only preserves the history of coffee but also embraces the soul of the Central Highlands. Here, coffee is not simply an agricultural product, but a thread that connects villages, music, beliefs, and life.
The lingering aftertaste in a cup of coffee.
Leaving the exhibition space, I stepped into the café located right inside the museum. The aroma filled the air, rich and warm, enveloping all my senses. I ordered a cup of Vietnamese filter coffee and sat by the wide-open window overlooking the lush green garden. The coffee dripped slowly, each gentle sound evoking memories of my journey: from ancient artifacts and cultural stories to the rich fragrance of the present.
The museum has several areas that offer free coffee for visitors.
The coffee was bitter on the tip of my tongue, but the aftertaste was subtly sweet and lingered for a long time. I took a sip, closed my eyes, and imagined the entire journey the coffee bean had taken before settling in the small cup before me.
Leaving the museum, I stepped out into the Buôn Mê Thuột sunshine. The highland breeze blew, carrying the scent of damp earth and the chirping of birds. In my mind, I still vaguely pictured the silent gongs, the old roasting machine, and the book lying quietly on the shelf. I realized that the museum was not just a place of display, but also a place where I found a connection – between the past and the present, between the Tây Nguyên mountains and the sips of coffee each morning.
The museum serves as a bridge connecting the past and the present through the story of coffee beans.
The World Coffee Museum tells not only the story of the coffee bean, but also the story of the people and culture that nurtured it. It was that lasting impression that lingered most deeply in my mind as I left.
