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Trung Nguyen Creative 5 (Culi Arabica) Coffee
Hand-selected culi (single, unsplit, peaberry) Arabica beans from the Central Plateau (Annam Highlands) for intense and complex flavor. Fragrant, smooth, yet with a dark edge from the peaberries; a gourmet choice for hot brewing. Great accompaniment for desserts... we have a number of bakeries and restaurants that serve this coffee.
340 grams (12 oz) ground coffee. The whole bean option is 8.8 ounces (250 grams).
We are not carrying the Creative 5 coffee temporarily; the current price from Trung Nguyen would necessitate us raising the price $5, which we do not think our customers would appreciate. We will bring some in when the pricing drops.
More Information
Hand-selected culi (single, unsplit, peaberry) Arabica beans from Buon Me Thuot Highlands for intense and complex 100% Arabica multi-source flavor. Fragrant, smooth, yet with a dark edge from the peaberries; a gourmet choice.
The Culi Arabica is a world-class, multi-source, peaberry blended coffee. The Creative #5 is a coffeehouse favorite here in the USA. One bakery/coffeeshop here in New England displays the Culi Arabica in a presspot along with 6-7 other world-class coffees from Jamaica, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sumatra, etc., and tells us that their patrons self-select the Culi Arabica over ANY OTHER coffee they have offered.
This is a fragrant heirloom Arabica coffee with a complexity in the low tones one might expect from gourmet Robusta or Excelsa coffee. There is not a hint of objectionable modern hybrid licorice or barley taste. It is a favorite in winter due to its comforting dark, peaberry edge and broad flavor range. It has a haunting aftertaste that commands a second cup. In the summer it has an edge that makes it a unique and superb iced coffee.
You can go in many directions brewing the Creative #5. It's an Arabica that can be brewed lightly to provide a superbly balanced breakfast-style coffee, but it also is a peaberry, dark coffee that can be brewed strong to provide a Full City Roast intensity with no bitterness.
To brew light, you may want to use as little as a level tablespoon per cup. But you can go as strong as you like, even stacking it high in a Phin filter to get an espresso-like result. This is a coffee that is immensely versatile and fun, and for many Trung Nguyen fans, it's their favorite all-round blend.
For calibrating this coffee for commercial brewing, we suggest the whole bean, set to the grind you need. In commercial machines, if the grind is off, the flavor result can move from light to dark too easily, and some of the fabulous flavor hints can be lost, particularly if brewing at a high temperature (above 195°). The grind is good for Bunn-style carafe brewers, where the results are reliable and delicious and will surpass any coffee service coffee.
For home brewing, the pre-ground is perfect for cone-filter drip machines, percs, cold-brewing, Phin filters and French Press, so you typically won't get any flavor advantage from grinding it yourself. If you use a basket-style machine you may want the whole bean and it should be ground to medium-fine.
Allergy note: The special butter-roast process that gives Trung Nguyen coffees their unique flavor and aroma is a proprietary recipe and we cannot promise that it is safe for individuals with severe allergies to any vegetable oil, such as soy.
We also can't promise it's vegan, but it is certified Halal and safe for lacto-vegetarians.
Customer Reviews
Showing reviews 1-10 of 28 | Next
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We love it
Our family has been using this coffee for the past 12 years. All coffee drinkers in my family loves it.
Posted by STEVE SALLOOM on May 18th 2022
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1/2 of my family's favorite
This, along with C2, takes top spot for our family. It is our mainstay and we always ensure that between C2 and C5, we have several pounds at any given time.
Posted by EazyCheazy on Dec 27th 2021
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love it
that is the best coffee i ever had. strong, but nice and smooth
thank youPosted by elena on Oct 22nd 2021
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Wonderful!
Everyone should get to taste and smell this coffee at least once.
Posted by Dale Walker on Jun 3rd 2021
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Smooth, non-acidic
A great light coffee with a smooth, rich flavor. Low acidity.
Posted by Unknown on Apr 6th 2021
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But Blueberry...
#5 is always my fave, but with this shipment got a free bag of Dessert Series Blueberry Crisp, and it is surprisingly delicious! And not JUST for dessert!
Posted by Unknown on Nov 18th 2020
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Best Coffee Ever!
A few years ago, I was introduced to this coffee while on a trip to Vietnam. Brought some home, and thought I'd NEVER be able to get it the States, but thanks to Len's Coffee, I can and I DO!!!
Posted by Bonnie Bordins on Jul 3rd 2020
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Favorite Coffee
I got this coffee as a gift and have since purchased 2 additional times. Love the flavor and richness, and no bitter aftertaste. Recommend to everyone, and will give this as gifts to my coffee aficionado friends.
Posted by Katie on May 18th 2020
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Delicious!
Amazing flavor!
Posted by Dale on Apr 14th 2020
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*****
Awesome
Posted by Michael Hubka on Apr 8th 2020
Showing reviews 1-10 of 28 | Next
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Featured Region

The Araku Valley of India
India's coffee tradition goes back 400 years or more, when a variety called Kent was first established in the Southern Hills. Arabicas predominated until the blight of 1870, when growers needed to hybridize to resistant varieties. The resultant strains had genes from Liberica and other unique, resistant species. Learn more and browse India's Araku Valley coffees here.