Hoi An: Hands-on Vietnamese Coffee Making Class with Long

Vietnamese coffee is more than a strong drink poured over ice. At Tri Long Coffee, you learn how local beans are roasted and how familiar café drinks such as phin filter, egg, salt, and coconut coffee are made. The best part is choosing two recipes and preparing them yourself with Long, the English-speaking coffee specialist.

I like the small-roastery setting and the useful recipes you can take home. I also like the personal scale: some classes have only two people, and one booking even became a private lesson. The main catch is that the class lasts only one hour, so coffee fans hoping for a long technical roasting workshop may find it brief.

• Choose two Vietnamese coffee styles: Make and taste options such as egg, salt, coconut, or phin filter coffee.
• Meet at a central Hoi An roastery: The class takes place at Tri Long Coffee, 88 Phan Chau Trinh Street.
• Learn the crop-to-cup story: Long explains Vietnamese coffee, roasting, café culture, and the history behind popular drinks.
• Take the recipes home: Recipe cards help you repeat the drinks after your trip.
• Small groups can mean extra attention: Class size may be tiny, and private instruction is possible when no one else books.
• Budget-friendly and flexible: The one-hour class costs $15 per person, with free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

Starting at Tri Long Coffee on Phan Chau Trinh Street

The experience begins at Tri Long Coffee, at 88 Phan Chau Trinh Street in Hoi An. You make your own way there, since hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. That keeps the cost low, but you should allow time to find the shop before the class starts.

This is a local coffee roastery rather than a large attraction with a polished show floor. That matters. You are not simply handed a finished drink and told where it came from. The setting connects the lesson to the everyday coffee culture you see across Vietnam.

The class is conducted in English with a live guide. Long introduces the beans and explains how coffee moves from growing regions in Vietnam to roasting and finally to your cup. The lesson also links coffee shops with Vietnamese history and culture, giving the drinks a little more meaning than their sweet, photogenic appearance might suggest.

You can expect a relaxed atmosphere with music and time to sit after making your drinks. The shop is described as small and cosy, so the experience should appeal to you if you prefer a quiet lesson over a large group demonstration.

Understanding Vietnamese Coffee From Crop to Cup

The opening part of the class sets up the practical work. You hear about the coffee-growing regions that supply the beans, the small-batch roasting approach, and the care taken with the finished product. The focus is not only on taste. Sustainability and quality are presented as part of the coffee-making process.

I find this background useful because Vietnamese coffee can seem simple at first glance. A metal filter, condensed milk, ice, and strong coffee may not look complicated. But the method, roast, ingredients, and balance all affect the final drink.

The coffee specialist also explains the place of cafés in Vietnamese life. Popular coffee drinks are tied to social habits and local history, and the class gives you a way to understand what you are ordering elsewhere in Hoi An. You leave with a better sense of why Vietnamese coffee menus include such a wide range of styles.

The information is delivered during a short class, so do not expect a professional barista qualification or a detailed lecture on every coffee-producing province. The value comes from the combination of context and hands-on preparation.

Choosing Two Drinks to Make Yourself

A key choice comes early: you select two traditional Vietnamese coffee styles to prepare and taste. The available options include:

• Vietnamese phin filter coffee
• Egg coffee
• Salt coffee
• Coconut coffee

This choice makes the class more personal. You can pick familiar phin coffee and compare it with something less expected, or focus on two sweeter specialty drinks. The supplied experience information indicates that participants have made combinations such as coconut and salt coffee, while others have prepared two different recipes from the wider list.

The phin filter is the most direct introduction to Vietnamese coffee. This small metal brewer sits over the cup while the coffee drips slowly. It is simple equipment, but the pace gives you time to watch the brewing process rather than rushing from machine to mug.

Egg coffee is the most unusual option for many first-time visitors. Salt coffee offers a sweet-salty contrast, while coconut coffee brings a different texture and flavor. Since you choose two, you can build a small comparison tasting instead of sampling only one house specialty.

The exact class flow can vary with the choices you make and the size of the group. That is worth keeping in mind. This is a guided preparation lesson, not a fixed tasting menu with every drink included.

The Hands-On Part: Filters, Ingredients, and Tasting

The practical work is the heart of the hour. All ingredients and equipment are supplied, so you do not need to bring anything besides your interest and an appetite for coffee. Long guides you through the preparation, then gives you time to make the drinks yourself.

You are not watching from the side while someone else does all the work. You handle the process and taste the results. That makes the lesson useful for anyone who wants to repeat the drinks at home, especially since recipe cards are provided for the coffees made in class.

Several people have specifically appreciated the clear explanations and patient help. That detail is important for beginners. Coffee preparation can look easy when someone experienced does it, but a good instructor makes the steps manageable when it is your turn.

Some participants have made two drinks and then received recipes for all the available styles. You should confirm the exact recipe-card arrangement at the start, but the class is clearly designed to give you something practical to remember after leaving Hoi An.

The class may also include simple hats and aprons, adding a playful touch to the preparation. This is not essential to the coffee, but it suits couples, friends, and families looking for a light activity with a few fun photos.

Why the Small Group Format Matters

The class earns much of its appeal from its size. A booking has sometimes involved only two people, and one person who booked alone received a one-on-one lesson. That can make a big difference when you are learning a hands-on skill.

With fewer people, you have more room to ask questions and more time to prepare each drink. Long can watch your technique, explain a step again, and adjust the pace. This is especially helpful if you have never used a Vietnamese phin filter or are unsure how to balance a new recipe.

The trade-off is that the experience may feel less like a formal scheduled show. The atmosphere is intimate and relaxed, but the exact amount of instruction depends partly on the group and the drinks chosen. If you want a busy social workshop with many other participants, this may feel too quiet.

For most coffee fans, I see the smaller setting as a plus. You are paying for participation, not just a seat in a demonstration. At $15 per person, a class that turns into private instruction can be especially good value.

The Final Cup and Time to Relax

After the preparation, you sit down and drink what you have made. Music plays in the comfortable café setting, giving you a chance to slow down instead of rushing straight onto the next Hoi An sight.

This final pause is important because the class is not only about technique. You get to judge the drinks yourself. Perhaps you prefer the clean drip of phin coffee, or perhaps the egg, salt, or coconut version becomes your favorite. The tasting gives you a clear reason to pay attention during the preparation.

The experience does not include a full meal or other drinks. You receive the coffee ingredients needed for the activity, but plan separately if you want food or additional beverages. Since the class lasts one hour, it fits neatly before lunch, after a morning walk, or between other activities in central Hoi An.

I would not book this as a replacement for a long café afternoon. Instead, think of it as a short cultural activity that ends with a drink and a little time to enjoy the setting.

How Much Value You Get for $15

At $15 per person, the price is reasonable for a one-hour lesson that includes ingredients, equipment, a coffee specialist, access to the roastery, and two hands-on drinks. You are also getting a small cultural explanation and recipes that may help you recreate the experience at home.

The value rises if your class is very small. One-on-one instruction at this price is unusual, though group size is not guaranteed. Even in a larger class, you are still making the drinks rather than only watching.

The price does not cover transport, meals, extra drinks, personal spending, or anything not listed as part of the activity. Since you meet at the shop, the experience works best if you are already staying in or visiting central Hoi An.

I would compare it with the cost of ordering two specialty coffees in a café. Here, you pay a little more than a simple drink purchase, but you also get the story, the method, guided practice, and recipes. If you already plan to try Vietnamese coffee during your stay, this lesson gives you more lasting value than another ordinary café stop.

Who Will Enjoy This Coffee Class Most

This is a good match for you if you like food and drink activities with a practical result. You do not need previous barista experience. The instructor explains the process in English, and the lesson is structured for beginners.

It also suits couples and friends who want an easy one-hour activity. Making two drinks gives you something to do together without committing half a day. Families may enjoy the hats and aprons, though the activity is not described as specially designed for children.

Coffee lovers will get the most from the choice of styles. If you are curious about egg coffee or salt coffee but do not know where to begin, guided preparation removes some of the guesswork.

I would be less likely to recommend it if you have mobility limitations. The activity is not suitable for people with mobility impairments or wheelchair users. You should also look elsewhere if your main goal is a detailed roasting seminar, a full meal, or hotel transportation.

Practical Details Before You Book

The meeting point is Tri Long Coffee, 88 Phan Chau Trinh Street, Hoi An. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, and you should plan your own route to the shop.

The class lasts one hour, with starting times dependent on availability. The experience is in English and includes a live guide. Long is the named instructor associated with the class, and the teaching style is intended to be clear, friendly, and hands-on.

You can reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Hoi An schedule is still moving around. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund.

One practical note comes from a booking that had confusion about what had been reserved. To avoid surprises, check the booking details and confirm your two selected coffee styles when you arrive. Booking directly at the shop may also be worth considering if you are already nearby, though the listed booking option offers flexible cancellation and payment.

Should You Book This Hoi An Coffee Experience?

Book it if you want a short, affordable, hands-on introduction to Vietnamese coffee and like the idea of making two drinks instead of simply ordering them. The small roastery, English instruction, recipe cards, and chance of a tiny group make this stronger than a standard café visit.

Skip it if you need wheelchair access, hotel transport, a substantial meal, or a long technical course on coffee roasting. For most visitors with an hour to spare in central Hoi An, though, $15 buys a useful local lesson, a relaxed tasting, and recipes you can try long after Vietnam.

FAQ

Where does the coffee class take place?

The class takes place at Tri Long Coffee, 88 Phan Chau Trinh Street in Hoi An.

How long does the activity last?

The activity lasts one hour.

How much does the class cost?

The listed price is $15 per person.

Which languages are available?

The class is conducted in English with a live tour guide.

Which coffee drinks can I learn to make?

You can choose from Vietnamese phin filter coffee, egg coffee, salt coffee, and coconut coffee.

How many coffee recipes will I make?

You can choose two coffee styles for hands-on preparation and tasting.

Are ingredients and equipment included?

Yes. The ingredients and equipment needed to make the coffee are included.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you must make your own way to the meeting point.

Can I cancel the booking for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

Is the class suitable for wheelchair users?

No. The activity is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments.