Hoi An: Vietnamese Coffee Making Workshop at Local Roastery

Vietnamese coffee is much more than strong coffee poured over ice. At Trí Long Coffee, you learn how four local styles differ, then make two drinks yourself with help from an English-speaking barista. The small roastery setting keeps the lesson personal, and past instructors have included Tee, Thi, and Houng.

I like the choice between familiar phin coffee and more unusual egg, coconut, or salt coffee. I also like the practical pace: you hear the story, make the drinks, then sit down and enjoy them. The main drawback is that the hour can feel short, especially if the café is busy or you want to ask many questions.

Key points

• Choose two of four drinks: Make phin, egg, coconut, or salt coffee, with each choice offering a different look at Vietnamese café culture.
• A hands-on lesson: You do the measuring, mixing, and brewing instead of simply watching a demonstration.
• Central Hoi An location: Meet at Trí Long Coffee, 88 Phan Châu Trinh Street, with no hotel transfer needed.
• Small-group feel: Sessions may be intimate, which makes it easier to ask about beans, roasting, and recipes.
• Useful for beginners: The barista explains each step clearly, and no previous coffee experience is needed.
• Good value at $16: You get instruction, ingredients, equipment, and two coffees you make yourself.

Making Vietnamese coffee instead of just drinking it

Many Hoi An visitors try Vietnamese coffee at a café, but this workshop shows you what happens before the cup reaches the table. You learn how the beans are grown, roasted, and brewed, then put that knowledge to work.

That shift from tasting to making gives the experience its value. You are not simply handed an egg coffee and told what is in it. You learn the basic method, handle the tools, and see how small changes create very different drinks.

The workshop takes place at Trí Long Coffee on Phan Châu Trinh Street, in central Hoi An. It is easy to reach on foot if you are staying in the center, and you do not need to arrange a taxi or hotel pickup. The meeting guide wears a red hat outside the shop, a useful detail when you arrive.

Plan to arrive five minutes early. The session is advertised as one hour, although the full visit can run 60 to 75 minutes depending on questions, group size, and how quickly the drinks are prepared.

The opening lesson: five minutes to settle in

The first few minutes are simple. You meet the barista, check in, and receive a short outline of what you will do.

This is not a long formal lecture. That is a good thing. You get enough orientation to understand the process without losing time that should be spent making coffee. If you are new to Vietnamese coffee, this opening also gives you a chance to say what you already know and ask what each drink involves.

The instructors have included Tee, Thi, Houng, and other friendly English-speaking baristas. The exact person leading your class depends on the session, but the format is designed for beginners. You do not need to know coffee terms or bring any special skill.

Ten minutes on beans, roasting, and local coffee culture

The next section puts the drinks into context. Your barista explains how coffee is grown in Vietnam, how it is roasted, and how different brewing methods shape the final cup.

I find this part important because Vietnamese coffee culture is easy to reduce to condensed milk and strong caffeine. The workshop gives you a wider view. You hear about the path from bean to cup and learn why local cafés serve several distinct preparations.

You also get an explanation of roasting methods and brewing techniques. The lesson is short, but it gives you a useful framework for the practical part that follows. If you buy beans later or order coffee elsewhere in Vietnam, you will have a better idea of what you are tasting.

The explanation may be especially useful for people who rarely drink coffee. You are not expected to understand extraction, roast levels, or brewing equipment before arriving. The instructor keeps the steps clear and shows how the tools work.

Picking two drinks from four very different styles

After the introduction, you choose two drinks from four options:

• Traditional phin coffee
• Egg coffee
• Coconut coffee
• Salt coffee

This choice is one of the workshop’s best features, but it requires a little thought. If you want to understand the classic method, choose phin coffee. If you prefer something more unusual, egg, coconut, and salt coffee each give you a different experience.

You can select two drinks for yourself. If you are attending with a partner or family group, you can choose different combinations and compare the results. That is a smart way to sample all four without each person having to make every drink.

The options also cover several moods. Coconut coffee has been a favorite for some participants because it is refreshing. Salt coffee is a memorable choice if you want to try a less familiar local style. Egg coffee is a good pick if you are curious about a richer preparation. Phin coffee offers the most direct connection to traditional Vietnamese brewing.

You should make your choices early and listen closely to the explanation. The class is structured around two drinks, so changing your mind midway may not be practical if another group is waiting.

Twenty-five to thirty minutes of actual coffee making

The hands-on section is the heart of the experience. You make both drinks with the barista guiding you through the ingredients, tools, and order of each step.

This is not a passive demonstration. You take part in the preparation, which makes it easier to remember what you learned. The instructor stays nearby to help with timing and technique, so you are unlikely to be left wondering what to do next.

The pace is slow enough for beginners. One participant described the process as easy to follow, with ingredients that can be found in many places and no complicated equipment required. That matters if you want to repeat the drinks at home rather than leave the class with a pleasant but impractical memory.

The phin option introduces you to the traditional Vietnamese filter. Egg, coconut, and salt coffee show how the basic coffee can be combined with other ingredients to create very different results. The class does not ask you to master professional barista skills in an hour. Instead, you learn a handful of approachable recipes and methods.

You may want to take notes, although the instructor explains the process as you go. Some participants have received printed recipes, and certificates have also been given at the end of certain sessions. These extras are not the main reason to book, but they make it easier to recreate the drinks after returning home.

Tasting the two cups you made

Once both coffees are ready, you sit down in the café and drink them. This final tasting period usually takes 10 to 15 minutes.

I like that the workshop includes time to enjoy the result. You are not rushed straight out after the last step. You can take photos, compare the two styles, and ask follow-up questions while the flavors are still fresh.

The setting is described as cozy and music-filled, which makes this part feel more like a café visit than a classroom. It is a useful contrast to the practical work at the counter. After concentrating on ingredients and technique, you can simply relax with the finished drinks.

Keep in mind that the coffee served here is part of the class, not a full meal. Food and extra drinks are not included. If you need breakfast or lunch, plan to eat separately.

What the $16 price really covers

At $16 per person, this is a reasonably priced activity in Hoi An. The fee includes an experienced barista or instructor, the coffee-making lesson, all tools and ingredients, and two drinks that you prepare yourself.

The value is strongest if you are curious about coffee and expect to use the recipes later. You are paying for instruction as well as the drinks. A normal café visit may cost less, but it will not show you how to roast, brew, or prepare the different styles.

The price also works well for couples and families because each person gets to choose and make two drinks. Children can take part with adult help, although the supplied information does not set a specific minimum age.

I would not book it solely for a large coffee tasting. The class centers on two drinks per person, not a long sampling menu. If you mainly want to sit with coffee and relax, a café stop may suit you better. If you want a short activity with something to do, $16 is fair.

Small groups, timing, and the one real drawback

Several sessions have been intimate, including bookings with only two people. That is ideal for asking questions and receiving direct help. You might also find a larger group or a busier café, since Trí Long Coffee is both a shop and a working coffee space.

That dual purpose creates the main limitation. One participant found the experience a little rushed because other groups were waiting and the shop was active. The advertised duration is one hour, but some visits have taken about 90 minutes, so allow a little flexibility rather than scheduling a tight connection afterward.

If you want the calmest possible session, choose a time that suits your schedule and arrive early. You can also book for a small party if you are traveling with family or friends. The class works best when everyone gets a clear turn with the equipment.

The red hat meeting system is straightforward, but do not walk straight past the shop assuming the instructor will find you inside. Look outside at 88 Phan Châu Trinh Street, and contact the provider through your booking if you have trouble locating the guide.

Who will get the most from this workshop

I would recommend this to you if you:

• Want a cultural activity that lasts about an hour
• Enjoy coffee or want to understand Vietnamese café habits
• Prefer doing something practical to sitting through a long talk
• Are visiting Hoi An without a car or organized transport
• Want recipes that may be simple enough to repeat at home
• Are traveling as a couple, family, or small group and want different drink choices

It is also a good rainy-day plan. You do not need special clothing or equipment, although comfortable shoes, a hat, sunscreen, and water are suggested for getting around Hoi An.

Coffee enthusiasts will appreciate the talk about roasting and brewing. Beginners may appreciate it even more because the barista explains the process from the ground up.

You may want to skip it if you dislike coffee, need a full meal, or prefer a very long and detailed culinary class. The lesson is friendly and practical, but it is still a compact introduction rather than an advanced coffee course.

Booking advice for a smoother visit

The workshop offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start time, and you can reserve now and pay later. That helps if your Hoi An plans are still shifting.

Book with enough time to reach central Hoi An and arrive five minutes early. Bring a camera if you want photos of the process, but avoid smoking during the activity.

The working language is English. Ask questions during the roasting and brewing explanation rather than saving everything for the final few minutes. Because the class covers two drinks and several coffee styles, a short question at the right moment will get you a better answer.

If you are attending with someone else, consider choosing different drinks. One person can make phin and egg coffee while the other prepares coconut and salt coffee. You can then compare all four styles, although each person is still limited to making two.

Should you book Trí Long Coffee?

Book this workshop if you want a short, hands-on introduction to Vietnamese coffee with two drinks included. The best parts are the clear beginner-friendly instruction, the choice of four styles, and the chance to enjoy coffee you prepared yourself.

The experience is not perfect. A busy café can make the class feel rushed, and you do not get to make all four drinks individually. Still, at $16, it offers more than a standard coffee stop and takes little time from a day of exploring Hoi An.

I would book it early in a Hoi An visit, especially if you want to learn a recipe you can repeat later. Choose phin for tradition, coconut for something refreshing, egg for a richer style, or salt for the most unusual cup. If coffee is part of the reason you came to Vietnam, this is a useful and enjoyable way to understand it.

FAQ

Where does the coffee workshop take place?

The activity takes place at Trí Long Coffee, 88 Phan Châu Trinh Street in central Hoi An.

How do I find the guide?

Look for the guide standing outside the coffee shop and wearing a red hat. Arrive five minutes early, and contact the activity provider through your booking if you have trouble finding the meeting point.

Which coffees can I make?

You can choose two drinks from four options: traditional phin coffee, egg coffee, coconut coffee, and salt coffee.

Is the workshop suitable for beginners?

Yes. No previous coffee-making experience is needed, and the instructor gives easy-to-follow, step-by-step guidance.

What does the $16 price include?

The price includes the English-speaking barista or instructor, the hands-on workshop, all coffee-making tools and ingredients, and two cups of coffee that you make yourself.

How long does the activity last?

The stated duration is one hour, but the full session can last 60 to 75 minutes depending on the pace and questions.