Hoi An: Vietnamese Coffee Making Workshop at Local Roastery

Vietnamese coffee is not just strong coffee poured over ice. At Trí Long Coffee, you learn why the little metal phin filter matters, how egg coffee becomes almost dessert, and why salt can make a dark roast taste smoother. You choose two of four drinks and make them yourself, with a barista walking you through each step.

I like the small-class feel and the fact that the ingredients and methods are simple enough to repeat at home. I also like the short cultural lesson, which gives your cup some context instead of treating coffee as a quick photo stop. The main consideration is pace: at busy times, the class can feel slightly rushed because the shop is also serving regular café customers.

Key points to know

• Choose two signature coffees: Make any two from phin, egg, coconut, and salt coffee.
• A practical one-hour class: The session usually takes 60 to 75 minutes, including preparation, tasting, questions, and shopping time.
• Beginner-friendly instruction: No previous coffee experience is needed, and the barista demonstrates each stage clearly.
• A useful Hoi An location: Trí Long Coffee is at 88 Phan Châu Trinh Street, in the city center.
• Recipes may come home with you: Some sessions include a printed recipe sheet and a completion certificate.
• Good value at $16: You get instruction, tools, ingredients, and two coffees you prepare yourself.

Starting with Vietnam’s coffee story

Meet your English-speaking guide outside Trí Long Coffee, where the guide wears a red hat. Arrive five minutes early. The shop is at 88 Phan Châu Trinh Street, a central location that is easy to reach, though you should follow the provider’s directions carefully if you are using a Grab car or taxi.

The opening introduction takes about five minutes. It is brief, which suits this kind of activity. You are not signing up for a long lecture. Instead, the barista explains what you will make, how the class works, and which two drinks you want to choose.

The next ten minutes put Vietnamese coffee into context. You hear about coffee growing, roasting, grinding, and brewing, along with the local stories behind the four drinks. The staff also explain different beans and roast styles, and may show how coffee is processed and roasted.

This short talk is one of the best parts of the class. Without it, egg, coconut, and salt coffee can seem like novelty drinks. With it, you begin to see them as different answers to the same question: how do you make a powerful Vietnamese coffee more balanced, creamy, refreshing, or unusual?

Guides named in the feedback include Tee, Thi, and Houng, along with several friendly female instructors. The important point is that the guide leads the process in English and answers questions as you work. The teaching style is described as clear, kind, and easy to follow.

Picking two coffees from four very different styles

You select two drinks from four choices. This decision matters because each one teaches a different technique.

Phin coffee is the classic starting point. A phin is a small metal filter that sits on top of a glass or cup. Ground coffee is placed inside, hot water is added, and the brew slowly drips through. You learn how much coffee and water to use, how to manage the drip, and how to combine the finished coffee with the ingredients provided.

This is the most useful choice if you want to recreate Vietnamese coffee at home. The equipment is simple, and the method does not require an espresso machine. It is also the drink that best shows the strength and slow pace of traditional Vietnamese brewing.

Egg coffee is the most distinctive option. The workshop shows you how the creamy egg mixture is prepared and paired with coffee. The result is thick, sweet, and dessert-like, making it a good pick if you enjoy rich flavors.

Coconut coffee is lighter and more refreshing. It combines coffee with coconut, creating a cool drink that several people particularly enjoyed. Choose it if you want something smooth and sweet, or if you are taking the class in hot weather and would rather not make two heavy drinks.

Salt coffee sounds strange until you taste it. The salt is used in a measured way to balance the bitterness of the coffee and add a creamy, rounded quality. It is a memorable choice for anyone who wants to try a style that is harder to understand from a menu description alone.

If you come with a partner, you can choose different drinks and compare them. Two people can cover all four styles by making different pairs, though each person still prepares only two. A family can also take part, and the setup is simple enough for children to follow with adult help.

Making the drinks step by step

The hands-on section takes about 25 to 30 minutes. The barista sets out the tools, coffee, and other ingredients, then demonstrates each stage before you try it. You are not left to guess how much to add or what the finished mixture should look like.

This is where the class earns its price. You are doing the work, but the instruction keeps it relaxed rather than turning it into a test. The staff help with the practical points that are easy to miss when you watch a short online recipe, such as the order of ingredients, the texture of the topping, and the timing of the brew.

The setup is designed for beginners. You do not need prior barista training, and you do not need to bring equipment. Comfortable shoes are sensible, but this is a seated café activity rather than a demanding physical outing. Bring a camera if you want pictures, but keep it out of the way while you are handling coffee and ingredients.

The class also gives you a better sense of what can be made with ordinary kitchen supplies. One useful detail is that the ingredients can be sourced in many places and the recipes do not depend on complicated equipment. That makes this more than a one-hour holiday diversion. You can try the drinks again after returning home.

Some sessions provide a printed recipe sheet, and several people also received a certificate at the end. These extras are not the reason to book, but they are helpful. The recipe sheet is the part you are most likely to use.

Sitting down with two coffees you made yourself

Once both drinks are ready, you sit in the café and enjoy them. Allow about 10 to 15 minutes for this part. The room has music and a comfortable café setting, so the activity shifts from instruction to tasting.

That pause is important. You can compare the drinks, take photos, ask follow-up questions, and decide which style you prefer. If you make egg and coconut coffee, for example, you get a clear contrast between a thick, dessert-like drink and a cooler, sweeter one. Salt and phin coffee offer a more direct comparison of classic strong coffee and a softened, creamy version.

The coffees are part of the admission, not an extra purchase. Food and additional drinks are not included, so do not expect a full snack break or a wider tasting menu. You are paying for two prepared drinks that you make, plus the teaching and use of the tools.

The shop is also a working coffee business. That gives the class a more genuine setting than a staged cooking room, but it can affect the mood. At quiet times, you may find yourself in a very small group, even just two people. At busier times, other groups may be waiting, and the final tasting period can feel a little compressed.

What the $16 price really covers

At $16 per person, this is a strong-value short activity in Hoi An. You receive an English-speaking barista, a cultural and roasting lesson, all coffee tools and ingredients, and two drinks that you prepare. The class also gives you techniques you can use again, especially if you choose phin coffee or take home the recipes.

The value is best for people who want participation rather than a simple café visit. If you only want to taste Vietnamese coffee, you can spend less at a local shop. If you want to understand how the drinks are made and leave able to repeat them, the workshop justifies the extra cost.

The class lasts about one hour, but allow up to 75 minutes. The schedule includes a five-minute welcome, ten minutes of coffee background, five minutes to choose your drinks, up to 30 minutes of preparation, time to taste, and a final question period. That makes it easy to fit between sightseeing in the old town, lunch, or an afternoon break.

There is no hotel pickup. You make your own way to the central meeting point. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start, and the reserve-now, pay-later option can help if your Hoi An schedule is still changing.

Who will get the most from this workshop

This is a good choice for coffee lovers, curious first-time visitors to Vietnam, and anyone who enjoys a practical class with a clear result. It also works well for couples, families, and small groups because each person gets to make two drinks and can select different styles.

You do not need to know anything about beans or roasting. The class explains the basics without assuming specialist knowledge. The pace is slow and manageable for most beginners, although the hands-on section may feel brisk when the café is full.

It is also a smart rainy-day activity. You get a comfortable indoor setting, a short duration, and something more memorable than simply waiting out bad weather in a café. Children can take part, but the coffee itself may not suit every child, particularly the strong phin style.

I would not choose this as your main activity if you want a long farm visit, a full roasting course, or a detailed technical lesson about extraction. The workshop is an introduction. Its strength is the mix of story, simple instruction, tasting, and fun.

Small details that make the visit smoother

Wear comfortable shoes, and bring water, a hat, sunscreen, and a camera if needed. Smoking is not allowed during the activity.

Look for the guide in the red hat outside the shop, rather than walking in and waiting for someone to identify you. If you cannot find the entrance, contact the activity provider through your booking.

Try to decide in advance which drinks interest you most. If you are visiting with another person, compare your choices so you do not both make the same pair. A useful combination is phin with one specialty drink, since the phin teaches the basic brewing method while egg, coconut, or salt shows how local cafés adapt it.

If you want to buy beans, leave a few minutes for the optional shopping period and ask about roast style and brewing method. There is no strong pressure to buy, so you can treat the shop as a chance to ask questions rather than a sales stop.

Should you book the Hoi An coffee workshop?

Book it if you want a friendly, hands-on introduction to Vietnamese coffee and like the idea of drinking two cups you prepared yourself. The $16 price is fair, the central location is convenient, and the class gives you recipes and methods you can use at home.

Skip it if you are short on time, dislike sweet coffee, or only want a quick traditional phin served without instruction. Also allow extra time beyond the advertised hour, since the session can run closer to 75 minutes.

For most visitors with one spare hour in Hoi An, I would choose this over a standard coffee stop. The best pairing is phin plus either coconut or egg coffee, though salt coffee is the pick for anyone who wants the most unusual taste. It is a small activity, but it gives you a practical way to understand one of Vietnam’s most distinctive daily rituals.

FAQ

Where does the coffee workshop take place?

It takes place at Trí Long Coffee, 88 Phan Châu Trinh Street, Hội An. The meeting point is in the city center.

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 location.

How long does the workshop last?

The scheduled duration is one hour, but the full session may take 60 to 75 minutes.

Which coffees can I make?

You can choose two of four drinks: traditional phin coffee, egg coffee, coconut coffee, or salt coffee.

Do I need previous coffee-making experience?

No. The workshop is suitable for beginners, and the instructor provides step-by-step guidance.

What is included in the price?

The price includes the English-speaking barista or instructor, the hands-on class, all required tools and ingredients, and two coffees that you make yourself.

Can I cancel or pay later?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund. A reserve-now, pay-later option is also available.