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

Vietnamese coffee is more than strong coffee poured over condensed milk. At Tri Long Coffee, Long guides you from bean to cup, explaining how coffee is grown, roasted, and prepared before you make your own drink. You can choose two styles from phin filter, egg, salt, and coconut coffee, then enjoy the results in the shop.

I like the small-batch roasting focus and the useful take-home recipes, which let you repeat the lesson after leaving Hoi An. I also like the small, cosy setting, where a class may be private or nearly private. The main drawback is that the booking details may need checking at the shop, since one participant had confusion about what was reserved through the online booking service.

Key points to know

• Make two Vietnamese coffee styles: Choose from phin filter, egg, salt, and coconut coffee.
• Learn with Long: The English-speaking instructor explains coffee origins, roasting, and preparation in a practical way.
• Visit a working local roastery: The class gives you more context than a standard café tasting.
• Take the recipes home: Recipe cards make the class useful beyond your hour in Hoi An.
• Expect a compact class: The activity lasts one hour and takes place at Tri Long Coffee, not at your hotel.
• Good value at $15: Ingredients, equipment, tasting, and an English-speaking coffee specialist are included.

What happens at 88 Phan Chau Trinh Street

You meet at Tri Long Coffee shop, at 88 Phan Chau Trinh Street in central Hoi An. Hotel pickup is not included, so you need to make your own way there. That is worth noting if you are staying outside the central area or planning a tightly packed day.

The setting is a local coffee roastery rather than a large cooking school or staged attraction. The emphasis is on small-batch roasted Vietnamese beans and the process behind the drink in your cup. This gives the lesson a useful local angle: you are not simply copying a recipe, you are learning why Vietnamese coffee is prepared in these particular ways.

The class is scheduled for one hour. That is short enough to fit between sightseeing stops, but long enough for a basic explanation, hands-on preparation, and tasting. If you want a long coffee seminar or a full meal, this is not that. Think of it as a compact introduction with something practical to take home.

The atmosphere is described as comfortable, with music playing while you drink what you have made. That final pause matters. Coffee preparation can feel rushed if the class ends the moment the drink is finished, but here you have time to sit and enjoy the result.

From Vietnamese coffee beans to the finished drink

Long begins with the background behind Vietnamese coffee and the café culture connected with it. The lesson includes stories about popular cafés in Vietnam and their place in the country’s history and culture. You also learn how coffee moves from crop to cup.

That explanation helps put the recipes in context. The phin filter, for example, is not just a novelty piece of equipment. It produces a slow drip and encourages you to pay attention to the coffee as it brews. The class includes all equipment and ingredients, so you do not need to bring anything.

The roastery setting also gives the coffee itself a proper place in the lesson. Small-batch roasting suggests attention to freshness and consistency, while the stated focus on quality and sustainability gives you a chance to ask about how the beans are sourced and prepared. The supplied information does not promise a full technical roasting demonstration, so do not book this expecting an advanced lesson in roasting science.

The strength of this part depends partly on your interest. Coffee fans will enjoy learning how the beans and brewing methods affect the final drink. If you mainly want a quick sweet beverage, the cultural and production information may feel like more background than you need.

Choosing between phin, egg, salt, and coconut coffee

A useful feature is the choice of traditional coffee styles. You can select from Vietnamese phin filter coffee, egg coffee, salt coffee, and coconut coffee. The class format allows you to make and taste two recipes, giving you a better comparison than a single-drink demonstration.

Phin filter coffee

The phin filter is one of the clearest introductions to Vietnamese coffee. It is a simple metal brewer placed over the cup, with hot water passing slowly through the grounds. You learn the basic method by handling the equipment yourself rather than watching someone else do it.

This choice suits you if you want the most traditional brewing lesson and a method you can try at home. It may also be the best starting point if you are less familiar with Vietnamese coffee and want to understand the basic brew before moving to sweeter variations.

Egg coffee

Egg coffee is one of Vietnam’s most distinctive café drinks. It combines coffee with a sweet, creamy egg mixture. The result is closer to a dessert-style drink than a plain morning coffee, so it is a good choice if you enjoy unusual textures and sweet flavors.

The provided information does not specify every step in the recipe, so Long’s live instruction is important here. You get the benefit of making the drink under guidance rather than trying to guess the proportions at home.

Salt coffee

Salt coffee has become a popular Vietnamese specialty, and the class lets you learn the method directly. A small amount of salt can change the balance of a coffee, especially when paired with sweetness. It is an easy choice for curious drinkers who want something different without choosing a heavy dessert drink.

One participant particularly enjoyed learning salt coffee and planned to make it at home. That points to one of the class’s practical strengths: the recipe is not just for tasting in Hoi An. You receive the information needed to try it again later.

Coconut coffee

Coconut coffee brings a cool, sweet character to the lesson. It is a natural pick if you like coconut drinks or want something less familiar than a standard filter coffee. It also gives you a contrast with phin coffee, since the two styles highlight different sides of Vietnamese café culture.

You may not get to make all four types in one hour. The main choice is usually two recipes, so consider what you want to learn before the class begins. If you are with a companion, choosing different styles lets you compare more drinks.

Why the hands-on format is worth $15

At $15 per person, this is a modestly priced activity for Hoi An. The fee includes the ingredients, equipment, roastery visit, hands-on preparation, tasting, and English-speaking coffee specialist. You are paying for an activity, not simply for two drinks.

The value is strongest if you want a skill you can repeat. Several participants received recipe cards, including the recipes they made and, in some cases, recipes for all the available styles. That turns a one-hour stop into a small souvenir with real use. A lantern or postcard may remind you of Hoi An, but a salt coffee recipe can bring the trip back to your kitchen.

The class also works well for a short free period. You do not need to give up half a day, arrange transport, or commit to a full meal. At the same time, the low price means you should keep your expectations sensible. This is an introductory class, not an in-depth professional barista course.

The included tasting is another practical advantage. You learn how the drink should look, smell, and taste as you make it. That is especially helpful with egg and coconut coffee, where texture and sweetness are part of the appeal.

A small class with a personal feel

The group size is not fixed in the available details, but the setting is small and cosy. One booking resulted in a one-on-one class, and another had only two people. A small group can make a big difference in a hands-on lesson because Long has more time to correct your technique and answer questions.

The personal scale also explains why the experience may feel relaxed rather than highly scripted. You can ask about coffee origins, Vietnamese cafés, and the drinks you are making. The instructor is described as helpful, friendly, clear, and patient, which are exactly the qualities you want when working with unfamiliar equipment.

You may be given hats and aprons during the class. That adds a playful touch, especially for families or friends who want photographs, but it is not the reason to book. The real draw is making the drinks yourself and learning the recipes.

Because the class is compact, the pace may vary by group. A private lesson can give you more attention, while a fuller session may feel more social. The activity information does not promise a guaranteed private booking, so do not assume you will have the instructor alone.

What to expect from the final tasting

After preparing the coffee, you sit down and drink what you made. Music plays in the comfortable café setting, giving you a chance to slow down rather than immediately rushing back onto Hoi An’s streets.

This final tasting is more useful than it may sound. You can compare the drinks with the preparation steps still fresh in your mind. If a coffee tastes too sweet, too strong, or not creamy enough, you can connect that result to what you did during the class.

The experience is also social without requiring a group activity. You can share the drinks with a companion, compare your choices, and ask Long about variations. If you are alone, the one-hour format still gives you a clear activity with direct instruction.

There are limits. Meals and other drinks are not included, so you should not treat the class as breakfast or lunch. The coffee tasting is the main refreshment provided.

Who should book this Hoi An coffee class

I would recommend this class to coffee drinkers who want more than a café stop. It is especially suitable for:

• People curious about Vietnamese coffee culture
• Couples, friends, or solo visitors who enjoy practical activities
• Coffee fans who want recipes to try at home
• Visitors with only one free hour
• Anyone interested in comparing unusual drinks such as salt, egg, and coconut coffee

Families may enjoy the hands-on element and the hats and aprons, although the supplied information does not give a minimum age. You should check directly if you are booking for young children.

This is less suitable if you have mobility limitations. The activity is listed as not suitable for people with mobility impairments or wheelchair users. It is also not ideal if you want hotel transport, a full meal, or a long technical lesson.

English is the listed language, and the class is led by an English-speaking guide. That makes it a practical option for visitors who want explanations as they work rather than only a written recipe.

Booking advice and one small caution

The activity offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start time, with a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms are useful if your Hoi An schedule may change, but you should still check the available starting times before choosing your day.

The one caution concerns booking clarity. One participant found some confusion about what had been reserved through the online platform and suggested booking at the shop in person. That does not mean every booking will have a problem, but it is sensible to confirm the number of drinks, the class time, and the meeting point when you arrive or before the day of the activity.

Tri Long Coffee shop is at 88 Phan Chau Trinh Street. Since there is no pickup or drop-off, allow time to reach the shop and arrive ready to begin. The class is only one hour, so a late arrival could cut into the hands-on portion.

Should you book it?

Book this Hoi An coffee class if you want a friendly, useful introduction to Vietnamese coffee in a small local setting. The $15 price is fair because it includes preparation, tasting, equipment, instruction, and recipes you can use at home.

I would choose two contrasting drinks, such as phin filter and salt coffee, or phin filter and coconut coffee. That gives you both a traditional brewing method and a more creative café style. Skip it if you need wheelchair access, hotel transport, or a substantial meal. For curious coffee drinkers with one spare hour, it is an easy addition to a Hoi An itinerary.

FAQ

Where does the Vietnamese coffee class take place?

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

How long does the class last?

The activity lasts one hour.

How much does the class cost?

The listed price is $15 per person.

Which Vietnamese coffee styles can I make?

You can choose from Vietnamese phin filter coffee, egg coffee, salt coffee, and coconut coffee. The class allows you to make and taste two coffee recipes.

Is the class taught in English?

Yes. English is the listed language, and an English-speaking coffee specialist leads the class.

Are ingredients and equipment included?

Yes. The class includes all ingredients and equipment needed to make the coffee, as well as the tasting.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you must travel to Tri Long Coffee shop yourself.