Hoi An: Vietnamese Coffee Making Workshop at Local Roastery

Vietnamese coffee is more than a strong morning drink here. At Trí Long Coffee, you learn how four local favorites are made, then prepare two of them yourself under the guidance of a local barista. The hands-on part is the real draw: you do not just watch a demonstration and sip a sample.

I like the choice of drinks, especially the chance to compare a traditional phin filter coffee with sweeter creations such as egg or coconut coffee. I also like the small, easygoing format. Instructors including Tee, Thi, and Houng have been praised for clear English and friendly teaching. The main drawback is that the workshop can feel a little rushed when several groups are waiting, and the setting is also a working café and shop rather than a private classroom.

Key points to know before booking

• Choose two of four coffees: Make phin, egg, coconut, or salt coffee, with guidance from an English-speaking barista.
• Learn the story behind the cup: The introduction covers Vietnamese coffee culture, beans, roasting, and brewing.
• Small groups work best: A small class gives you more room to ask questions and follow each step.
• Good value at $16: The price includes instruction, tools, ingredients, and two drinks you prepare yourself.
• Plan for 60 to 75 minutes: The advertised duration is one hour, but some sessions run closer to an hour and a half.
• Recipes may go home with you: Some participants have received printed recipes and a completion certificate.

What happens at Trí Long Coffee on Phan Châu Trinh Street

The workshop takes place at Trí Long Coffee, 88 Phan Châu Trinh Street, in central Hoi An. You will meet the guide outside the café. Look for the person wearing a red hat, and arrive about five minutes early so the class can begin without a scramble.

You do not need a taxi, hotel transfer, or special equipment to reach the activity. Transportation is not included, so you handle your own way to the city-center meeting point. If you have trouble finding it, the booking contact is the right place to ask for help.

The room functions as a café and roastery, so expect a practical, lived-in setting rather than a polished cooking school. That has a useful upside: you are surrounded by the coffee business you are learning about. The tradeoff is that the room may have other customers, shop activity, or another group preparing to start.

The first 15 minutes: coffee culture and roasting

The opening is short but useful. Your instructor gives you a quick welcome, then explains how coffee is grown, roasted, and brewed in Vietnam. You also hear the stories behind the four drink styles, which helps explain why Vietnamese coffee is not limited to a simple black cup.

The roasting section gives the class some substance. You learn about different roasting methods and the path from bean to finished drink. If you are already a serious coffee enthusiast, this introduction will not replace a full roasting course, but it gives you enough background to understand what you are about to make.

I especially like this part for first-time visitors to Vietnam. Ordering coffee can feel confusing when a café menu offers phin, egg, coconut, and salt versions without much explanation. After this introduction, you have a better sense of what makes each drink different and why these styles have become closely tied to local café culture.

The teaching is aimed at beginners. You do not need previous coffee-making experience, and the steps are explained in plain, manageable stages. Instructors such as Thi have been praised for clear English and careful explanations, while Tee and Houng have also been singled out for making the class friendly and easy to follow.

Picking two drinks from four Vietnamese styles

After the introduction, you select two drinks. Your options are:

• Phin coffee: The traditional filter style and the best choice if you want to learn the basic Vietnamese brewing method.
• Egg coffee: A distinctive local recipe that gives you a chance to make one of the country’s most recognizable specialty coffees.
• Coconut coffee: A cool, sweet option that has been a favorite for people who enjoy a refreshing drink.
• Salt coffee: An unusual choice with a memorable flavor and a good pick if you want something less familiar.

You make two drinks per person, not all four. That detail matters when planning. If you are visiting with a partner, you can choose different drinks and share tastes afterward. One couple used that approach to cover all four styles between them, which is a smart way to get more variety without paying for another session.

The choice also lets you match the class to your own taste. Pick phin and one specialty drink if you want a clear comparison between traditional and modern café styles. Pick coconut and salt if the novelty matters most. Egg and coconut are good choices for anyone who wants to focus on sweeter coffee recipes.

The 25 to 30 minute hands-on lesson

This is the heart of the activity. The tools and ingredients are set out for you, and the barista guides you through each drink step by step. You are not left to guess when to add something, how to use the equipment, or how to finish the cup.

The instructions are deliberately simple. One useful point is that the ingredients can be found in many places and the drinks do not require complicated equipment. That makes this more than a pleasant hour in Hoi An. You can try to repeat the recipes at home after your trip, even if your kitchen does not look like a professional café.

The pace depends on the group. In a small session, you can ask questions as you work, and the class feels personal. Some bookings have been private or nearly private, including a session with only two people. Larger groups can still work, but you may have less individual attention at certain steps.

You should expect to do real preparation, but not a technical barista certification course. The class focuses on accessible local recipes, basic roasting and brewing context, and the pleasure of making your own drinks. It is best for curious beginners, couples, families, and people who want a cultural activity with something to taste at the end.

Families can take part too. Children have enjoyed making coconut and salt coffee with their parents, although the activity is still centered on coffee and adult café flavors. The information provided does not give a minimum age, so check the current booking details if you are planning around young children.

Sitting down with the two coffees you made

Once both drinks are ready, you sit in the café, enjoy your creations, and take photos. This final 10 to 15 minutes gives the workshop a relaxed finish. You get to compare the drinks while the preparation is still fresh in your mind.

The coconut coffee has been particularly popular for its refreshing quality. Salt coffee is often remembered because it tastes different from the usual sweet or black coffee options. Egg coffee and phin coffee offer a useful contrast, with one showcasing a specialty recipe and the other focusing on traditional filtered brewing.

The activity includes two cups that you make yourself. Extra food and drinks are not included, so you should not book this as a full meal or café crawl. It is a compact coffee experience, not a long tasting menu.

Some sessions end with a certificate and printed recipes. These extras are not listed as guaranteed inclusions, so treat them as a possible bonus rather than the main reason to book. The recipes are the more useful takeaway, especially if you want to recreate the drinks for friends and family.

Is $16 a good value in Hoi An?

At $16 per person, this is a solid buy if you want more than a standard café visit. You receive an English-led lesson, instruction from a barista, all tools and ingredients, and two drinks that you prepare yourself. Two specialty coffees in a café would cost less than the workshop in many cases, but they would not give you the cultural explanation or the practical skill.

The value is strongest for couples and small groups who can choose different drinks. You can compare more styles without needing each person to make all four. It is also good value for anyone who expects to use the recipes later, since the lesson removes much of the guesswork.

The price is less compelling if you only want to taste Vietnamese coffee. Hoi An has plenty of cafés where you can order a phin, egg, coconut, or salt coffee without taking an hour to prepare it. This activity earns its price through participation and instruction, not simply through the drinks.

The total time is advertised as one hour, but the practical range is 60 to 75 minutes. One session took about an hour and a half, while others moved more quickly. If you have a tightly packed day, leave extra space before your next plan.

What makes the teaching work

The strongest part of this experience is the staff. The class depends on the instructor being able to explain unfamiliar techniques clearly, and the named guides have received strong praise for their English, patience, and friendly manner.

Thi has been described as kind and well informed about coffee. Tee has been praised for making the history lesson and practical work enjoyable. Houng has also helped create an easygoing class. Staff members are not always identified in advance, so you may meet a different instructor, but the teaching style is designed for beginners.

The best sessions are likely to be small. You can ask why a method works, clarify a step, or compare your result with someone else’s. If you are deciding between this and a large group cooking class, the compact coffee format offers more direct contact with the instructor.

There is one practical limitation. The coffee shop continues to function as a business, and another group may be waiting for its turn. That can make the final part feel slightly hurried at busy times. You should enjoy the coffee, ask your key questions during the preparation, and avoid scheduling something immediately afterward.

Tips for getting more from the hour

Arrive five minutes early and look for the red hat outside the café. That small detail matters because Phan Châu Trinh Street has regular city activity, and you do not want to spend the first minutes searching.

Wear comfortable shoes and bring water, a hat, sunscreen, and a camera. The workshop itself is indoors at the café, but these items are useful for getting around Hoi An before and after the class.

Choose drinks that teach you something different. My practical combination would be phin plus egg for a traditional and specialty comparison. If you prefer cooler, sweeter flavors, choose coconut and salt. With a partner, select four different drinks between you and share tastes.

Ask about the beans, roast levels, and brewing steps while you are working. The final question period is short, so the hands-on stage is the best time to get specific answers. If the roastery sells beans, there is also time for optional shopping, but you are not required to buy anything.

Smoking is not allowed during the activity. Food and extra drinks are not included, and hotel pickup is not provided.

Who should book this coffee workshop?

I would recommend it to anyone who wants a short cultural activity in Hoi An that is easy to fit between sightseeing plans. It works especially well on a hot or rainy day, when an indoor café class gives you a break from walking while still teaching you something tied to Vietnam.

Coffee lovers will appreciate the roasting and brewing discussion, but you do not need to know much about coffee to enjoy it. The clear steps, relaxed pace, and simple equipment make it accessible to complete beginners.

It is also a good choice for couples. Choosing different drinks lets you taste more styles, and the small setting gives you a chance to ask questions without the feel of a large tour. Families can take part, too, particularly if the children are interested in making the drinks, but the experience is still primarily designed around coffee.

I would hesitate only if you want a full roasting course, a guaranteed private class, or a long tasting session. The workshop is short, the venue is a working café, and the two-drink limit is fixed.

Should you book the Trí Long Coffee workshop?

Book it if you want to understand Vietnamese coffee by making it yourself. The combination of a short cultural introduction, two custom-selected drinks, friendly English-speaking instruction, and a price of $16 gives you plenty for the time.

For the best experience, book when your schedule has some flexibility, arrive early, and choose your two coffees with care. Pick different styles from your companion if possible. If you only want a quick caffeine stop, visit a café instead. If you want a useful memory, a few recipes, and a better idea of what is in your Vietnamese coffee cup, this workshop is a smart Hoi An add-on.

FAQ

How long does the Vietnamese coffee workshop last?

The activity is listed as one hour, but you should allow 60 to 75 minutes. Some sessions can take about an hour and a half.

Where does the workshop take place?

It takes place at Trí Long Coffee, 88 Phan Châu Trinh Street, Hoi An, in the city center. Meet the guide outside the coffee shop and look for a red hat.

Which coffees can I make?

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

Is previous coffee-making experience required?

No. The workshop is suitable for beginners, and the instructor explains each step while you make the drinks.

What does the $16 price include?

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

Is transportation included?

No. Hotel pickup and transportation are not included, so you must make your own way to Trí Long Coffee.