Hoi An: Vietnamese Coffee Making Workshop at Local Roastery

Vietnamese coffee is more than a strong cup poured through a filter. At this small Hội An roastery workshop, you hear how local coffee is grown, roasted and prepared, then make two signature drinks yourself, with a barista guiding each step. It’s a practical way to get beyond simply ordering coffee at a café.

I like that you choose two drinks from four very different styles, and that the session pairs hands-on instruction with stories about Vietnamese coffee. I also like the modest price: at $16, you get a guided lesson and two coffees you make and drink yourself. The main consideration is time: the plan is about an hour, but allow up to 75 minutes, and one participant found the class ran closer to 90.

A few things to know before you book

• Pick two recipes: Choose phin, egg, coconut or salt coffee. If you’re with someone, you can choose different drinks and share what you learn.
• Start with the story: The introduction covers coffee culture, roasting, brewing and the journey from bean to cup.
• Make both cups yourself: Your instructor explains each step and supplies the equipment and ingredients.
• Leave with more than a caffeine stop: Some participants have received recipe printouts or a completion certificate, though these extras are not listed as guaranteed.
• Find the roastery in the city center: Meet outside Trí Long Coffee, 88 Phan Châu Trinh Street, and look for your guide in a red hat.

From coffee story to your first pour

The workshop begins at Trí Long Coffee, where you meet your English-speaking instructor and get a short introduction to what’s ahead. The setting is a local specialty roastery and coffee shop, not a large demonstration venue. That makes the class feel focused: you’re there to learn a few methods, ask questions and make coffee, rather than spend half a day on a broad food tour.

The first ten minutes are devoted to Vietnamese coffee culture and the path from bean to cup. Your barista talks about how coffee is grown, roasted and brewed, and explains the origins of familiar local styles. If you’re new to Vietnamese coffee, this background gives the drinks you’ll make a context that a menu description alone can’t provide.

The roasting discussion is also useful if you want to understand why coffee can taste and behave differently depending on the beans and preparation. The class covers different roasting methods and brewing techniques, although it is designed as a short introduction, not a technical course. You’ll come away with a working overview rather than an in-depth lesson in roasting science.

Expect a friendly, conversational session. Instructors who have led classes include Tee, Thi and Houng, though you won’t be able to choose your guide when booking. The most valuable part is having someone explain the process as you go, so you can ask about an ingredient, a brewing step or how to repeat the recipe later.

Choosing two of four Vietnamese coffee styles

After the introduction, you select two drinks from four options: traditional phin filter coffee, egg coffee, coconut coffee and salt coffee. This choice is the workshop’s best little planning puzzle. If you’re curious about the range of local styles, pick two unlike each other, or coordinate with a companion and make different drinks so you can compare more recipes between you.

The phin filter is the traditional option in the lineup. It gives you a chance to learn a brewing method as well as a finished drink. Choose it if you’re interested in the mechanics of Vietnamese coffee preparation, or if you want a method you can try to repeat at home.

Egg, coconut and salt coffee give you a chance to explore the more distinctive menu styles associated with Vietnam. The workshop teaches you how to prepare each one, but the experience is not a tasting flight of all four. You make two per person, so decide before you arrive which recipes matter most to you.

The choice is confirmed early, with about five minutes set aside for it. If you’re traveling as a couple or family, you can choose different drinks rather than duplicate each other’s selections. One family, for example, made coconut and salt coffee while another person chose coconut and phin. That approach gives your group a broader taste of the workshop without requiring anyone to make more than two drinks.

Making the coffees, step by step

The hands-on portion takes about 25 to 30 minutes. Your instructor lays out the necessary equipment and ingredients, then walks you through each recipe. You don’t need prior coffee-making experience, and the class is built for beginners. You’ll be shown what to do and can ask for help as you go.

This is not a watch-the-barista-and-take-notes demonstration. You make the drinks yourself, with guidance on the process and ingredients. That distinction matters: if you simply want a quick taste of specialty coffee, ordering at a café will be faster. If you want to understand how the cup comes together, the class gives you a more useful souvenir than another café photo.

The pace is generally relaxed and easy to follow. The recipes are approachable, and participants have found the ingredients can be sourced beyond Vietnam and the preparation doesn’t demand complicated equipment. That makes the lesson practical for home, especially if you want to share a new drink with friends or family after your trip.

There is one small trade-off to keep in mind. The roastery also operates as a coffee shop, and classes may be scheduled close together. If another group is waiting, the making portion can feel brisk. You still get guidance, but this isn’t the place for an unhurried, multi-hour workshop with time to perfect every detail. Arrive ready to participate, and ask your questions as they come up.

Sitting down to drink what you made

Once both drinks are ready, you get about 10 to 15 minutes to sit, relax and enjoy them in the roastery’s comfortable, music-filled space. That pause is part of the class, not an optional extra. You taste the result of your own work while the preparation is still fresh in your mind, which makes it easier to remember how the recipe came together.

The drink you enjoy most will depend on your taste, but coconut coffee has been a particular favorite among participants, described as refreshing and delicious. Salt coffee has also left a strong impression. Those are good choices if you want to try styles that may be less familiar to you, while phin coffee is the straightforward pick if brewing technique is your main interest.

The two included cups are the core of the value. Food and extra drinks are not included, so don’t treat this as a meal or a broad tasting session. If you’re hungry, plan to eat elsewhere before or after. You can also use the last few minutes for questions about beans, roasting or brewing, and there may be an opportunity to browse beans for sale.

Some participants have left with a printed recipe sheet or a certificate. Those are welcome keepsakes, but they are not included in the stated package, so consider them a possible extra rather than a promise. The main takeaway is the instruction and the chance to recreate the drinks using the steps you learned.

What $16 buys you

At $16 per person, this is a good-value activity if you want more than a tasting. The fee includes an experienced barista, hands-on instruction, all coffee-making tools and ingredients, and two cups you prepare yourself. You also get a short cultural and roasting introduction, which helps explain what you’re making rather than treating each drink as a novelty.

The value is strongest for people who enjoy learning by doing. You won’t get a full-day coffee course or an exhaustive study of Vietnamese agriculture, but you do get several practical pieces in one hour: a broad introduction to coffee culture, a demonstration of selected methods, and time to make and drink two recipes. For a short activity in central Hội An, that’s a solid use of both time and money.

The cost does not cover transportation, food or additional drinks. The meeting point is in the city center, so you’ll need to make your own way to the roastery. If you’re already exploring Hội An on foot, the location is convenient. If you’re arranging a taxi or ride, follow the provider’s directions and allow enough time to find the exact address.

The advertised duration is one hour, while the detailed schedule allows 60 to 75 minutes. One participant found the class took about an hour and a half. I’d leave a little breathing room rather than booking another activity immediately afterward. That small buffer is especially useful if you want time to finish your coffee and ask questions without watching the clock.

Who will enjoy this class most

This is a good fit for coffee drinkers who want to understand how Vietnamese styles are made, not just sample them. It also works well for beginners, since no previous brewing experience is needed and the barista explains the steps as you go. If you like bringing recipes home from a trip, you’ll find the hands-on format more memorable than a standard café stop.

Families can take part, too. The activity is suitable for anyone curious about coffee, and a family can choose different recipes across the group. Keep in mind that each person selects two drinks, so younger participants or anyone who doesn’t want two coffees may find the format less appealing. The provided details don’t specify alternative drinks or food.

It’s less suited to someone seeking a long, slow class or a deep technical course on roasting. The session is deliberately compact, and the shared coffee-shop setting may mean a brisk transition between groups. If you want to explore every recipe, you’ll need to divide the choices with a companion or return to a café to order the styles you didn’t make.

Finding Trí Long Coffee and planning your visit

The meeting point is Trí Long Coffee at 88 Phan Châu Trinh Street, Hội An, in the city center. Look for your guide standing outside and wearing a red hat. Arrive five minutes early so the class can start smoothly, and contact the provider through your booking if you have trouble locating the spot.

Wear comfortable shoes and bring a hat, camera, sunscreen and water, particularly if you’re fitting the workshop into a day outdoors. Smoking is not allowed during the activity. The class is offered in English, with starting times depending on availability.

Booking is flexible: you can reserve now and pay later, and cancellation up to 24 hours before the activity earns a full refund. Those terms are helpful if your Hội An schedule is still shifting, though you’ll still want to check the available start times before building the rest of your day around the class.

Should you book the coffee workshop?

I’d book this if you enjoy coffee and want a short, hands-on introduction to local styles. The combination of cultural context, clear instruction and two drinks you make yourself gives the hour a satisfying shape, and the $16 price is reasonable for a guided activity with ingredients and equipment included.

Choose two recipes you’re genuinely curious about, and consider coordinating with a companion so you can compare more styles. Leave a little extra time in your schedule, and don’t count on food, additional drinks or take-home materials being included. If that sounds like a good fit, this is an easy way to turn a café break into a practical Hội An experience.

FAQ

Where does the workshop meet?

It meets at Trí Long Coffee, 88 Phan Châu Trinh Street, Hội An. Look for the guide outside the coffee shop wearing a red hat.

How long does the activity take?

The advertised duration is one hour. The detailed schedule allows 60 to 75 minutes, so leave a little extra time if you have another plan afterward.

How many coffees do I make?

You choose and make two drinks per person from the four signature options.

Which coffee styles can I choose?

The options are traditional phin filter coffee, egg coffee, coconut coffee and salt coffee.

Is the workshop suitable for beginners?

Yes. You do not need any previous coffee-making experience, and the instructor guides you through the steps.

What is included in the price?

The $16 per person price includes an experienced barista or instructor, the hands-on workshop, the tools and ingredients, and the two coffees you make.

Are transportation, food or extra drinks included?

No. Hotel pickup and transportation, food and additional drinks are not included.

Can I cancel for a refund?

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