Hoi An: Vietnamese Coffee Making Workshop at Local Roastery

REVIEW · COFFEE EXPERIENCES

Hoi An: Vietnamese Coffee Making Workshop at Local Roastery

4.8 · 174 reviews 1 hour From $16 Operated by GJ Travel Viet Nam · Bookable on GetYourGuide
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Vietnamese coffee, taught in a cozy roastery. I love the hands-on part, picking exactly what I want to make, and getting the story behind it from an English-speaking instructor like Tee, Thi, or Houng. The only thing to keep in mind is that this is a tight, 60 to 75 minute workshop, so if you want slow pacing, you may feel a bit rushed.

The meeting point is easy to find at Trí Long Coffee on Phan Châu Trinh, and you leave with two fresh cups that you made yourself. You also get practical guidance you can repeat later at home, plus some groups receive recipe printouts and a completion certificate. If you come expecting a big meal or a long tour, this is mostly about coffee craft and sitting down to enjoy it.

Key things I’d highlight before you go

Hoi An: Vietnamese Coffee Making Workshop at Local Roastery - Key things I’d highlight before you go

  • Two drinks you choose from phin, egg, coconut, or salt coffee, so it never feels generic
  • Step-by-step brewing with tools and ingredients provided, so you can focus on learning
  • Coffee culture talk that connects the bean-to-cup process to iconic local styles
  • English instruction with real time Q and A, led by friendly hosts like Tee, Thi, and Houng
  • Sit, sip, and relax in a comfortable, music-filled space after you make your coffee

Thirty minutes down the coast, more of the Ancient Town

Trí Long Coffee in Hội An, and how the workshop starts

Hoi An: Vietnamese Coffee Making Workshop at Local Roastery - Trí Long Coffee in Hội An, and how the workshop starts
This workshop is built around a simple idea: you learn Vietnamese coffee by making it. It runs out of Trí Long Coffee at 88 Phan Châu Trinh Street, right in Hội An’s center, so you are not wrestling with complicated directions or sketchy transfers.

You will meet your guide right outside the shop. Look for a guide wearing a red hat, then you will step in when the group is ready. I like that the start is straightforward, and the whole plan is designed to fit into a single session without eating your afternoon.

Picking your phin, egg, coconut, or salt coffees

Hoi An: Vietnamese Coffee Making Workshop at Local Roastery - Picking your phin, egg, coconut, or salt coffees
One of the best value parts is that you do not just watch and sample. After a quick welcome, you choose two signature drinks out of four:

  • Phin filter coffee
  • Egg coffee
  • Coconut coffee
  • Salt coffee

This matters because Vietnamese coffee has multiple styles, and choosing lets you tailor the experience to your taste. If you like creamy desserts, egg coffee and coconut are often the clear favorites. If you want something surprising, salt coffee is the style that tends to stick in memory.

If you are coming with someone, you can also plan smarter. You can each pick different styles so you both end up learning more techniques and tasting more than your own two cups. That is a great way to turn one class into a mini tasting lineup.

The 60 to 75 minute flow, start to sip

Hoi An: Vietnamese Coffee Making Workshop at Local Roastery - The 60 to 75 minute flow, start to sip
The timing is short, but the session has a clear rhythm. Here is what to expect in the order you will feel it when you’re there.

1) Welcome and orientation (about 5 minutes)

You will get a quick overview of how the class works and what you’ll do next. This is where the instructor frames the session so you know what “success” looks like, which coffee steps matter most, and where you might want to ask questions.

If you are new to coffee making, this part helps. You are not walking in cold, and it reduces that awkward moment where you wonder what you are supposed to be doing.

2) Coffee culture and roasting story (about 10 minutes)

Next comes the talk. You learn about Vietnamese coffee culture and how coffee moves from bean to cup. You will also hear about roasting methods and brewing techniques, plus the origins or stories behind these famous styles.

I like this section because it prevents the class from turning into a quick cooking demo. Even without being a coffee expert, you get the “why” behind the method, and that makes the steps feel more logical when you start making your own drinks.

3) Choose your two coffees (about 5 minutes)

Then you pick two drinks. This is where the class turns into your personal experience, not a one-size-fits-all schedule.

It also sets your pace. If you choose one hot style and one iced style, you are practicing more than one technique flow. If you choose two that are very similar, you may feel extra confident by the end.

4) Hands-on coffee making (about 25 to 30 minutes)

This is the core of the workshop. Your barista guides you through each step, and all necessary tools and ingredients are provided. You make both of your chosen drinks with step-by-step help, so you are not stuck figuring things out on your own.

From what I see in how the class is run, the instructor’s job here is to keep the technique simple and repeatable. You learn what to do first, then what to do next, and how to correct small issues right away by adjusting how you prepare.

Also, you will get plenty of chances to ask questions while you work. Several past participants specifically highlighted that questions were easy to get answered during the session.

5) Enjoy your creations (about 10 to 15 minutes)

Once your drinks are ready, you sit down and enjoy what you made. The space is described as cozy and music-filled, which helps you actually relax after the hands-on part instead of feeling like you need to rush through photos and out the door.

This is also when the class becomes memorable. You taste the difference between styles you chose, and you get a reality check on what the method does to the final cup.

6) Q and A plus optional bean shopping (about 5 minutes)

Finally, there’s time for Q and A, plus optional bean shopping if you want to talk more about beans, roasts, or brewing techniques.

I appreciate the “optional” framing here. It keeps the workshop focused on learning, not on a hard upsell.

What you are actually learning, not just what you are making

This workshop is often described as easy and beginner-friendly, and that makes sense. There’s no requirement for prior coffee-making experience, and the instruction is in English.

But the learning goes beyond steps. You are taught:

  • the roasting story and why roasting matters for the final cup
  • brewing techniques tied to Vietnamese coffee styles
  • how each iconic style comes together from method and ingredients

The two drinks you make are your “proof of learning.” By the time you are sitting with your cups, you should understand enough to repeat the process later, not just recreate it once.

Some participants also received a printout of recipes, which is a huge help if you want to make these coffees at home. If you’re the type who likes to recreate food and drinks for friends, that small takeaway can turn a one-hour class into a long-term habit.

Why the coffee stories matter (especially for egg, coconut, and salt)

Hoi An: Vietnamese Coffee Making Workshop at Local Roastery - Why the coffee stories matter (especially for egg, coconut, and salt)
It is easy to treat Vietnamese coffee styles like flavors only. This class tries to connect each style to a bigger idea, the journey from coffee bean to the drink you recognize.

For example, coconut coffee tends to come across as refreshing, and multiple past participants mentioned it as a standout choice. Salt coffee also tends to be memorable, which tells me the class is doing something more than teaching a single sweet template.

And egg coffee has its own fan base for a reason. You get guided steps for it in the same structured way as the others, so you are not left guessing how the foam and texture are supposed to work.

Even if you do not remember every detail of the roasting story, you end up with a clearer mental map of Vietnamese coffee styles, and that makes future café orders in Vietnam feel more intentional.

Group size, comfort, and the real-world pace

Hoi An: Vietnamese Coffee Making Workshop at Local Roastery - Group size, comfort, and the real-world pace
This workshop is designed for a small, interactive class. In practice, you may end up with a very small group, including situations where it is just you and one other person, depending on your time slot.

That matters because you get more instructor attention. You can ask questions without feeling like you are speaking over other people, and you learn faster because you are not waiting around for your turn forever.

Comfort-wise, you will be in a coffee shop setting. It is not a separate classroom. You should expect to sit, stand at a station while you brew, then relax in the same general space.

One consideration to note: because other groups may be scheduled and the total session is short, the pace can feel a little brisk. If you like very unhurried experiences, you might notice the timeline.

Still, the class timing usually works well if you want something efficient that does not steal your whole day.

Value check: is $16 fair for two homemade coffees?

Hoi An: Vietnamese Coffee Making Workshop at Local Roastery - Value check: is $16 fair for two homemade coffees?
At about $16 per person for a roughly 60 to 75 minute workshop, the value is strongest in three places.

First, you are making two coffees yourself. That is not the same as a tasting flight where you get a sip and move on. You get full cups crafted by you.

Second, tools and ingredients are included. Coffee-making gear and ingredients add up fast if you try to replicate at home later.

Third, you get instruction in a tight format. You walk away with a method, not just a memory. If you’re the kind of person who enjoys repeating food and drink experiences, a class like this can be a good deal even compared to paying for multiple café tastings.

The only reason the price might not feel like a deal is if you mainly want a long cultural tour or a large, multi-course food experience. This is a coffee class, and it stays focused.

What to bring, what to wear, and what to expect at the roastery

Hoi An: Vietnamese Coffee Making Workshop at Local Roastery - What to bring, what to wear, and what to expect at the roastery
This is a practical outing, so plan for comfort.

Bring:

  • comfortable shoes
  • hat
  • camera
  • sunscreen
  • water

Not allowed:

  • smoking

You might not think about sunscreen for a coffee class, but Hội An sun is real. Even short visits include time outside the shop while you find the guide and meet the group.

Also, a camera helps because you’ll want photos of the different styles you choose and the drinks you pour. Just know your time is better spent drinking and learning than chasing perfect shots.

Which coffee styles should you pick?

Hoi An: Vietnamese Coffee Making Workshop at Local Roastery - Which coffee styles should you pick?
You choose two, so let your taste do some of the work.

  • If you want something dessert-like and Instagram-friendly, egg coffee is a popular pick.
  • If you want something lighter, coconut coffee often lands as refreshing.
  • If you want a unique flavor twist, salt coffee is the one people tend to remember.
  • If you want the classic Vietnamese brewing feel, phin filter coffee is the best anchor choice.

A smart approach: pick one familiar style and one adventurous one. That way you get comfort, then you get a fun surprise.

Who this workshop fits best

This is a great match for:

  • first-timers who want to understand Vietnamese coffee without intimidation
  • coffee lovers who like hands-on learning
  • couples or friends who want a shared activity and two made-to-order cups
  • families who want an activity kids can participate in, since the class is set up for hands-on making

If you already know every Vietnamese coffee style and you mostly want deep roasting science, you may find the session a bit short. But if you want to learn enough to make good cups at home, the structure is built for you.

Should you book this Hội An coffee workshop?

Yes, I think you should book it if you want a small, friendly, English-taught class where you make your own coffees and leave with practical steps. It is efficient, it is interactive, and the workshop centers on the four iconic styles, including the fun ones like egg, coconut, and salt.

Skip it only if you’re looking for a long guided tour, a heavy meal, or a super slow pace. Otherwise, this is one of those activities that turns an everyday coffee stop into something you’ll actually remember and repeat.

FAQ

How long is the Vietnamese coffee making workshop in Hội An?

The workshop runs for about 60 to 75 minutes.

How much does the workshop cost?

It costs $16 per person.

How many coffees will I make during the class?

You will make two cups of coffee yourself.

What coffee styles can I choose from?

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

Where do I meet the instructor, and how do I find them?

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

Is the class beginner-friendly and offered in English?

Yes. The workshop is suitable for beginners, and the live guide/instructor teaches in English.