Coffee Making Class in Hoi An: Brew Vietnamese Phin Coffee Like a Local

Vietnam is one of the biggest coffee producers in the world, and a coffee making class in Hoi An is the most enjoyable way to understand why. In about 2 hours, a local barista shows you how Vietnamese robusta goes from crop to cup, how to brew it with the traditional phin filter, and why sweet condensed milk became part of the recipe. You then make and taste four classic Vietnamese coffees yourself, from black phin coffee to creamy Hanoi egg coffee, a relaxed activity that fits into any Hoi An itinerary.

Coffee Making Class in Hoi An: Packages and Prices

What’s included

• Guidance from a trained barista
• Hands-on brewing with the phin filter
• Ingredients for 4 coffees: black, white, salt coffee and egg coffee
• A welcome herbal tea and a cookie

Not included

• Hotel pick-up (you meet at the coffee workshop)
• Public holiday surcharge, if any (paid on site)

How to Book the Coffee Making Class in Hoi An

Booking a coffee making class in Hoi An takes about a minute. Choose one of the two options below: get the organizer’s contact straight away, or leave your details and the Hoi An Fairy Tour team will contact you. Once your date is confirmed, you receive an e-ticket or tour confirmation within 15 minutes.

Payment options: pay directly on the day, by domestic bank transfer, or by PayPal (3% transaction fee).

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Why Join a Coffee Making Class in Hoi An?

Coffee shops are the living rooms of Vietnam: friends meet there, families gather there, and business gets done over a slow-dripping cup. A coffee making class in Hoi An is your invitation inside. We recommend this class if you:

• love coffee and want to understand the coffee culture of one of the world’s leading coffee-exporting countries;
• are looking for a quick, fun and hands-on activity in Hoi An, perfect for a hot afternoon or a rainy day;
• want to take home a real Vietnamese recipe that you can repeat in your own kitchen.

What Makes Vietnamese Coffee Different

Most of the coffee grown in Vietnam is robusta. Compared with arabica, robusta beans have a stronger, bolder taste and more caffeine. Vietnamese roasters take them to a dark roast, which gives the coffee its deep, almost chocolatey body.

The other signature is sweetened condensed milk. Coffee arrived in Vietnam during the French colonial period, when fresh milk was hard to find. Condensed milk kept well in the heat, so people mixed it with their strong dark coffee, and the pairing became a national favourite that is still served in every café today.

The Phin: Vietnam’s Simple Coffee Filter

You don’t need a machine to make great Vietnamese coffee. Everything is done with the phin, a small metal drip filter that sits on top of your cup. It has four parts:

1. The chamber that holds the ground coffee;
2. The press that you place on top of the grounds to tamp them down;
3. The lid that keeps the heat in while the water drips through;
4. The base plate that lets the brewed coffee drip slowly into the cup below.

Brewing with a phin is slow on purpose. You add the grounds, pour a little hot water to let them bloom, fill it up and then wait while the coffee drips. The result is a small, rich, concentrated cup, which is exactly what balances the sweetness of condensed milk. In class, your barista shows you how to assemble the phin and control the strength so your coffee tastes right every time.

What Happens During the Coffee Making Class in Hoi An

1. The journey from crop to cup

You are welcomed with a cup of special herbal tea, then the class starts with stories. Your guide explains how coffee is grown, harvested and roasted in Vietnam, what makes finely ground Vietnamese robusta different from coffee elsewhere in the world, and how the French colonial period shaped the way Vietnamese people drink it.

2. Dark roasting and the condensed milk secret

Next you learn why the beans are roasted dark, and how that dark roast is designed to blend perfectly with sweet condensed milk, an improvisation born from the shortage of fresh milk in colonial times.

3. Barista demonstration and hands-on brewing

A trained barista demonstrates how to get the best flavour out of the phin, then it’s your turn. You measure, tamp, pour and wait, and make four coffees one after another: classic black coffee, white coffee with condensed milk, Hue-style salt coffee and creamy Hanoi egg coffee. The technique is surprisingly low-tech, but the flavour is rich and deep.

4. Relax and taste

Taste the coffees you made with a cookie, while some music plays in the background. Afterwards, feel free to stay at the coffee shop, relax and try some local dishes from the neighbourhood. By the end of your coffee making class in Hoi An, you’ll understand why café culture is such a big part of life in Vietnam.

Is a Coffee Making Class in Hoi An Worth It?

For $12.99 (≈ 340,000₫) and about two hours, a coffee making class in Hoi An is one of the best-value cultural activities in town. You don’t just drink a good cup: you understand why it tastes the way it does, from the dark-roasted robusta to the slow drip of the phin and the sweet condensed milk that balances it. Most guests tell us the class changes the way they order coffee for the rest of their trip.

It is also an easy activity to fit into a busy itinerary. The class is short, relaxed and suitable for all ages, so it works well on a hot afternoon, a rainy day or between two bigger tours. Non-coffee drinkers can still enjoy the stories, the cookie and the herbal tea.

Tips to Get the Most from Your Coffee Class

• Go early in your trip. Take the coffee making class in Hoi An on your first or second day, then enjoy spotting the phin in every café you visit afterwards.
• Ask questions. The barista is happy to explain roast levels, grind size and how much condensed milk to add for your taste.
• Take notes or photos. The method is simple, but the ratios matter when you try it again at home.
• Stay a little longer. After the class you are welcome to relax at the coffee shop and try local dishes from the neighbourhood.

Recreate It at Home

A phin filter is small, cheap and light, which makes it one of the best souvenirs from Vietnam. With the technique you learn in your coffee making class in Hoi An, you can brew a classic cà phê sữa đá (iced coffee with condensed milk) anywhere in the world: condensed milk in the glass, the phin on top, a slow drip, a good stir and plenty of ice.

More Things to Do in Hoi An for Coffee and Culture Lovers

• Looking for the best morning cup? See our guide to coffee with breakfast in Hoi An.
• Want another hands-on workshop? Compare the best classes in Hoi An for tourists.
• Short on time? Here are the best quick activities in Hoi An.
• Browse every tour, class and show on our Explore Hoi An page.

Frequently Asked Questions

From Vincent – the Author

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