Another post from my Vietnamese series. Drop by to read and taste some coffee with me!
The other day during 
So let’s talk coffee today.
I’ve done a lot of research about benefits and side effects coffee has on our body and I can successfully debate on both sides.
But today’s post is purely about my love for the coffee and adventures to find the best coffee spots in Hoi An.
Whenever I travel, I always try to imagine myself living in the city and one of the criteria to define if this is MY city is coffee. It’s not only about how easy it is to find a coffee shop but it’s about coffee culture overall.
Let me tell you what I mean by a good coffee culture and show you why Hoi An is THE PLACE for the brewed beans lovers.
☕Unique brewing techniques and/or coffee specialities
Vietnam has it both. Let me introduce you two most famous types of Vietnamese coffee:
- Phin Coffee
Phin is a drip filter that trickles direct into the cup. It turns to be quite strong. Some people prefer to drink it in its pure black brewed form, others would add sweetend condensed milk (the practice which appeared because French couldn’t easily find fresh milk). You can also choose ice or hot options.
- Egg Coffee (ca phe trung)
Strange but surprisingly delicious, it’s made from egg yolk whipped with condensed milk into an airy froth on top of the dark coffee.
Another variation which I found amazing is coffee mixed with the fresh yogurt. Sounds odd but those two components complement each other perfectly, especially for breakfast!
Locals also consume coffee in fruit smoothies: isn’t it a great way to get your vitamins and caffeine intake for the day at the same time? Although, I’d prefer them separately to slowly enjoy both as I also love smoothies :)
A funky experience I had at The Espresso Station in Hoi An was a charcoal latte claimed to be a healthier version because an activated charcoal acts as a magnet for toxins in the body. Make sure you check on the colour of your lips and teeth before you smile to someone after the drink ;)
☕Amount of the coffee shops and roasters
Let’s look at the map of the Hoi An old town. And as I said in my previous post, the city is small and easy to walk around. So here it is: extensive amount of coffee places as well as roasters on 1 square kilometre!
But the best part is coming next...
☕Quality
If you are a true coffee lover you probably have been in my shoes.
Do you remember the situation when you are just walking around and just want to get a nice coffee to accompany you? Then you look around and see that decently looking cafe and decide to take a cup away. The minute you have the first sip, you realise that now you probably feel more upset than excited about your walk. So yes, that happens to me sometimes in new cities when I don’t have time to research about coffee shops and just wanna grab something on my way…That kind of situations tell me a lot about the coffee culture.
Back to my guinea pig of the post - Hoi An: the possibility of finding a bad coffee if not equals but is definitely leaning towards zero!
Every place we went to (even not specialised in coffee) has offered us very good drinks. Quality is the KING of any customer experience and I’m glad locals are born with the coffee making skills in their DNA. Sometimes, they put too much of condensed milk but I don’t take it as a bad coffee. So whenever you are in Hoi An, be sure that almost every place will provide you with the energising tasty cup of coffee.
☕Locally grown (always a BONUS)
Coffee production has been a major source of income for Vietnam since the early 20th century. The owner of Phin coffee shop (Hoi An) was telling us about special microclimate of certain regions which creates that distinctive taste of the roasted beans. Another fact: by the late 1990s, Vietnam had become the world's #2 coffee producer after Brazil. Another proof that this country deserves the title of an amazing coffee culture!
To sum up, French colonists might have introduced coffee to Vietnam, but locals took this habit to the next level developing their own unique variations and style.
My verdict upon Hoi An coffee culture is super positive! I could definitely stay in this city for some time to enjoy every drop from a phin in the mornings while watching the sunrise over Thu Bon River.
❗Recommended coffee places: Phin coffee, 11 coffee, The Espresso Station, Hoi An roastery
Hope you enjoyed the read despite the fact that I mentioned word “coffee” 37 times in this post. I tried my best to use as many synonymous as possible :)
Please, help me to choose what to write about next (comment below):
- Vietnam Part 1/6: Falling in love in Hội An 🇻🇳 (✅POSTED)
- Inspiring photo project helping to preserve the knowledge and the heritage of Vietnamese ethnic groups
- Vietnamese cuisine cooking class experience!
- Magic of the lanterns
- Surprisingly enjoyable stay in Da Nang
- The significance of rice agriculture for Vietnam
What are your favourite coffee cities around the world? Are you a long black, quick espresso shot or a latter type of person or do you prefer tea? ❤
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