Hanoi: Vietnamese Coffee Making Class & Tasting with Phin Filter

Summary

Vietnamese coffee stories, hands-on brewing and hidden flavors

You’ll taste Vietnam’s café culture firsthand—sipping herbal tea as your local guide shares stories before you brew five distinct coffees yourself. Learn to use a Phin filter (and take one home), laugh over pronunciation attempts, and end up sharing cookies and conversation with new friends.

What’s the experience like?

Li handed me a tiny cup of herbal tea before we even touched any coffee beans. I thought we’d just jump right into brewing, but she started telling us about how cafés shaped Vietnamese life — something about old French influences and the smell of roasted beans in narrow alleys. The tea tasted almost grassy and sweet at the same time, which was a surprise. There was a quiet hum from the street outside, but inside it felt like we’d stepped into someone’s living room. I fumbled with the little metal Phin filter at first (Li laughed when I tried to say “cà phê sữa đá” — probably butchered it), but she showed me how to pack the grounds just right.

We made five kinds of Vietnamese coffee — honestly, I didn’t expect egg coffee to taste like dessert. The Hue salt coffee was salty-sweet and kind of strange at first sip, but then really grew on me. Everyone had their own favorite; mine was probably the coconut one because it reminded me of summer holidays. There was this moment when the condensed milk hit the hot espresso and turned everything creamy — you could smell caramel in the air for a second. We got to keep our own Phin filter too, which felt like a small victory after all that careful pouring.

I still think about that first cup sometimes, especially on cold mornings back home. It wasn’t just about learning how to make Vietnamese coffee — it was hearing Li’s stories, watching her hands move so confidently, trying (and failing) to pronounce things right. By the end, we were all sitting around drinking our creations with cookies and more tea, not really wanting to leave yet. Funny how quickly you can feel at home over a cup of something warm.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Vietnamese coffee culture and making class

• Enjoy special herbal tea
• Hear stories of Vietnam cafés
• Learn to use Vietnamese Phin filter
• Discover coffee process from crop to cup
• Roast dark coffee beans
• Make traditional black coffee
• Make Vietnamese happy white coffee
• Make Hue Imperial Salt coffee
• Make Ha Noi Capital Egg coffee
• Make fresh coconut coffee
• Enjoy coffee with cookie and Vietnamese tea

Top questions

What types of coffee do you make in this Vietnamese coffee class?

You’ll make traditional black coffee, happy white coffee, Hue imperial salt coffee, Hanoi egg coffee, and fresh coconut coffee.

Is this Hanoi coffee making class suitable for beginners?

Yes, all skill levels are welcome—your guide shows each step clearly.

Do you get to keep any equipment from the class?

Yes, you’ll bring home your own Vietnamese Phin filter after the class.

Is there food included during the experience?

You’ll enjoy cookies and herbal tea along with your coffees.

Are there accessibility options for wheelchairs or strollers?

The venue is fully wheelchair accessible and strollers are allowed.

Is transportation provided for this Hanoi coffee tour?

No hotel pickup is included but public transportation options are nearby.

How long does the Vietnamese coffee making class last?

The exact duration isn’t specified but expect enough time for five coffees plus tasting and stories.

What’s included

Your day includes all necessary tools for making Vietnamese coffee (including your own Phin filter to take home), an English-speaking instructor who guides every step from roasting beans to pouring condensed milk just right, plus plenty of tastings—herbal tea at the start, cookies alongside your creations—and lots of local stories shared around the table.