Hoi An: Hands-on Vietnamese Coffee Making Class with Long

Coffee tells Hoi An’s story. This one-hour class brings you into a small local roastery, where Long explains Vietnamese coffee culture and guides you through making traditional drinks. I like the hands-on format and the choice of phin filter, egg, salt, or coconut coffee. I also like that the beans are roasted in small batches and that recipes can go home with you. The main catch is the short running time, so anyone wanting a full coffee farm visit or a long tasting session will need to look elsewhere.

At $15 per person, this is an easy activity to fit between Hoi An’s old-town walks, market visits, and meals. The class is especially useful for coffee drinkers who want to understand what is in the glass, not simply order another iced coffee. One practical caution: a past booking created some confusion at the shop, so bring your confirmation and check the activity details when you arrive.

Key points at a glance

• Four Vietnamese coffee styles: Choose from phin filter coffee, egg coffee, salt coffee, or coconut coffee.
• A real roastery setting: Learn about small-batch roasted beans and how coffee moves from crop to cup.
• A short, useful class: The activity lasts one hour, making it easy to add to a busy Hoi An day.
• Recipes for later: Participants have received recipe cards, including instructions for the coffees made in class.
• Friendly, patient instruction: Long and the staff focus on clear explanations and practical help.
• Small-group possibility: When bookings are light, you may receive a private or near-private lesson, though this is not guaranteed.

Starting at Tri Long Coffee on Phan Chau Trinh Street

The class begins at Tri Long Coffee, at 88 Phan Chau Trinh Street in Hoi An. You make your own way there, since hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

That location matters. You are not being rushed in from a distant attraction or placed in a formal cooking-school setup. You arrive at a working coffee shop and local roastery, then settle into a comfortable setting with music while the lesson begins.

The venue is described as small and cosy. That should appeal to you if you prefer direct conversation over a large demonstration. It also means the feel of the class may depend on how many people have booked that time slot. One past participant had a one-on-one session, while another small booking produced a private class.

The shop is on a city street, so you should plan your route before setting out. No transport is supplied, and the activity details do not promise a walking escort from your hotel. If you are already exploring central Hoi An, the meeting point should be straightforward to add to your day.

Learning how Vietnamese coffee reaches the cup

The opening part of the class looks at Vietnamese coffee from crop to cup. Long explains the beans, roasting, and the place coffee holds in Vietnamese café life.

This is the part that gives the activity more value than a simple drink-making demonstration. Vietnam’s coffee culture is closely tied to everyday social life, and the class connects popular café drinks with the country’s history and culture. You get context for what you see in cafés around Hoi An, rather than learning a recipe in isolation.

The roastery works with small-batch roasted beans sourced from Vietnamese coffee-growing regions. That does not turn the session into a farm tour, and you should not expect a detailed agricultural excursion. Still, it gives you a useful look at the care behind the beans and lets you compare the finished coffee with the usual tourist-café experience.

I particularly like this balance. You learn enough about the product to pay attention to aroma and flavor, but the class does not appear to bury you under technical coffee jargon. The focus stays on making and drinking.

The sustainability message is also part of the experience. The business presents quality and responsible sourcing as part of every cup. The available details do not specify a formal sustainability project or certification, so I would treat this as a guiding principle of the roastery rather than a separate attraction.

Choosing between phin, egg, salt, and coconut coffee

The most appealing decision comes when you select the coffee styles to make. Your choices are traditional Vietnamese phin filter coffee, egg coffee, salt coffee, and coconut coffee.

The phin filter is the classic starting point. This small metal filter sits over the cup and lets coffee drip slowly. The process is simple, but it asks you to pay attention to preparation and timing. If you want to understand the basic form of Vietnamese coffee, this is the most direct choice.

Egg coffee is the more unusual option. It is a good pick if you enjoy sweet, creamy drinks and want something you may not order every day at home. The class lets you see how the drink is assembled, instead of leaving you to guess at the café counter.

Salt coffee gives you a different lesson in balance. Salt may sound odd in coffee, but the point is not to make the drink taste salty. It changes the way the coffee and cream come together. Several participants specifically enjoyed learning this version and planned to recreate it at home.

Coconut coffee is another strong choice if you prefer a cool, sweet drink. It adds a clear tropical note to the coffee and gives you a useful recipe for warm-weather afternoons.

The number of recipes can vary by session description, but multiple participants made two coffee styles during their class. That is a good amount for one hour: enough variety to compare drinks without turning the lesson into a rushed checklist. If making two recipes is important to you, confirm the current format when booking.

The hands-on part is the real reason to book

You do not simply watch Long make a drink while you stand beside the counter. The class includes the ingredients and equipment, so you take part in the preparation and tasting.

That practical approach is where the $15 price makes sense. A single coffee in Hoi An is inexpensive, but this fee also pays for instruction, ingredients, equipment, roastery access, and the chance to repeat the process at home. For anyone who drinks Vietnamese coffee regularly, the class can quickly pay off in useful know-how.

The instruction is geared toward beginners. Long is described as helpful and patient, and the explanations cover both the origin of the coffee and how it is made in Vietnam. You do not need previous barista experience.

The class also appears friendly for solo visitors. A low-booking time can turn into a one-on-one lesson, which gives you more opportunity to ask questions and adjust the recipe. On the other hand, you cannot count on a private class, and a busier group could mean less individual attention.

Some participants wore hats and aprons during the session. These details add a playful touch, especially for families or friends who want photos, but they are not the main reason to choose the class. The useful part is still the chance to prepare the drinks yourself.

Tasting your coffee in a relaxed setting

After you finish making the coffee, you sit down and drink it. The class allows time to enjoy the result with music in a comfortable atmosphere.

This ending is important. You are not handed a cup and immediately sent out for the next appointment. You get to taste what you made, notice how the styles differ, and ask final questions while the steps are still fresh.

The coffee tasting also makes the class more personal. A phin coffee, egg coffee, salt coffee, and coconut coffee do not offer the same experience, so the final drink helps you decide which recipe suits your own kitchen.

Do not expect a full meal. Meals and other drinks are not included, and the activity is designed around coffee rather than a wider food experience. If you need breakfast or a substantial snack, plan that separately.

The one-hour schedule keeps the activity efficient, but it also limits how far the discussion can go. You will learn the basics and prepare traditional drinks. You will not cover every coffee region in Vietnam or receive a full professional barista course.

What the recipe cards add

The take-home recipe cards are a small but valuable feature. They turn the class from a pleasant hour in Hoi An into something you can use after your trip.

Participants received recipes for the drinks they made, and some were also given instructions for all the coffee styles. That is especially helpful for egg and salt coffee, where the proportions may not be obvious after one tasting.

I suggest taking a photo of your finished drinks and making notes about which one you liked best. The recipe card tells you how to repeat the method, but your own taste notes can help you adjust sweetness or strength later.

This is also a good activity for people who enjoy sharing food traditions at home. You can recreate the drink for friends, explain the phin method, and talk about Vietnamese café culture without needing specialist equipment beyond what the recipe requires.

The class does not promise coffee beans or equipment for purchase, so do not assume that a shopping session is part of the experience. It is a lesson and tasting, not a full coffee retail tour.

Price, timing, and who gets the most value

At $15 per person, the class is priced well for a one-hour cultural activity. You receive ingredients, equipment, expert guidance, a roastery visit, and tasting. Compared with paying for a drink alone, the added value comes from learning a repeatable skill.

I would book it if you enjoy coffee, cooking demonstrations, or small local businesses. It also suits a couple or small group looking for a calm break from sightseeing. The short duration works well on a day when you have other plans.

Families may enjoy the aprons, hats, simple preparation, and sweet coffee choices, but the activity is not suitable for people with mobility impairments or wheelchair users. The venue and class are not presented as accessible for those needs.

The class is conducted in English with a live guide. That makes it useful for visitors who want to ask questions rather than follow a silent demonstration.

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the start for a full refund, and you can reserve now while paying later. Those policies are useful if your Hoi An schedule is still shifting. The activity also offers skip-the-line access, though the class itself is short and appointment-based.

One practical tip deserves attention. A past participant found some confusion when booking through an outside platform and suggested checking directly with the shop. I would keep your booking confirmation handy and verify the date, time, and number of coffee styles when you arrive.

Is this Hoi An coffee class worth booking?

Yes, if you want a compact, hands-on introduction to Vietnamese coffee. The best reasons to book are the small roastery setting, Long’s patient instruction, the choice of four traditional styles, and the recipe cards that help you continue the experience at home.

I would skip it if you want a coffee plantation visit, a long tasting menu, a full meal, or a professional barista certificate. This is a friendly one-hour lesson, not an all-day coffee tour.

For most coffee-loving visitors, $15 is a fair price for something more memorable than another café stop. Pick salt coffee or egg coffee if you want the most distinctive lesson, and choose phin filter coffee if you want the classic Vietnamese method.

FAQ

Where does the coffee class meet?

The meeting point is Tri Long Coffee shop at 88 Phan Chau Trinh Street in Hoi An.

How long does the activity last?

The coffee-making class lasts one hour.

How much does the experience cost?

The price is $15 per person.

Which languages are available?

The live tour guide and instruction are provided in English.

Which coffee styles can I make?

You can choose from Vietnamese phin filter coffee, egg coffee, salt coffee, and coconut coffee.

Are ingredients and equipment included?

Yes. All ingredients and equipment needed to make the coffee are included.

Is coffee tasting included?

Yes. The activity includes hands-on making and tasting of a traditional Vietnamese coffee.

Are hotel transfers included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you must make your own way to Tri Long Coffee.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

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

Is the class wheelchair accessible?

No. The activity is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments.