In a recent article, a New York Times reporter took the trouble to experience both traditional and modern coffee shops to suggest the best coffee shops in Ho Chi Minh City.
"Thanks to the direct farm-to-shop supply, the coffee retail business is booming as more and more independent roasters and specialty coffee shops pop up in the city centre, between the supermarkets and shops on trendy Dong Khoi Street or in the shaded neighbourhoods between the high-rise towers of old District 2," the article noted.
Cheo Leo Coffee Shop has existed since the 1930s.
From discreet bohemian hangouts to stylish chain stores, Ho Chi Minh City has a cafe for almost anyone who loves this famous beverage.
Cheo Leo Coffee
Given the distinct bitterness and caffeine content of most Robusta beans, it's no surprise that the Vietnamese have traditionally sweetened their coffee with a little sweetened condensed milk.
To begin this classic coffee experience, head to the oldest coffee shop in District 3, not far from Nguyen Thien Thuat Street, where Ms. Suong and her two sisters perform a “ritual” that their family has been doing since the 1930s.
Customers of Cheo Leo Coffee
As soulful Vietnamese music echoes off the blue walls, tiled roofs and peeling ceilings, women work under a single light bulb in the tiny kitchen, filling hand-held cloth nets with a blend of ground Robusta, Arabica and Culi coffee and passing them through pots of boiling water heated by coal. After a second pass through the water – which has been stored for several days in large clay pots so impurities sink to the bottom – the strong coffee is then poured into glasses topped with condensed milk for customers to enjoy.
Lacaph
The rather chic cafe is located in District 1, just off the Ben Nghe Canal, a small urban canal that snakes through the city. Decorated with dark wood paneling and recessed lighting, the cafe serves lemonade with coffee flower honey and a dose of coffee brewed in a traditional Vietnamese filter, as well as coconut coffee… There are plenty of less sugary options, including espresso, milk coffee and cascara – a tea-like drink made from coffee tree bark and coffee cherry skins.
Many tourists come here to learn how to make coffee and learn about the history of Vietnamese coffee.
But the main attraction is the exhibition space, which is decorated with posters, maps, machinery and even motorbikes – the preferred mode of transport for Vietnamese people. Here, visitors can also learn about the history, types of beans, cultivation methods and production techniques of Vietnamese coffee.
96B
Located in the Tan Dinh area, famous for its 19th-century pink church and bustling covered market surrounded by street food vendors, this small cafe is educationally ambitious, offering hands-on workshops on everything from roasting beans to latte art. Coffee enthusiasts can take the “sensory training” sequence, two courses that teach the art of tasting coffee like a pro, from understanding acidity to assessing sweetness.
Many tourists come to the shop not only to enjoy coffee.
Workshop
There’s perhaps no better place to test your tasting skills than at this sprawling, neo-industrial café just off bustling Dong Khoi. A blackboard announces the wide range of local and international coffees available, while an illustrated menu suggests a myriad of brewing methods, from simple espresso to complex pour-overs and immersions…
The restaurant has a rich menu from American and French breakfast to Vietnamese salt coffee.
Little Hanoi Egg Coffee
The name of this local coffee chain tells you all you need to know about its signature appeal: frothy, sweet egg coffee – a Hanoi classic made with whipped egg yolks, condensed milk, sugar and vanilla. The decor at the main location (119/5 Yersin) is pretty retro, with bamboo armchairs, floral cushions, striped tablecloths, antique TVs…
Bel
Soothing indie rock sounds and the tapping of fingers on computer keyboards greet you as you enter this minimalist gallery-like space, where cool young people and global travelers sip on tempting drinks.
Decorated with colorful abstract paintings on the walls, the cafe serves espresso drinks (including one made with pandan syrup), amazing mixed juices and bags of “homemade” roasted beans to go.
Bel is designed with minimalism
Filter Coffee
The restaurant has a small space hidden at 330/2 Phan Dinh Phung, a narrow alley in Phu Nhuan district.
Coffee Filter sold all night
During the day, employees hustle to unload crates of condensed milk while Tuyet and Con pass nets filled with Robusta coffee grounds through pots of hot water on a charcoal stove. According to Tuyet, the fire has not gone out since the stove was first lit in the 1960s. The shop itself dates to the 1950s.
At night, they hand over the shop and retire to their room above the store. But the stream of people on foot and scooters waiting for takeaway coffee is almost constant. The shop sells 500 cups of coffee a day.
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