Despite the fact that Vietnam is the world's second-largest producer of coffee beans after Brazil, any expert will have difficulty locating it. So, why does no one know that this is the source of so much of America's coffee in the third wave coffee movement, which stresses transparency from bean to cup?

This was the question that prompted Sahra Nguyen, the creator of Nguyen Coffee Supply, to look into where all of these beans ended up. Sahra discovered, "It does get imported here but not as a fresh coffee bean." Instead, Vietnamese beans are used to make supermarket coffee and instant coffee, "so no one knows it's Vietnamese coffee once it hits the stores," according to Forbes.

The Vietnamese woman with the dream of level-up the Vietnamese coffee brand to the world. Photo: Vice

Vietnamese coffee beans were not lifted alongside the beans of so many other countries during the recent coffee revolution because they were directed through the commercial-grade coffee market segment. Lower-cost coffees, such as instant or ground coffee, might linger on store shelves for years, giving the impression that Vietnamese coffee beans have a poor flavor. "These beans have been locked in a cycle of poverty," Nguyen continues, "where they can't raise or progress their output."

Despite opposition from those who buy into the inferior bean narrative without questioning why that characterization exists, Nguyen knew there was something good behind it all, and Nguyen Coffee Supply is changing the game by sourcing single-origin green coffee beans from Da Lat and fresh-roasting in Brooklyn. "I know because the United States has been buying them," she adds, adding that another flaw in the Vietnamese coffee bean story is the belief that there is no coffee culture there.

Sarah Nguyen makes coffee. Photo: Ark Republic

Coffee is a mainstay of the local diet in Vietnam, as it is in most coffee-producing countries, and a coffee culture survives despite its lack of international recognition. "Vietnamese coffee is concentrated upon the robusta, which has a bolder flavor and darker nutty characteristics," Nguyen says, noting that Vietnam is the world's leading producer of robusta beans (with arabica on the rise). But it's the diversity of coffee culture that appeals to Nguyen the most, "whether it's sipping coffee on the street with seats on the sidewalk, or specialty coffee cafés with roasters in the shop," he says, emphasizing that there is no hierarchy in Vietnamese coffee culture.

Coffee connoisseurs should take the time to learn more about Vietnamese coffee, and there's no better place to start than at the source. Nguyen gives her recommendations for people looking for a wide study of Vietnamese coffee culture, from gourmet coffee shops to traditional hole-in-the-wall establishments across the country.

Pho Co Coffee (Dong Van District, Ha Giang). Photo: Ollie Le Nguyen

Coffee enthusiasts should take the time to discover what Vietnamese coffee has to offer, and there is no better place to do so than at the source. Nguyen gives her recommendations for people looking for a wide study of Vietnamese coffee culture, from gourmet coffee shops to traditional hole-in-the-wall establishments across the country.

SAIGON (HO CHI MINH CITY)

The Workshop

The Workshop in action. Photo: ERICS KUN

The Workshop is a pioneer in the industry and one of Saigon's premier craft and specialty coffee places, ranked among the top three in terms of reputation and quality. It's a little difficult to spot because it's upstairs in a generic building, but once inside, you'll feel like you've discovered a hidden gem. "This is one of the rare locations that develop blends blending Vietnamese beans with non-Vietnamese beans, like Ethiopian Arabica beans," Nguyen explains, referring to their extensive selection of coffee beans. Nguyen recommends Catimor, a unique kind that undergoes a washing process in Da Lat's highlands.

Address: 27 Ngo Duc Ke, Ben Nghe, District 1, HCMC

Buon Me Thuot

La Viet

La Viet is a simple moniker that effectively says, "This, too, is Vietnamese coffee," which is apt given that they were one of the early pioneers of speciality coffee in Vietnam. Pour overs and espresso are very new to the country, and La Viet challenged the perception that Vietnamese coffee could only be sold in cheap cups on street corners by introducing them. "Like Bosgaurus, they highlight arabica beans with the goal of changing the narrative to include those beans in what we normally think of as Vietnamese coffee." For a fun drink, try the Bloody Cold Brew (which is spicy) or the Cold Brew Margarita.

Address: 191 Hai Ba Trung, Ward 6, District 3, HCMC

An Affogato at La Viet Photo: ERICS KUN

The World of Coffee Museum

The recently-opened World of Coffee Museum is created in the style of the long homes used by many of the ethnic minority communities that have traditionally farmed the land and grown the region's coffee. It is less of a cafe and more of a necessary stop for coffee aficionados travelling Vietnam. "Vietnam is immensely diverse, with 54 separate ethnic groups, each with their own customs, languages, and clothes," explains Nguyen.

Visitors may learn more about the lengthy history of coffee manufacturing in Vietnam, which was first introduced to the country by the French during colonial times. "Vietnamese coffee is distinctive not just for its quality and variety, but also for the fascinating historical events that led to its creation," adds Nguyen. Many relics from around the world from the early days of coffee production, brewing, and consumption can be discovered in the World of Coffee Museum.

Address: Nguyen Dinh Chieu, Tan Loi, Buon Ma Thuat City, Dak Lak 630000

Nha Trang

An Cafe

"This cafe is popular among locals, which distinguishes it," adds Nguyen. The design is stunning, made entirely of wood and decorated with images of Vietnamese jungles and flora to give the impression of being inside a tropical treehouse. It demonstrates Vietnamese coffee's adaptability, not just for traditional ca phe sua da, but also for espresso and inventive slushes. The owners of An Cafe buy beans from a Da Lat farm and ground the coffee on site.

Address: 40 Le Dai Hanh Street, Tan Lap, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa 650000

Vietnamese coffee is both beautiful and delicious. Photo: ERICS KUN

Hanoi

Atelier

Saigon was the first to embrace specialty coffee, but Hanoi, Vietnam's capital, is a close second. Atelier is marketing "fine robusta" as a way to communicate that robusta may be just as good as arabica in specialty applications, similar to some of the others on this list (and similar to Nguyen's business, Nguyen Coffee Supply). The Hatsukoi, their signature drink, combines espresso with steaming milk, salt, pepper, and cinnamon. In the summer, they also have a shakerato and pandan coffee. "We see the ingenuity and eagerness to try new things of young rising baristas in Vietnam here," Nguyen says. This is a stylish coffeehouse with a modern, minimalist style.

Address: 65A Ton That Thiep, Ba Dinh

Blackbird

Blackbird is more of a relaxing social location for novices and coffee enthusiasts alike, despite the fact that it sells gourmet coffee. "If you don't want to go too far out of your way to enjoy some fantastic Vietnamese coffee," Nguyen suggests, "it's a convenient stop in the Old Quarter." The cafe is a modern, progressive establishment that showcases many sides of Vietnamese coffee, focusing specifically on coffee sourced from within the country. Both arabica and robusta are available, and the cafe is a modern, progressive establishment that showcases many sides of Vietnamese coffee, focusing specifically on coffee sourced from within the country.

Address: 5 Chan Cam, Hang Trong, Hoan Kiem

Cafe Dinh

According to Nguyen, Cafe Dinh is "a little piece of history locked in time." This cafe, like a well-preserved time capsule, depicts what coffee shops looked like during Vietnam's difficult 1990s. "Before we talk about specialty coffee, we need to acknowledge and pay honor to the long-standing enterprises that paved the path for the way we consume coffee today," Nguyen adds. The whipped/stirred yolk of Hanoi's famous egg coffee is a specialty here. This is one of Hanoi's oldest cafes, with only a short hallway and a narrow stairway leading to it. The inside has an old and traditional feel to it, with little stools and tables and people smoking cigarettes. Nguyen recommends attempting to secure a premium balcony seat. Because they use ground coffee, this isn't a specialized café, but it's a good one.

Address: 13 Dinh Tien Hoang, Hang Trong, Hoan Kiem

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