Hoi An coffee smells different than anywhere else. This hands-on roastery workshop shows you why, from the roasting drum to your final sip. You get to watch fresh beans being crafted and then brew Vietnamese-style coffee yourself, with two cups included.

I love the step-by-step expert guidance and the clear way they connect roasting levels to what ends up in your cup. I also like that you can choose your style, so you are not stuck with only one flavor, whether that is Egg Coffee, Coconut Coffee, Salt Coffee, or Phin Filter.

One catch: the space can get pretty loud, so if you are sensitive to noise, plan for it and don’t count on a whisper-quiet class.

Key Things You’ll Love About This Hoi An Coffee Roastery Workshop

• You watch small-batch roasting and learn how roast level affects aroma, sweetness, acidity, and body
• You pick your Vietnamese coffee style and make it hands-on, not just watch
• Two cups are included, so you get more tasting time in the 1-hour format
• You learn iconic Central Vietnamese specialties, including Salt Coffee
• You can shop coffee and local products right after, so your coffee trip continues

Meeting Trí Long Coffee in the Center of Hoi An

This experience starts at Trí Long Coffee, 88 Phan Châu Trinh Street, right in the city center. The practical move here is simple: arrive a few minutes early and look for your guide standing outside the coffee shop wearing a red hat. It is an easy meeting point, and if you get turned around, you can contact the provider through your booking.

Because the workshop takes place indoors, it is a good plan for both sunny and rainy days. And because the class runs for about 1 hour, you can fit it into a day that also includes old-town wandering and the usual Hoi An cafe stops.

Tip: wear something comfortable. The roasting area may be warm, and you will be standing close to the action during the roast demonstration.

The Real Point of This Class, From Roast Levels to Flavor

The workshop is built around a simple idea: Vietnamese coffee is not just a drink, it is a whole process. You start with a warm welcome at the roastery where the air is full of freshly roasted bean aroma. That smell matters, because the point of the class is sensory as much as educational.

Your coffee expert guides you through Vietnam’s coffee journey, from early coffee trade to how iconic local drinks became part of everyday life. Then you get to the part that makes the learning stick: how the roasting process changes the cup.

You’ll see a live demonstration of small-batch roasting, and you will be able to connect what you are hearing and seeing to what you will taste later. You can feel the heat of the roasting drum, hear the cracking beans, and watch how experienced roasters aim for the right balance for each blend.

Why this is valuable for you: if you only know Vietnamese coffee as Egg Coffee dessert-style, you might miss how roast level shifts the experience. In this class, you get words for what you are tasting, like how sweetness, acidity, and body change as the roast progresses.

Watching the Roasting Drum Up Close

The live roast demo is one of the highlights because you’re not just learning theory. You are seeing craft in real time. Roasters control roast degree, and that directly influences the final aroma and flavor you will brew.

Even if you are not a coffee nerd, you can follow along. Watch for how the beans change as they roast. Pay attention to the smell as it shifts. Listen to the cracking sounds and the rhythm of the process. The instructor will explain the relationship between roast level and taste outcomes like aroma, sweetness, acidity, and body.

Small-batch roasting also matters for quality. It usually means the roaster is paying attention to the details of each batch rather than moving fast on volume. For you, that translates into fresher beans and a better chance that your brewed cup tastes lively, not flat.

Choose Your Signature Drink, Then Brew It Yourself

After the roasting demo and coffee background, you get to choose the Vietnamese coffee style you want to make. The experience gives you signature options tied to Vietnam’s coffee culture, including drinks you might not have tried elsewhere in Hoi An.

Your choices include:

• Phin Filter coffee (the classic method)
• Egg Coffee (creamy and often served like a custard-like topping drink)
• Coconut Coffee (aromatic, with coconut character)
• Salt Coffee (a specialty from Central Vietnam)

Here is the practical advantage for you: picking your drink makes the class more satisfying. It turns the hour into a personalized tasting plan. Instead of learning about coffee in general, you are learning about the coffee you actually want to drink.

Then comes the hands-on brewing session. You’ll prepare your coffee using freshly roasted beans and authentic tools, guided step-by-step by the instructor. You get the equipment and ingredients for your chosen style, so you are not spending extra money or hunting for special gear.

And yes, this is one of those moments where you get to slow down. Brewing is part technique, part patience. When you do it yourself, you start noticing what the method changes in the cup.

Your Two Included Cups: A Built-In Tastings Lesson

A big reason this workshop feels like good value: you make two cups of coffee yourself. You choose two of the four signature drinks, so you can compare flavors instead of just getting one experience.

That matters because Vietnamese coffee has big flavor differences depending on style. If you choose Egg Coffee for one cup, then compare it to Phin Filter or Coconut Coffee, you can feel how texture and intensity change. If you add Salt Coffee, you get a chance to taste the Central Vietnam style specialty that mixes sweet and salty in a way that makes people curious the first time they hear about it.

Included in the experience:

• all ingredients and equipment
• a guided tour of a local coffee roastery
• your hands-on brewing workshop
• an English-speaking coffee specialist or instructor
• two cups of coffee you make yourself (choose 2 of 4)

So even though the total time is 1 hour, you get real practice and tasting. You’re not just paying for information. You are paying for the chance to produce the cup.

Tasting in a Cozy Coffee Space, Plus Local Music

Once you brew, you enjoy your coffee in a cozy indoor space. The class experience includes local music, and you can take your time with what you made, noticing aroma, taste, texture, and warmth.

This is also where the workshop becomes more than a class. You get an at-ease moment to compare your own cups and think about what you liked, what surprised you, and what you would order again.

One note from a real-world review: the cafe can be very loud. That does not ruin the experience, but it can make it harder to hear details or stay fully focused. If you want to follow every instruction closely, consider using earplugs. It helps you enjoy the coffee rather than fighting the noise.

Souvenir Shopping That Actually Makes Sense for Coffee Lovers

After the workshop, you can browse the roastery’s souvenir area. This is not random clutter. It is a practical extension of your coffee education, because it’s stocked with items connected to what you just brewed.

What you might find there:

• premium roasted beans and ground coffee
• cocoa and coffee-related products
• handmade filters
• local ceramics and Hoi An-inspired gifts

For you, this is an easy way to keep the experience going at home. If your favorite cup was Phin Filter, you can pick up tools. If you loved a particular roast style, you can take beans to recreate the method.

If you just want a small gift, the ceramics and filters are more meaningful than generic fridge magnets, and they match the coffee theme without trying too hard.

Price, Value, and What $16 Really Buys You

The price is $16 per person, and the reason it can feel like good value is what is included. You get:

• guided roastery time
• live roasting demonstration
• hands-on brewing with an instructor
• two cups that you make yourself

In other words, you are not paying just for a tasting flight. You are paying for a short class where you handle the process and end up with more than one cup.

The tradeoff is that the workshop is only 1 hour, so it is not a long, slow meal experience. Also, meals and additional drinks are not included. So plan to treat this as a standalone activity, or pair it with a proper lunch or dinner before or after.

If you are already spending time in Hoi An’s center, the timing works well. You get a memorable activity without losing half a day.

How to Get the Most Out of It

If you want this to be worth your time, do these small things:

• Arrive 5 minutes early so you’re not rushing when the roast demo starts.
• Choose one classic and one specialty. For example, Phin Filter plus Egg Coffee can give you a clean comparison of method and texture.
• Pay attention during the roast part, then connect it later when you sip.
• If you are noise-sensitive, bring earplugs. The room can be loud.

Also, if you want dairy-free options, the class notes vegan and non-dairy options are available for selected coffee types. Make sure you ask your instructor at the start about what they can do for your chosen drink.

Who Should Book This and Who Might Skip It

This workshop is a strong fit if you:

• like hands-on activities more than passive sightseeing
• want to understand Vietnamese coffee beyond just Egg Coffee
• enjoy learning how technique changes flavor
• want a compact activity in Hoi An that still feels authentic

It might be less ideal if you:

• hate loud indoor environments
• only want to taste coffee and have no interest in brewing tools or step-by-step guidance
• are looking for a longer, seated tasting session that runs well past an hour

Should You Book the Hoi An Coffee Roastery Workshop?

If you want a coffee experience that goes past ordering a drink and hoping it’s good, this is an easy yes. You learn the roasting logic, you brew with real tools, and you take home the coffee vibe through beans, filters, and souvenirs. For $16 and a 1-hour time slot, the included two cups you make yourself give it real substance.

The biggest decision point is noise. If that is a concern for you, bring earplugs and treat the class as an active, hands-on workshop rather than a quiet conversation. Do that, and you’ll walk away with both flavor memories and practical knowledge you can use again at home.

FAQ

How long is the Hoi An Coffee Roastery workshop?

It lasts about 1 hour, based on the selected starting time.

What coffee styles can I choose to brew?

You can choose from Phin Filter coffee, Egg Coffee, Coconut Coffee, and Salt Coffee. You make two cups, choosing 2 of the 4 signature drinks.

What is included in the $16 price?

The price includes a guided roastery visit, a hands-on brewing workshop, all ingredients and equipment, an English-speaking coffee specialist, and two cups of coffee that you make yourself.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

Are vegan or non-dairy options available?

Yes. Vegan and non-dairy options are available for selected coffee types.

Where do I meet the group, and how do I recognize the guide?

Meet at Trí Long Coffee, 88 Phan Châu Trinh Street, Hội An. Look for your guide standing outside the coffee shop wearing a red hat.