Vietnamese coffee is craft, not just caffeine. In Ho Chi Minh City, Lacàph Coffee Experiences teaches you to brew three styles using the traditional phin filter, step by step in a hands-on class.

I like that you taste what you make, not just watch. You also leave with recipes (and a completion certificate is part of the experience), plus tea and snacks. One key consideration: this isn’t a fit for everyone, since the lineup is not recommended for vegan travelers and it’s also not recommended for lactose intolerance.

Key Highlights

• Bạc Xỉu, Cà Phê Muối, and Phin Con Panna in about 90 minutes, so you’re not stuck in coffee purgatory.
• Traditional brewing practice with the phin, where technique really changes the cup.
• History + quality talk, with instructors explaining origin and what to look for in Vietnamese coffee.
• Tea, snacks, and your own coffee tastings are included, making it a fun break from roaming.
• Take-home recipes and a completion certificate, so you can recreate it after you get home.
• Small group size (max 18), which helps you actually get hands-on rather than just holding a spoon.

The Real Reason This Workshop Feels Different

Vietnamese coffee can taste simple, but the method is anything but. You’ll work with the tools and the rhythm that locals use, so it clicks instead of staying mysterious.

What I like most is the structure: you practice the steps, then you taste the result. That feedback loop is why this class works for both coffee nerds and people who just want a great drink in Saigon.

Price and Timing: Is $23.35 Worth 90 Minutes?

At $23.35 per person for about 1 hour 30 minutes, you’re paying for three things: guided brewing, the included ingredients/drinks, and a take-home recipe set. In practice, that’s good value because you don’t just get a sample. You get a real, repeatable skill plus multiple drinks.

The class runs in the morning or afternoon (you pick what fits your day). If you’re trying to stack things in Quận 1—coffee, walking, and a meal—this is the kind of activity that won’t chew up your whole schedule.

Where You Meet Lacàph (And How Not to Miss the Upstairs Entrance)

You meet at Lacàph Coffee Experiences Space, upstairs, at 220 Nguyễn Công Trứ, Phường Nguyễn Thái Bình, Quận 1. The workshop is in the same modern building complex, and it’s essentially a step above street level, so look for the coffee experiences sign and then head up.

It’s near public transportation, which matters because you don’t want to spend your class time playing “where is the building” on your phone. Still, give yourself a few extra minutes the first time you go, just to get your bearings fast.

What Happens During the 90-Minute Class

This is not a slideshow-only experience. It’s built around making, tasting, and adjusting, with short teaching moments in between.

You’ll start with an intro to Vietnamese coffee and the tools you’ll use. Then the class moves through three drinks, each one with its own goal: one classic-style brew, one flavor experiment, and one signature Lacàph creation.

If you’re the kind of person who likes to ask why a step matters, you’ll probably enjoy the pace. The group size is capped at 18, so you’re more likely to get direct help while you’re brewing.

Drink #1: Bạc Xỉu and the Skill of Brewing for Balance

The first drink is Bạc Xỉu, one of the best-known Vietnamese coffee choices. The point here isn’t to memorize flavor notes—it’s to understand how Vietnamese brewing creates a specific character.

You’ll learn the method and then make your own cup using the phin setup. Expect an emphasis on how coffee extracts and how you can get a consistent result.

A nice part of the teaching is that they don’t treat it like magic. They also talk about coffee quality and origin, so you’re not only learning how to pour—you’re learning what makes a better bean and what the craft is trying to achieve.

Drink #2: Cà Phê Muối and the Sweet-Salty Tension

Next comes Cà Phê Muối, salt coffee. This drink is famous because it flips the usual coffee assumption on its head: it’s not about making coffee taste like salt water. It’s about contrast.

In the workshop, you’ll brew and then add the ingredients for the salt-coffee version. As you taste, you’ll see how small adjustments change what you notice first—sweetness, roast character, and the sensation of salt balancing the cup.

Even if you normally skip “weird” drinks, this one makes sense because it’s rooted in a Vietnamese preference for balanced flavor. You leave with a better idea of why it works, not just a one-time curiosity sip.

Drink #3: Phin Con Panna (Yogurt + Honey Coffee)

This is the signature finale: Phin Con Panna. It’s described as a fusion that mixes yogurt with Lacàph Raw Coffee Blossom Honey.

You’ll brew with the phin and then finish the drink with the added components. The goal is to show where Vietnamese coffee is going—new textures, new combinations, and still grounded in the traditional brewing process.

If you like creamy drinks or you’re curious about how honey changes coffee’s flavor, this part is usually the most memorable. And if you’re lactose-sensitive, this is also the point where you’ll want to double-check whether your body will agree.

Included Tea, Snacks, and What You Actually Eat

You’re not just drinking coffee here. The experience includes coffee, tea, and snacks—and you’ll taste what you make.

That matters because Vietnamese coffee can be surprisingly filling, and a snack-and-tea pause keeps it from feeling like a sprint. It’s a practical way to turn a rainy-hour plan (or a mid-afternoon slump) into something active and fun.

Learn-to-Repeat: Recipes and Take-Home Confidence

A big win is that the workshop gives you recipes at the end. That’s what transforms it from a nice activity into something you can bring home.

Many coffee lovers want to buy the phin device so they can recreate the method. Even if you don’t buy anything that day, the instructions help you avoid the most common at-home problems: using the wrong grind, rushing the brew, or missing the right sequence of adding ingredients.

In other words, you leave with the steps and enough context to make a better cup next time, not just a memory.

Who This Workshop Suits Best (And Who Might Skip It)

This class is a great fit if you:

• love Vietnamese coffee and want hands-on practice
• enjoy learning the why behind a cooking or brewing method
• want an activity in Quận 1 that includes food and tastings

It’s not recommended for vegan travelers and it’s also not recommended for travelers with lactose intolerance. That’s because the drinks include options beyond plain black coffee, including the yogurt-based finale.

If you’re traveling solo, you’ll likely appreciate the structure and small group feel. If you’re coming with a friend or partner, it’s a nice shared experience that doesn’t require you to be “good at coffee” first.

Instructors, Atmosphere, and Group Energy

You might meet different instructors depending on the session. From the names associated with the experience—Quan, Julie, Noah, Sierra, Giao, Kieu, Joey, Tram Anh, Vi, Siu, and Julia—you can expect a teaching style that’s clear, friendly, and focused on you doing the brewing.

One consistent theme is that the instructions are easy to follow during the actual making. People also mention the teaching feels supportive and conversation-friendly, which is a big deal in small-group classes.

Should You Book This Vietnamese Coffee Workshop?

Yes, if you want a practical Vietnamese coffee skill in under two hours. For the price, you get more than taste testing: you get brewing practice, included tea and snacks, and take-home recipes so it sticks.

Skip it if you’re vegan or lactose intolerant, since the lineup includes dairy and a yogurt-based signature drink. Also consider your timing: go when you can be unhurried, because this is the kind of class where you’ll enjoy pausing to taste and compare.

If you’re in Ho Chi Minh City and you like coffee with a story—and a method—you’ll probably leave thinking, I can make this myself.

FAQ

Where is the meeting point for the workshop?

The workshop meets at Lacàph Coffee Experiences Space (upstairs) at 220 Nguyễn Công Trứ, Phường Nguyễn Thái Bình, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam.

How long is the Vietnamese coffee workshop?

It lasts about 1 hour 30 minutes.

How much does the workshop cost?

The price is $23.35 per person.

What drinks will I learn to make?

You’ll learn to make three Vietnamese coffee drinks, including traditional white coffee, salt coffee (Cà Phê Muối), and Phin Con Panna (a yogurt-and-honey style coffee innovation).

Is coffee, tea, and snacks included?

Yes. All coffee, tea, and snacks are included with the tour.

Are there morning and afternoon tour times?

Yes, you can choose between morning and afternoon tours for flexibility.

Is this workshop recommended for vegan travelers or lactose intolerance?

No. It is not recommended for vegan travelers and it is also not recommended for travelers with lactose intolerance.

What is the cancellation policy?

You get free cancellation. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

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