Experience Making Coffee with Tri Long in Hoi An old Town

Vietnamese coffee is much more than a strong drink served over ice. At Trí Long Coffee, you learn how the beans, the roasting, the sweetener, and the slow Phin filter come together in a cup of cà phê sữa Sai Gon. The class also adds the fun local favorites: egg, coconut, and salt coffee.

I like the hands-on format and the small maximum group of 10. I also like that the lesson includes the background of Vietnamese coffee and recipes to take home, not just a tasting. The main concern is the wording about how many drinks are included. One description lists three specialty courses plus a free Phin lesson, while one participant expected three coffees and received only two. Confirm the exact selection before booking.

Key points to know before booking

• Three specialty choices: The listed options are egg coffee, coconut coffee, and salt coffee.
• Traditional Phin lesson: A Vietnamese Phin filter coffee course is described as included at no extra cost.
• Hands-on preparation: You make the drinks yourself after demonstrations and explanations.
• Small group size: The class accepts no more than 10 people.
• Old Town location: The meeting point is Trí Long Coffee at 88 Đ. Phan Chu Trinh.
• Clear value question: At $17 for about 90 minutes, the price is fair if your booking includes the drinks and instruction advertised.

What happens during the 90-minute coffee class

You meet at Trí Long Coffee, at 88 Đ. Phan Chu Trinh in Hoi An’s Minh An area. The activity begins and ends at the café, so you do not need to arrange transport between several stops. That keeps the experience simple and makes it easy to fit around a walk through Hoi An Old Town.

The class is built around three parts: coffee culture, coffee preparation, and your own cup. You learn about the history of Vietnamese coffee and its place in daily life. You also hear about the wider coffee industry and the way roasting changes the taste of the beans.

The class then turns practical. The team explains the roasting process and demonstrates how the drinks are made. You are not simply handed a finished cup. You take part in preparing the coffee, which makes the lesson more useful once you return home.

The exact order can depend on the group and the drink selected, but you can expect an introduction, a demonstration, hands-on preparation, and time to taste what you have made. The activity lasts about one hour and 30 minutes, long enough for a proper lesson without taking over your day in Hoi An.

Why the Phin filter matters

The Phin is the small metal filter used for traditional Vietnamese coffee. It sits directly over the cup and lets the coffee drip slowly. This method produces a concentrated, full-flavored brew that is usually paired with sweetened condensed milk or another sweet element.

Here, the Phin filter course is described as free in addition to the specialty choices. That detail matters because the Phin is the part of the class most closely tied to everyday Vietnamese coffee culture. Egg coffee and coconut coffee are fun specialties, but learning the traditional filter gives you a method you can repeat at home.

You should pay attention to the demonstration. The pace of the drip, the amount of coffee, and the balance between coffee and sweetener all affect the result. The supplied details do not give a precise recipe or brewing time, so the instructor’s demonstration is especially important.

One participant specifically found the explanations and demonstrations clear. That matches the strength of this format: you see the process before trying it yourself. If you have never used a Phin, the lesson should help you understand why Vietnamese coffee takes longer to prepare than a standard espresso drink.

Choosing between egg, coconut, and salt coffee

Trí Long Coffee offers three specialty courses: special egg coffee, coconut coffee, and salt coffee. The drinks are quite different, so your choice affects the feel of the class.

Egg coffee

Egg coffee is made with a creamy egg-based topping or mixture over coffee. It is sweet, aromatic, and more like a dessert drink than a plain morning brew. The class description calls it flavorful and aromatic, making it a good choice if you enjoy rich, sweet coffee drinks.

The supplied experience details do not specify the exact recipe or whether the egg mixture is cooked in a particular way. You can expect instruction and preparation rather than a fixed recipe in advance. If you are curious about one of Vietnam’s best-known specialty coffee styles, this is the obvious pick.

Coconut coffee

Coconut coffee is the lighter-sounding choice, though the final drink can still be sweet and substantial. It combines coffee with coconut flavor and is described as refreshing. One participant particularly enjoyed making it and called it a good choice for anyone who likes coconut.

I would choose coconut coffee if you want something cold, sweet, and easy to enjoy in Hoi An’s warm weather. It also gives you a clear contrast with the stronger, more traditional Phin coffee.

Salt coffee

Salt coffee adds a salty note to the drink. That might sound strange at first, but the point is contrast. A small salty element can change the way you notice sweetness and bitterness.

One participant made both salt coffee and coconut coffee and praised the explanation and demonstration. The available details do not describe the exact salt mixture, so expect to learn the café’s method rather than follow a published formula. Pick this option if you enjoy trying unusual local drinks and want something less predictable than egg or coconut coffee.

The most useful part: making the drink yourself

The strongest feature here is the hands-on work. You watch the demonstration, then prepare your own coffee. That small change turns the experience from a tasting into a practical lesson.

You get to see the steps in sequence. First comes the coffee itself, then the sweet or creamy ingredient, followed by mixing or assembling the drink. The staff explain what they are doing and show the method before you try it.

The teaching style is described as lively, with humor and entertainment mixed into the instruction. That should suit you if a formal lecture sounds dull. The activity aims to teach, but it is also designed to be social and relaxed.

You should not expect a professional barista qualification. This is a short introduction for coffee lovers and curious visitors. Its value comes from learning enough to understand the drink and try it again, not from mastering every part of commercial coffee production in 90 minutes.

A certificate and recipes to take home are also part of the experience described by one participant. Those extras give the class a useful afterlife. The certificate is a souvenir, while the recipes may help you recreate the drinks later. The available information does not say whether every booking receives the same certificate or which exact recipes are provided, so you can confirm that at the start.

What the teaching style is like

The team at Trí Long Coffee presents the class as informative and lively. You can expect explanations of Vietnamese coffee culture, the coffee industry, bean roasting, and drink preparation. The tone is not meant to be overly serious.

That balance is important. Coffee culture is easier to understand when you connect it to the cup in front of you. Instead of learning only dates or production facts, you see how the coffee becomes a drink you can taste.

The strongest feedback concerns the staff’s explanations and demonstrations. One participant found the team’s understanding of coffee and the wider industry impressive, while another appreciated the clear instruction and the chance to get started independently.

There is no named guide listed for this activity. You will be taught by the café team rather than by a specified individual. If having a particular guide is important to you, this is worth checking before you arrive.

Is $17 a fair price?

The listed price is $17 per person. For about 90 minutes, that is a reasonable price if you receive hands-on instruction, coffee tasting, the Phin lesson, and the advertised specialty preparation.

The value is stronger for someone who wants an activity rather than just another café stop. A normal coffee purchase gives you a drink. This class gives you context, demonstrations, preparation practice, and recipes to use afterward.

The price becomes less attractive if only two specialty drinks are included when you expected three. The description says there are three courses to choose from, but it does not clearly state whether you make all three or select from them. A complaint about receiving two rather than three shows that this wording can cause real confusion.

I would message the provider before booking and ask one direct question: Which drinks are included in the $17 price, and does the free Phin course come in addition to them? Keep the answer clear before you pay. This is not a minor detail, since the drink count affects the value of the class.

Location, timing, and group size

The café is at 88 Đ. Phan Chu Trinh in Hoi An’s Old Town area. The activity begins and ends there, with no separate return transfer. You can plan it as a compact morning or afternoon stop between other Old Town activities.

The maximum group size is 10 people. That is small enough for a more personal demonstration than a large public class, though the experience may feel different with two participants than with a full group.

The duration is approximately 90 minutes. You should allow a little flexibility around that estimate, especially if everyone is preparing drinks at the same time. The listing confirms mobile tickets, and booking confirmation is provided at the time of booking.

Cancellation is allowed up to 24 hours before the experience for a full refund. That gives you some room to adjust your Hoi An plans, but the activity itself does not include transport or another meeting point.

Who should book this experience?

I would recommend it to coffee drinkers who want more than a quick tasting. It suits you especially well if you enjoy learning a local preparation method, trying sweet specialty drinks, and taking recipes home.

It is also a good choice for couples, friends, and small groups who want a relaxed activity away from sightseeing. The three drink styles give you a reason to compare flavors, while the Phin lesson adds a traditional element.

Families may also enjoy the hands-on format, though the supplied details do not state a minimum age or provide specific child arrangements. If you are booking with children, confirm those points first.

This may not be the right choice if you want a broad food tour, a long visit to a coffee farm, or a detailed roasting workshop. The activity focuses on Vietnamese coffee culture and drink preparation at one café. You learn about roasting, but the information does not promise a farm visit or an extended technical roasting session.

What to clarify before you book

The main question is the number of coffees. The activity description presents three specialty options and a free Phin filter course, but it does not clearly explain whether you make all three specialty drinks or select one or two.

Ask about:

• Which specialty drinks are included
• Whether the Phin coffee is additional
• Whether the certificate and recipes are included for every booking
• Which staff member will lead your session
• Whether the listed class time is fixed or approximate

This quick check can prevent disappointment. The class itself appears to have strong teaching features, but the drink inclusions need clearer wording.

Should you book Trí Long Coffee?

Book it if you want a short, practical introduction to Vietnamese coffee and you enjoy preparing your own drink. The best reasons are the hands-on format, the Phin filter lesson, the choice of egg, coconut, or salt coffee, and the lively instruction.

At $17, the experience offers fair value when the advertised elements are included. I would be more cautious if you are booking mainly for three separate specialty coffees. Confirm the number first, since that is the one important point that could change your view of the price.

For a coffee lover spending time in Hoi An Old Town, this is a sensible 90-minute stop. Choose coconut for a refreshing drink, egg for a sweet classic, or salt for something unusual. Then make sure the traditional Phin lesson is part of your booking, because that is the skill most likely to stay with you after the cup is empty.

FAQ

Where does the coffee experience start and end?

It starts at Trí Long Coffee, 88 Đ. Phan Chu Trinh, Minh An, Hoi An, Quảng Nam, Vietnam. The activity ends back at the same meeting point.

How long does the activity last?

The experience lasts approximately one hour and 30 minutes.

How much does the experience cost?

The listed price is $17 per person.

What coffee courses are available?

The listed specialty choices are special egg coffee, coconut coffee, and salt coffee. A Vietnamese Phin filter coffee course is also described as free.

How many people can join the activity?

The activity has a maximum group size of 10 people.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

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