You might have heard of Vietnamese coffee brands from a friend or a coffee shop you frequently visit. You probably also drank it without knowing that it was from Vietnam.
The surprising truth is that Vietnamese coffee is more popular than you think. Coffee from Vietnam ranks number two, only behind Brazil, and is being sold worldwide.
But, we know quite little about it. So, allow me to introduce you to the world of Vietnamese coffee blends.
Here is a list of the top five Vietnamese coffee brands you can choose from. They range from whole beans to instant coffee but are all fresh from the soils of Vietnam!
1. Trung Nguyen – Best Vietnamese coffee brand
The first one we’ve got is Trung Nguyen which is a Robusta and Arabica coffee blend. There are notes of chocolate and fruits which gives it a uniquely intense flavor. This is one of the best Vietnamese coffee.
The biggest concern regarding this coffee is the cancer warning on the tin but it’s nothing to be worried about. As one user puts it: “This is a prop 65 warning that ALL coffee sold within the state of CA is required to have as a result of the acrylamide residue created in the roasting process.” So, it’s just a formality, not an actual cause of worry.
Pros
The advantages of getting this blend are:
- You get ground coffee so it saves you from the hassle of grinding yourself.
- The flavors are perfectly balanced giving a delicious taste.
- This coffee can be brewed in whichever way you like.
- If you are a fan of chocolate, this coffee might soon become your favorite.
Cons
The drawbacks are:
- While ground beans are convenient, they don’t stay fresh for as long as whole beans do.
- If you don’t like artificial flavoring in your coffee then this might not be for you.
- Some have complained about the coffee not filtering through properly.
2. Vinacafe Instant Vietnamese Coffee
If you love instant coffee then Vinacafe is one of the perfect instant Vietnamese coffee blends for you!
In each pack, you get 20 sachets. And you can get a pack of one, five, or twenty.
It’s a three-in-one coffee which means that it has coffee, cream, and sugar in the packet. All you have to do is dissolve it in hot water. Then you can add ice to enjoy it cold or drink it hot as is.
Pros
The best reasons to get this product are:
- This is a great choice for those who like instant coffee.
- It’s super convenient to make.
- It’s travel friendly since you can just take the packet with you and add it to a cup of water.
- You get a balanced cup of coffee with creamer and sugar.
- The price per cup is very reasonable – it comes around to $0.5 per sachet.
Cons
The downsides are:
- Although this seems to be a well-loved product, instant coffee is not for everyone.
- If you like black coffee, then this may not be for you since it already has milk and sugar.
- The price can get hiked at times so beware when buying it to ensure that you are getting it at a regular price.
3. Saigon Phin Daklak
The Saigon Phin Daklak is a ground coffee bag by Lang Thang Coffee. This is one of the best Vietnamese Coffee Brands you are looking for.
The company has a website that has all the possible coffee recipes you can use to make this coffee. You can make it traditionally with a phin filter, or make an iced drink. Or you can use regular coffee machines like a French Press or Pour Over.
You can check out their website here.
Pros
The benefits of getting this product are:
- For anyone who is a fan of dark, heavy-bodied coffee, this is a great pick.
- If you’ve had Vietnamese coffee before chances are that you are going to love this one!
- With condensed milk, this coffee is a delight.
- Some have found it to have a chocolatey flavor so if that’s your thing then it’s a bonus too.
Cons
The disadvantages of this coffee are:
- It’s only available as standard ground coffee so you can’t choose coarse or fine grind.
- To achieve a strong bitter taste, there is artificial flavoring added which can be off-putting for some.
- For some reason, there are soybeans in this coffee which seems to be the most disliked thing about it.
4. Chestbrew Whole Bean Coffee
The Chestbrew Whole Bean Coffee is a bag filled with 100% Arabica coffee beans grown in Vietnam.
They describe their coffee to be strong and unpretentious with high caffeine content.
Their whole process is quite impressive. The Vietnamese coffee beans are single-sourced from the best farmers. Then, they are roasted in a facility with USFDA approval.
The co-founders of this company love coffee and Vietnam and have put all their love and hard work into this brand.
All this is why this is one of the best Vietnamese coffee brands out there.
Pros
The advantages of getting this product are:
- The best thing is that this is available as whole coffee beans so you can grind them whichever way you like and they will be fresh for longer.
- There are no additives – just pure coffee beans.
- The coffee beans are roasted in such a way that they work well in the hot brew, cold brew, and Vietnamese iced coffee.
- For dark coffee lovers, this coffee is an intense, flavorful, and smooth Vietnamese blend.
Cons
The cons of getting this coffee are:
- If you are not a fan of dark coffee, this is not the one for you.
- It is only available as whole beans so if you don’t have a grinder, you shouldn’t get this one.
- Traditionally, Vietnamese coffee is a Robusta blend but this one used Arabica beans.
5. Truegrit Peaberry Robusta
Lastly, we’ve got Nguyen Coffee Supply’s Truegrit Robusta which is a medium-roast ground coffee that is also available as whole beans.
This company has got other flavors like Moxy Arabica and Loyalty which is a 50/50 blend but Truegrit is true to the Vietnamese traditions.
They make real coffee without any additives or fillers. They have partnered with the 4th generation of Vietnamese farmers from whom they source the coffee beans. It’s grown in Vietnam and roasted in New York.
The flavor notes of Truegrit Peaberry are scotch, grapefruit, and bitter melon.
Pros
The benefits of getting this brand are:
- You get natural coffee that is free from any artificial ingredients.
- It is available as a fairly light roast so it’s ideal for those who love Vietnamese coffee but don’t like the intense flavor.
- As it is available as both ground and whole coffee, this is great for everyone!
Cons
The drawbacks of getting this coffee are:
- While this may be an advantage for some, some do not like the light roast as Vietnamese coffee is traditionally dark roasted. You can experiment with adding less water to make it more intense.
- Robusta is a controversial blend so you might want to experiment with a 50/50 blend first.
- It is fairly expensive compared to the other items on this list.
FAQ about Vietnamese Coffee Brands
1. What is different about Vietnamese coffee?
The straightforward answer is that Vietnamese coffee tends to be stronger than regular drip coffee or even espresso.
There are many reasons for it to taste different. The most different is the brewing method. If you go by traditional means then using a phin filter is compulsory to get that authentic flavor.
Then, there is the obvious fact that it is grown in a whole another country so the soil and flavors of the growing beans differ.
Overall, you get a flavor that is unlike the other coffees you might have had before.
2. Is Vietnamese coffee robusta or arabica?
Generally, Arabica beans are known to be the better of the two. Yet, Vietnamese coffee is often 100% Robusta or a mix of the two.
This does not mean that it does not taste good. The way Robusta beans are grown in Vietnam gives them a unique flavor that is bold and intense but still tastes smooth and rich.
3. How to make Vietnamese coffee?
The traditional way to make Vietnamese coffee is using a Phin filter.
You place the phin on top of your coffee mug. Then, add hot water to the phin and discard it.
Next, add coffee to it and tamp it gently. Pour hot water slowly to cover the coffee grounds and wait for a bit.
Then, add more water to your liking and cover the phin. Allow the coffee to slowly drip through.
Vietnamese coffee is usually best served with condensed milk instead of regular milk or creamer.
Our Choice
Based on the research and reviews, our vote goes for Chestbrew Whole Bean Coffee. This is the one that fits the criteria for Vietnamese coffee.
Although they use Arabica beans instead of the more popular Robusta beans, this coffee hits the mark. It is locally sourced, uses good roasting techniques, and is available as a whole bean.
However, it can be difficult to grind your coffee so it’s okay if you can’t get this one. Moreover, this coffee advertises to be strong so again, if you are not into that, you shouldn’t opt for this one.
If you would like to learn more about grinding your coffee, you can read our buying guide on the best grinders.
The remaining options on this list are great in their own right as they have been chosen after much deliberation.
You should choose whichever coffee fits your needs and palette. Just decide on what you need from a coffee and pick one out for yourself.
Enjoy the deliciously intense taste of your newly found Vietnamese coffee brands!
