The Best Coffee in Hội An, Vietnam

Great brews meet social conscience in this loveliest of shops and tea rooms – it employs speech- and hearing-impaired locals and pours profits into training and employing more disabled people. If you can’t choose from the rich array of offerings, go for a Vietnamese tea- or coffee-tasting set, embracing three varieties (chicory, mocha and arabica in the case of the latter), all paired with a cookie or treat that enhances the gustatory experience. There’s a small garden and a quiet playroom for younger visitors.

From Vietnamese black and brown coffee, to coconut affogato and excellent espresso, this delightful spot, with its terrace overflowing with lush foliage, roasts locally sourced beans to produce its own delicious blends. There are also local and global craft beers and a menu of burgers, pasta, wings, and divine desserts.

Presided over by a genial host who roasts his own beans and is always ready with local tips, this is another socially minded enterprise that trains local teens. But it’s the brews that bring people back time and time again – whether it’s the iced coconut coffee, espresso, traditional egg coffee or jasmine and ginger teas, to name just a few. There’s rustic-meets-contemporary decor and a breeze-cooled balcony made for a laid-back vibe.

Two minutes’ walk from the Japanese Covered Bridge, this little sanctuary of bean worship runs barista-led coffee classes lasting one hour, two hours or six hours (the latter over three days), meaning you can go home a master in the likes of egg coffee, cà phê sữa dá and many more. Longer classes let you in on Vietnam’s coffee history, the difference between the types of beans grown here, and the various processing methods and their bearing on flavour. There’s a second Phin coffee shop at 132/7 Trần Phú, which has a garden. Both serve a fantastic choice of coffees, plus tea, fresh juices, cocktails, cakes and more substantial food.

This untouristy riverside gem is run by a passionate coffee-loving team, and it shows in whatever you pick – be it a latte or one of the highly addictive coconut coffees. The smoothies are enticing too, and there are paninis and other food if you’re feeling peckish. Ask the owner about coffee tours in the surrounding countryside.

Recommendations by locals both in and outside of Hội An testify to the quality of this cute spot with its menu full of both classic coffees and more surprising innovations, such as coffee ice cubes topped with cacao powder and accompanied by a serving of hot creamy milk, and even charcoal lattes. Nestled away in a little alley outside the old town, it’s not easy to find but worth the effort.