🍫Can't handle coffee? Let Cocoa take over! ☕
Updated: Oct 25
⚡ Quick Local Summary • Hanoi's Slow-Drip Tradition: Local coffee culture revolves around dark-roasted Vietnamese Robusta beans brewed slowly through a small aluminum Phin filter rather than high-pressure espresso machines. • Signature Hanoian Variations: Whipped Egg Coffee (Cà Phê Trứng), sweet-savory Salt Coffee (Cà Phê Muối), Iced Coconut Coffee (Cà Phê Cốt Dừa), and rich Vietnamese Artisanal Cocoa (Cacao) for non-coffee drinkers and children. • How Locals Enjoy Cafes: Tucked inside Old Quarter courtyards and second-floor balconies, cafes are unhurried neighborhood gathering spots at any hour of the day.
Coffee Workshop in Hanoi with the Harmony Family
Remember the adorable Harmony family from their food tour? This time, they’re back, and things got even sweeter at our 𝐂𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐨 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩! 🍫☕
While mom and dad mastered 3 iconic Vietnamese coffees, little Pearl and Tilly rolled up their sleeves and took on 3 delicious cacao creations. Because who needs coffee when cacao can make your day just as sweet? 😍
Join us to relive the giggles, the mess (the fun kind!), and those heartwarming family moments! 💛📸
The Harmony family is back, everyone! In case you missed it, on the right, we have Harmony and her husband Jason, and on the left, their two lovely daughters: big sister Pearl and little Tilly. 💕
They’re all buzzing with excitement to kick off their drink-mixing adventure. Come along and see what delicious fun they’re brewing up! ☕🍫✨
Not a big fan of coffee? No worries! Today, Pearl and Tilly are here to sprinkle some of their magic with cacao instead. 🍫✨ And trust us, this is going to be sweet!
Our tiny Tilly sure knows her way around whisking cream like a pro! Just look at that frothy layer, it’s thick and dreamy, just like her big smile! 😊
Voilà! Somehow, she managed to transform into Santa Claus! 🎅✨
And waaa, here’s the result after all that hard work: cheers, everyone! 🥂 The whole family’s never had egg coffee and cacao quite like this before, it’s their first time, and a favorite part? They made it themselves!
Patience is golden, they say. And that slow drip of coffee? Absolutely worth the wait to create these wonderful drinks. ☕✨
Here’s Harmony enjoying her salty coffee ☕, while her two girls are still lost in their own delicious cacao world! 🍫✨
Pearl is totally focused! 👀💖
Just like Tilly’s spot! 😄✨ Both are fully immersed in their sweet creations.
The "busy" moment of the family, captured by Harmony! 📸✨
And that’s a wrap on today’s workshop! 🎉 Here’s one last fun snap with Hiền, our wonderful instructor who made it all so awesome!
Check out our Coffee Workshop details by following this link!
Brewing Coffee & Cocoa Together in Hanoi
If you want to go beyond ordering at a cafe counter and learn how to whisk Egg Coffee, balance Salt Coffee, blend Coconut Coffee, or craft rich Vietnamese Artisanal Cocoa (for non-coffee drinkers and kids aged 6+) yourself, come join our 2-hour indoor, air-conditioned Cocoa-Coffee Workshop ($20 USD per person, running daily at 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, including a traditional aluminum Phin filter and recipe card to take home). Many travelers also pair an afternoon workshop with our daily Taste of Hanoi street food walk (10:00 AM and 6:00 PM) or our Hanoi Family Quest, and you can message us anytime on WhatsApp (+84 969 655 521) if you want local cafe tips near your hotel.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why does Vietnamese coffee taste stronger and more chocolatey than regular café coffee?
Vietnam primarily grows Robusta beans (which have roughly twice the natural caffeine and a deeper, nuttier body than Arabica beans) and brews them slowly through a metal Phin drip filter. Combined with sweetened condensed milk, whipped egg yolk cream, or coconut milk, the result is rich and dessert-like.
2. What can non-coffee drinkers or children order at a traditional Hanoian cafe?
Almost every traditional cafe in Hanoi offers pure Vietnamese cocoa (Cacao), including Egg Cocoa (Cacao Trứng) and Iced Coconut Cocoa (Cacao Cốt Dừa), alongside lotus-scented tea, kumquat honey tea, fresh yogurt, and tropical fruit smoothies.
3. How do I ask for less sugar or less condensed milk at a Hanoi coffee shop?
Vietnamese milk coffees are traditionally quite sweet. Simply show or say 'Cho mình ít sữa đặc (ít ngọt) nhé' (less condensed milk / less sweet, please) when ordering so the barista can adjust the balance for you.
Keep Exploring Hanoi with Us
Ngoc Anh (Ice) · Beyond Vietnam Xin chào! I am part of the local host and storytelling team at Beyond Vietnam. Through these stories, I share the everyday flavours, laughter, and real moments from our walks and workshops in Hanoi.
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