Strong, dark, and full-bodied, Vietnamese coffee is a delicious way to get your caffeine fix. But if you want to make it at home, how do you find the best beans?
To help you shop, we have tasted quite a few brands and chosen six of the highest-quality Vietnamese coffees on the market. The products featured here succeed in providing drinkers with a delicious taste and in certain cases, offering excellent value as well.
Success starts with great coffee, which is exactly why we make a point of only referencing the best options available. Read on for some Vietnamese coffee reviews!
A Quick Glance at our Favorites of 2024
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Editor’s Choice
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Vinacafe Instant Coffee Mix |
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Trung Nguyen Vietnamese Coffee |
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Saigon Phin Daklak |
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Chestbrew Moonbear |
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G7 3-in-1 Instant Premium Vietnamese Coffee |
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The 6 Best Vietnamese Coffee Brands
1. Vinacafe Instant Coffee Mix – Editor’s Choice
Our top choice is the Vinacafe, an instant coffee that provides tons of flavor for people who are on the go. It’s a surprisingly good product considering its nature. Instant coffee isn’t taken very seriously by connoisseurs, but this option stands head and shoulders above most others that we’ve seen. It’s fragrant, bold, and ultimately a very convenient way to start your morning.
However, it still won’t be as full-bodied as a standard drip-brew. It comes across as slightly watery, which may be disappointing to people who prefer traditional coffee.
All in all, Vinacafe is our top pick for the best Vietnamese coffee brand. It brews quickly and tastes absolutely delicious!
- Very convenient
- Surprisingly flavorful
- Fragrant
- Slightly watery
2. Trung Nguyen Vietnamese Coffee – The Runner-Up
The Trung Nguyen Vietnamese Coffee is a great option for people who favor a more traditional coffee. This is a lighter blend with low acidity. As a result, it provides a very smooth drinking experience. It will also serve as a good choice for people who have sensitive stomachs.
It is also on the more affordable side, which makes it a good choice for people who would like to save some money.
We did notice that the coffee seems to have a slightly bitter aftertaste. However, it is, for the most part, a high-quality choice that coffee lovers will truly appreciate.
- Affordable
- Low acidity
- Smooth drinking experience
- Slightly bitter aftertaste
3. Saigon Phin Daklak Pre-Ground Coffee
In third place, we highlight the impressive merits of the Saigon Phin Daklak. This pre-ground coffee is mild and mellow. Drinkers who prefer a more low-key coffee experience will really like what they get here.
The company advertises that the blend is especially good for making Vietnamese-style iced coffee, though the truth is that you can make this blend anyway you want.
However, some buyers do report that it features a peculiar aftertaste. This is not necessarily something you will experience, but you might want to keep it in mind. Otherwise, it is a good coffee that is available at a fairly moderate price.
- Moderate price
- Great for iced coffee
- Peculiar aftertaste
4. Chestbrew Whole Bean Coffee
The Chestbrew is a bold strong coffee that packs lots and lots of flavor (and caffeine) into every single cup. Though this bag of beans probably won’t be for beginners, it does make a great option for people who enjoy something that has a little bit of a kick to it.
The beans put a big priority on freshness. They are harvested and sealed within a relatively brief time span for a pleasant drinking experience. They are also specially optimized to do well with both cold and hot brew coffees.
Unfortunately, it is one of the more expensive coffees on our list, which means that budget buyers might want to consider something else.
- Flavorful
- Powerful coffee
- Very fresh
- Somewhat pricey
5. G7 3-in-1 Instant Premium Vietnamese Coffee
If you are into instant coffee, G7 3-in-1 is going to be a compelling option to consider. It is very affordable. You get one hundred individually wrapped packages, and with them, you will be able to make a tasty cup of java in a matter of several short minutes.
However, it suffers from many of the pitfalls common to instant coffee. For one thing, it is a little bit lacking in flavor. It also has the watery consistency that is common to most instant coffees. It’s not bad if you are in a rush, but there are better options on the market.
- Affordable
- Convenient
- Watery
- Not as flavorful as other options on our list
6. Len’s Coffee Vietnamese Coffee Kit
We end the list with a complete kit that will help get you acquainted with the world of Vietnamese coffee. Len’s Coffee Vietnamese Coffee Kit sets itself apart by including special instructions that provide you with a history of Vietnamese coffee. The package even includes a can of condensed milk that will allow you to make specialty coffee drinks in the Vietnamese tradition.
The actual beans themselves are fairly underwhelming. Many users report that they received a stale product. It’s also just not very flavorful or fragrant. If the taste is your top priority, you can find better options. You’ll also want to keep in mind that this is one of the most expensive coffees on our list.
- Full kit that introduces users to the world of Vietnamese coffee
- Pricey
- Stale
- Not very flavorful
Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Vietnamese Coffee Brand
We’ve seen six awesome Vietnamese coffees, and now it’s time to look at a few considerations that will help you choose the perfect coffee for your needs.
The Vietnamese Way
Vietnamese coffee tends to be crafted to be brewed either hot or cold. It’s part of the cultural experience that sets it apart from other options. As you may have noticed from our list, almost all of the choices featured above can easily be brewed hot or cold.
Instant or Traditional?
Our list features several instant coffees. Instant coffee is great for situations where you are in a rush. With hot water and about two minutes of your time, you can have a decent cup of coffee. Plus, instant coffee is very common in Vietnam, so you know you’re getting an authentic cup of coffee.
However, there are trade-offs. For one thing, instant coffee is usually not nearly as flavorful or fragrant as a traditional drip-brew. It also isn’t usually very full-bodied. You can still get a decent cup, but it won’t be quite the same experience.
Price
Coffee can get very pricey. The options highlighted in this article are moderate in cost relative to the wider world of java. However, there are still discrepancies in price from unit to unit. Generally, pricier blends pack more flavor, freshness, and fragrance into each cup. However, it is still possible to get awesome coffee at unbeatable prices.
Quantity
Bulk bags are a good way for budget buyers to save some money. As with any other product, you spend a little more on the upfront cost but pay a better price per unit. In this case, you usually save a little bit of money per ounce when you buy in larger quantities.
If you buy too much, you may find that the grounds go stale before you can use them all. Still, this is a compromise many people are willing to make in order to get the best deal possible.
Company Ethics
The process of manufacturing coffee tends to be very hard on the environment. If you are concerned with the health of our ozone layer, you may want to be selective as to who you buy from. There are companies that use low-impact processing centers to create a delicious coffee that won’t harm Mother Earth.
Environmentally sound coffee is usually pretty expensive, but with a little hunting, it may be possible to get a good deal.
Conclusion
You’ve read our Vietnamese coffee reviews and buyer’s guide, and now it’s time to decide which option is right for your needs. Choosing between several awesome coffees is never easy, but we might be able to narrow down your options a little bit.
To recap, our personal favorite was the Vinacafe Instant Coffee Mix. However, that certainly is not the only pick on our list that is worth your time. If you are budget-minded buyer, you may be better served by our runner-up, the Trung Nguyen Vietnamese Coffee.
WE ALSO RECOMMEND: Nguyen Coffee Supply’s Organic, Single-Origin Vietnamese Beans!
Featured image: HungryHuy, Wikimedia, CC 2.0 (cropped)
