Ca Phe Phin Saigon vs. Espresso: Coffee in District 3

Refreshing cold brew and iced coffee drinks in Saigon
Refreshing cold brew and iced coffee drinks in Saigon
Cool off with our handcrafted specialty fruit teas and iced espresso drinks.

Câu trả lời ngắn gọn: We run two completely different coffee programs at our bakery in District 3, Saigon.

If you want traditional Vietnamese rocket fuel, we slow-drip 100% honey-processed Robusta in a traditional metal filter (ca phe phin saigon).

If you want a classic flat white or cappuccino, we pull shots from our Simonelli espresso machine (cà phê pha máy) using a custom 70/30 Robusta-Arabica blend roasted locally by Ca Ke. We bottle the phin coffee to go, and you can grab either one daily at our shop in Bàn Cờ Ward.

 

The Foreigner’s Dilemma

When travelers land in Ho Chi Minh City, they immediately want to try the coffee. They’ve heard the legends. They know pure Vietnamese Robusta hits like an absolute freight train, and they want the jolt.

But then there are the days where the jetlag hits differently, and you just want the comfort of a flat white that tastes exactly like the café back home.

We celebrate both. At Dulce de Saigon, we don’t force you to choose between local tradition and western comfort.

 

The Phin: 100% Honey-Processed Robusta

If you want the unapologetic Vietnamese coffee experience, you drink from the phin.

We use a massive, traditional drip setup loaded with 100% Honey-processed Robusta sourced from RobustaHoney. The “honey” process means the sticky mucilage of the coffee cherry is left on the bean while it dries. It strips out the harsh bitterness you find in cheap street carts and replaces it with a heavy, dark chocolate punch.

It drips slow. It is incredibly dark. And it is overwhelmingly strong.

Because we know exactly how hard this hits, we actually bottle our phin coffee to go. We sell it in traditional black or cut with a heavy hit of hazelnut. That way, when the caffeine kicks in and your heart starts racing, you can throw a cap on the bottle and save the rest for later.

 

The Espresso: 70/30 Ca Ke Blend

For our espresso machine (cà phê pha máy), we needed something entirely different. A pure Robusta espresso shot will blow your head off, but 100% Arabica gets completely lost under the heavy milk of a cappuccino or the aggressive spice of our house-made chai syrup.

So we went to Cà Kể, a dedicated Vietnamese specialty coffee roastery in Saigon, and settled on their signature 70/30 Robusta-Arabica split. They source excellent Fine Robusta and Arabica from Sơn La and Đà Lạt.

It is the perfect compromise. You get the dark, heavy, chocolate backbone of the Vietnamese style, but the Arabica lifts it. It cuts through the milk perfectly and holds its own in our signature dirty chai lattes.

 

The Local Shift

The funniest thing about running these two methods side by side? The shift in our crowd. We started out catering heavily to expats in District 3 who just wanted a familiar espresso. But lately, our local Vietnamese regulars are skipping the espresso machine entirely and buying our bottled phin coffee. They know a good, clean Robusta when they taste it.

Whether you need the rocket fuel to get through a Saigon afternoon, or a perfectly pulled cappuccino to pair with a slice of cake, we have the beans. Come by the shop, grab a cup, and tell us which one you prefer.

 

Điều mọi người nói

The coffee earns its keep right next to the bakes:

“Delicious treats and great coffee. Friendly staff.” — James F., Google ★★★★★

“Very good coffee shop with a nice variety in cakes and pastries.” — Ricardo S., Google ★★★★★

Part of our 4.8★ trung bình dựa trên 682 đánh giá Google — and increasingly, it’s the bottled phin our regulars come back for.

— Garret, Đồng sáng lập

Về tác giả: Garret Nelson is Dulce de Saigon’s co-founder, a longtime Saigon F&B operator who set up both the phin program (RobustaHoney) and the Cà Kể espresso blend. More at câu chuyện của chúng tôi.

 

📍 Làm thế nào để sở hữu ngay

We pour fresh coffee all day at our bakery in District 3 (382/15 Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai, Phường Bàn Cờ). We’re open 8 AM–9 PM.

If you need a bottle of phin coffee or a hot latte delivered to your office in D1 or D3, we deliver direct:
Giao hàng trực tiếp: order.ipos.vn
Ứng dụng GrabFood | ShopeeFood

 

 

FAQ

Do you use real Vietnamese coffee?
Yes. For our traditional phin drip, we use 100% Honey-processed Vietnamese Robusta sourced from RobustaHoney. It is incredibly strong, dark, and chocolatey.

What beans do you use in your espresso machine?
We pull our shots using a custom 70/30 Robusta/Arabica blend roasted locally by Ca Ke in Ho Chi Minh City. It balances the dark, heavy punch of Vietnamese coffee with the smooth finish of Arabica.

Can I take the phin coffee to go?
Yes. Because our 100% Robusta is so strong, we bottle it directly so you can take it home or save it for later. We offer it in traditional or hazelnut.