Coffee in Hanoi

By N1

Cafe Mai - tried civet coffee (here called Paris Mai), although the
beans probably never saw the inside of an animal but were most likely
synthetically fermented. Rich texture, slightly fermented flavour, but
no more complex or interesting than normal Vietnamese coffee, although
double the price.

Cafe Pho Co at 11 Hang Gai - a “hidden cafe”, you enter through the
passage by the silk shop and come to a small courtyard. Go up the
stairs to a balcony overlooking the city. Nice view but not the best
coffee I had and, although hidden, certainly not undiscovered by
tourists.

37 Luong Van Can - very tasty, nutty, not as sweet as usual. Sugar
served on the side. Yum.

61 Bat Su - richer than at 37 Luong Van Can, with a slightly bitter
aftertaste. The woman asked if I wanted sugar and the penny finally
dropped as to why the Vietnamese coffee is always so damned sweet. I’d
read that they roast the beans with butter and sugar, which gives the
distinct flavour, but clearly a lot of the sweetness is added when
brewing. Cooler place to sit than Luong Van Can, on a quieter road,
and more seats so you’re more likely to find one. But I preferred the
coffee on Luong Van Can.