You do not need an espresso machine, expensive grinder or complicated setup to start making Vietnamese coffee at home. At its simplest, you need Vietnamese coffee, a phin filter, hot water and a cup.
If you want cà phê sữa đá, add sweetened condensed milk and ice.
That simplicity is exactly why a Vietnamese coffee starter kit makes sense for beginners: instead of trying to work out which brewer, beans and grind to buy separately, you can start with the essentials and learn the method first.
This guide explains exactly what you need, what you do not need and which Vietnamese coffee starter kit makes the most sense for the way you want to drink coffee.
What Do You Need to Start Making Vietnamese Coffee?
At minimum, you need Vietnamese coffee, a traditional phin filter, hot water and a cup.
Choose Phin Ground coffee if you do not own a grinder. Choose Whole Bean if you already have a suitable grinder and want more control over freshness and grind size.
You do not need an espresso machine. The phin itself is the brewer.
If you want classic cà phê sữa đá, add sweetened condensed milk and ice.
The 4 Things You Actually Need
Vietnamese Coffee
Start with a Vietnamese Robusta, Arabica or blend suited to the kind of cup you enjoy.
A Phin Filter
The traditional Vietnamese slow-drip brewer. No paper filter or electricity required.
Hot Water
A standard kettle is enough. You do not need a dedicated coffee machine.
A Cup
Brew directly over your cup, then drink it black or add milk and ice.
Want cà phê sữa đá? Add sweetened condensed milk and plenty of ice. Those are optional for Vietnamese coffee in general, but essential if you want the classic iced milk coffee style.
Do You Need a Coffee Machine?
No.
One of the biggest advantages of starting with traditional Vietnamese coffee is that the brewer is extremely simple.
A phin filter sits directly over your cup. Hot water slowly passes through the ground coffee using gravity.
There are:
- no pumps
- no electricity
- no paper filters
- no steam wand
- no espresso machine required
That makes a phin particularly useful if you want strong coffee at home without buying another appliance.
If you already own an espresso machine, Vietnamese beans can also be used with it—but you do not need one to begin.
What Is a Vietnamese Phin Filter?
A phin is the traditional metal filter used to brew Vietnamese coffee.
It normally consists of a brewing chamber, filter insert and lid. Ground coffee sits inside the chamber while hot water drips slowly through it into the cup below.
The result is a relatively small, concentrated coffee with enough body to drink black or combine with condensed milk and ice.
Think of it less like an espresso machine and more like a simple gravity brewer designed around one concentrated cup.
Which Coffee Should a Beginner Choose?
If you are completely new to Vietnamese coffee, do not start by trying to decide whether Robusta or Arabica is objectively “better”.
Choose based on how strong you want your first cup to be.
| Coffee | Profile | Best for | Beginner verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| The 36 Blend | Bold, smooth, chocolatey | Phin, milk coffee, cà phê sữa đá | Best first choice |
| Red Soil Robusta | Strong, deep, full-bodied | Very strong black coffee and bold milk drinks | Best if you already love strong coffee |
Start with The 36 Blend if you are unsure
The The 36 Blend combines 70% Vietnamese Robusta with 30% Arabica.
It gives you the body associated with Vietnamese coffee while remaining smoother and more versatile than jumping directly into 100% Robusta.
It is particularly easy to enjoy hot, iced, black or with condensed milk.
Choose Red Soil if you already like very strong coffee
Red Soil Robusta is 100% Vietnamese Robusta.
Choose it when you specifically want more body, more intensity and a stronger Robusta character.
Simple recommendation: If this is your first Vietnamese coffee setup, choose The 36 Blend. If normal coffee already tastes too light for you, choose Red Soil.
Whole Bean or Phin Ground?
This is one of the most important choices when ordering your first coffee.
Choose Phin Ground.
This is the easiest option for a beginner because the coffee arrives ready to use with your phin.
Choose Whole Bean.
Grinding immediately before brewing gives you more control over freshness and allows you to adjust the grind if your phin drips too quickly or too slowly.
Vietnamese coffee beans can also be brewed as espresso.
However, if your goal is to learn traditional Vietnamese coffee, start with a phin rather than trying to recreate the method through an espresso machine.
What Should Be in a Good Vietnamese Coffee Starter Kit?
A genuine beginner kit does not need dozens of accessories.
At minimum, look for:
- Vietnamese coffee rather than an unspecified generic blend
- a traditional phin filter
- the correct grind option for the included brewer
- clear brewing instructions
Everything else depends on the experience you want.
Condensed milk is useful if your goal is cà phê sữa đá. Multiple coffees are useful if you want to taste different Robusta profiles. A grinder is useful if you want maximum control—but none of these is required simply to begin brewing.
Which Vietnamese Coffee Kit Should You Buy?
The Phinist has several kits because “beginner” can mean different things.
Someone who just needs a brewer and one bag of coffee does not need the same kit as someone who wants to compare multiple beans or make cà phê sữa đá straight out of the box.
| Kit | What's included | Best for | Choose this if... |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phin & Coffee Starter Kit | Vietnamese coffee + phin + brew guide | Simple first setup | You want the essentials and nothing unnecessary |
| Vietnam Discovery Trial Kit | The 36 + Red Soil + phin | Exploring different coffee profiles | You want to taste blend vs 100% Robusta |
| Vietnamese Coffee Complete Kit | Coffee + phin + condensed milk + brew guide | Cà phê sữa đá from day one | You want a fuller ready-to-make setup |
Phin & Coffee Starter Kit
The Phin & Coffee Starter Kit is the simplest entry point.
You choose either The 36 Blend or Red Soil Robusta, your bag size, grind option and phin colour.
It gives you the two things that matter most:
- Vietnamese coffee
- a traditional phin filter
A simple brew guide is included, so you can start without needing an espresso machine or separate equipment.
Vietnam Discovery Trial Kit
Choose the Vietnam Discovery Trial Kit if your main question is:
“Do I prefer a blend or 100% Robusta?”
The kit includes:
- The 36 Blend — 150g
- Red Soil Robusta — 150g
- a traditional aluminium phin filter
Brew both coffees using the same phin and you can immediately compare a smoother Robusta–Arabica blend with a heavier 100% Robusta.
This is the better choice if you care more about discovering your preferred coffee than getting one large bag straight away.
Vietnamese Coffee Complete Kit
If what you actually want is:
“I want to make Vietnamese iced coffee at home and I don't want to figure out what to buy.”
choose the Vietnamese Coffee Complete Kit .
It adds sweetened condensed milk to the basic coffee-and-phin setup, giving you the core ingredients for traditional cà phê sữa đá.
You only need to add hot water and ice.
Starter Kit vs Complete Kit: Which One Do You Need?
| Starter Kit | Complete Kit | |
|---|---|---|
| Coffee | Yes | Yes |
| Phin filter | Yes | Yes |
| Brew guide | Yes | Yes |
| Condensed milk | No | Yes |
| Best for | Learning phin coffee | Making cà phê sữa đá immediately |
| Choose this if... | You already have milk or prefer coffee black | You want the fuller traditional iced-coffee setup |
Do You Need Condensed Milk?
No.
Vietnamese coffee does not automatically mean condensed milk.
You can drink phin coffee:
- hot and black
- over ice
- with fresh milk
- with sweetened condensed milk
Condensed milk becomes important when you specifically want cà phê sữa đá.
If that is your goal, the Complete Kit makes more sense. If you want to explore Vietnamese coffee more broadly, the basic Starter Kit gives you more flexibility.
Do You Need a Grinder?
No.
For the easiest beginner setup, simply order Phin Ground.
You can then open the bag, add coffee to the phin and begin brewing.
A grinder becomes useful later if you want:
- maximum freshness
- more control over drip speed
- to use the same coffee across several brew methods
But buying equipment you do not yet need can make a simple coffee ritual unnecessarily complicated.
Beginner recommendation: No grinder? Order The 36 Blend in Phin Ground with the Starter Kit. That is the simplest route from opening the box to brewing your first cup.
How Much Coffee Do You Need?
A useful starting dose for an individual phin is around 20g of coffee per cup.
At that dose:
If you are completely new to Vietnamese coffee, 250g is usually enough to learn the method without committing to a larger bag.
If two people drink coffee regularly or you already know you enjoy the coffee, 500g will make more sense.
How Do You Make Your First Phin Coffee?
The basic process is straightforward:
- Add approximately 18–20g of phin-ground coffee to the filter.
- Level the coffee bed.
- Place the insert gently on top.
- Add a small amount of hot water and allow the coffee to bloom.
- Add the remaining hot water.
- Let gravity slowly drip the coffee into your cup.
Then drink it black or add condensed milk and ice.
For exact water amounts, timing and troubleshooting, use our dedicated Vietnamese Phin Brewing Guide .
Common Beginner Mistakes
Buying espresso-ground coffee for a phin
Espresso-fine coffee can dramatically restrict the drip.
If you are ordering specifically for the included phin, choose Phin Ground.
Pressing the coffee too hard
The phin insert is not an espresso tamper. Place it gently rather than compacting the coffee bed aggressively.
Expecting the coffee to pour quickly
Phin coffee is supposed to drip slowly. It is not designed to behave like an espresso machine.
Starting with 100% Robusta because it sounds more authentic
Authenticity is not a strength contest.
If you are new to Vietnamese coffee, a Robusta–Arabica blend such as The 36 may give you a much easier introduction.
Buying too much equipment
You do not need a scale, premium kettle, espresso machine, hand grinder and ten accessories to find out whether you enjoy phin coffee.
Start simple. Upgrade only when you understand what you actually want to control.
Which Starter Kit Is Best for You?
Choose the Phin & Coffee Starter Kit with The 36 Blend in Phin Ground.
Choose the Vietnam Discovery Trial Kit. It lets you compare The 36 Blend and Red Soil Robusta using the same phin.
Choose the Vietnamese Coffee Complete Kit. It adds condensed milk to the coffee-and-phin setup.
Choose Whole Bean and grind your coffee for the phin immediately before brewing.
Our Simplest Recommendation
The 36 Blend + Phin Filter + Phin Ground
If you are completely new and do not want to overthink the decision, this is where we would start.
The 36 Blend gives you a recognisably bold Vietnamese coffee without the full intensity of 100% Robusta.
Phin Ground removes the need for a grinder.
The included phin gives you the traditional brewer without requiring a coffee machine.
From there, you can drink it black, add ice, make cà phê sữa đá or later explore stronger Robusta.
Final Answer: What Do You Need to Start Vietnamese Coffee?
You need much less than you might think.
Vietnamese coffee + a phin filter + hot water + a cup.
That is enough to start.
Add condensed milk and ice if you want cà phê sữa đá.
Choose Phin Ground if you do not own a grinder.
And if you do not know which coffee to choose, start with The 36 Blend before moving to a stronger 100% Robusta.
The point of a starter kit is not to give you more equipment.
It is to remove the guesswork between wanting to try Vietnamese coffee and actually brewing your first cup.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I need to make Vietnamese coffee at home?
At minimum, you need Vietnamese coffee, a phin filter, hot water and a cup. Add condensed milk and ice if you want traditional cà phê sữa đá.
What should a Vietnamese coffee starter kit include?
A basic Vietnamese coffee starter kit should include Vietnamese coffee, a traditional phin filter and clear brewing instructions. The coffee should also be available in a suitable phin grind if the buyer does not own a grinder.
Do I need a coffee machine for Vietnamese coffee?
No. A traditional phin filter is the brewer. You only need hot water and a cup to make phin coffee.
Do I need a grinder for Vietnamese coffee?
No. Choose Phin Ground coffee if you do not own a grinder. Choose Whole Bean if you already grind coffee at home and want more control over freshness and grind size.
What is the best Vietnamese coffee starter kit for beginners?
A simple coffee-and-phin kit is the best starting point for most beginners. At The Phinist, the Phin & Coffee Starter Kit combines your choice of Vietnamese coffee with a traditional phin filter and brew guide.
Which coffee should a beginner choose?
Start with The 36 Blend if you want a bold but balanced Vietnamese coffee. Choose Red Soil Robusta if you already enjoy very strong coffee and want a more intense 100% Robusta cup.
Should beginners choose whole bean or ground coffee?
Beginners without a grinder should choose Phin Ground because it arrives ready for the included phin filter. Whole Bean is better suited to people who already own a suitable coffee grinder.
What is the difference between the Starter Kit and Discovery Kit?
The Starter Kit gives you one selected Vietnamese coffee plus a phin filter. The Discovery Trial Kit includes both The 36 Blend and Red Soil Robusta plus a phin, making it better for comparing two different coffee profiles.
What is the difference between the Starter Kit and Complete Kit?
The Starter Kit includes coffee and a phin filter. The Complete Kit adds condensed milk, making it the better choice if your main goal is to make cà phê sữa đá at home.
Can I make cà phê sữa đá with the Starter Kit?
Yes. The Starter Kit provides the coffee and phin filter. You only need to add your own sweetened condensed milk and ice.
How many cups does a 250g bag make?
Using approximately 20g of coffee per cup, a 250g bag makes about 12 cups. A 500g bag makes about 25 cups.
Where can I buy a Vietnamese coffee starter kit in Australia?
The Phinist offers Vietnamese coffee starter kits with Vietnamese coffee, traditional phin filters and beginner brewing guidance, with delivery across Australia.