Not sure which Vietnamese coffee to buy? Start with how you actually drink coffee—not whether Robusta or Arabica sounds more premium.
The best Vietnamese coffee for an espresso-machine drinker may be completely different from the best choice for someone who brews with a phin, drinks black coffee or prefers pour-over.
At The Phinist, each coffee has a different job. Saigon Espresso is built around espresso. The 36 Blend is the everyday all-rounder. Red Soil Robusta is for maximum body and intensity. Highland Mist Arabica shows the cleaner, more aromatic side of Vietnamese coffee.
Use this guide to choose based on your brewing method, usual drink and flavour preference.
Which Vietnamese Coffee Should You Buy?
Choose Saigon Espresso if you mainly use an espresso machine and drink flat whites, lattes or cappuccinos.
Choose The 36 Blend if you want one versatile Vietnamese coffee for phin, iced coffee, espresso and milk.
Choose Red Soil Robusta if you want the boldest, fullest-bodied 100% Robusta experience.
Choose Highland Mist Arabica if you prefer black coffee, long black, pour-over or a cleaner and more aromatic cup.
Choose the Tasting Trio if you are not sure yet and want to compare different Vietnamese coffee profiles side by side.
Saigon Espresso
Espresso-first 50/50 Robusta–Arabica blend for body, crema and balanced milk drinks.
The 36 Blend
70% Robusta / 30% Arabica for phin, iced coffee, espresso and everyday milk coffee.
Red Soil Robusta
100% Vietnamese Robusta for a deeper, heavier and more powerful cup.
Highland Mist Arabica
100% Vietnamese Arabica for a cleaner, more aromatic and lighter drinking experience.
Vietnamese Coffee Comparison
| Coffee | Best for | Body | Flavour direction | Composition | Choose it if... |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saigon Espresso | Espresso, flat white, latte, cappuccino | Full | Balanced, bold, aromatic, clean finish | 50% Robusta / 50% Arabica | Your espresso machine is your main brewer |
| The 36 Blend | Phin, iced coffee, milk coffee, espresso | Full | Dark chocolate, roasted hazelnut, caramel | 70% Robusta / 30% Arabica | You want one coffee that can do almost everything |
| Red Soil Robusta | Strong black coffee, phin, bold espresso, iced coffee | Very full | Dark chocolate, cocoa, brown sugar | 100% Robusta | You actively want maximum Robusta intensity |
| Highland Mist Arabica | Pour-over, long black, black coffee, modern espresso | Lighter | Clean, aromatic, fruit-forward, light caramel | 100% Arabica | You prefer clarity over maximum strength |
Start Here: How Do You Usually Drink Coffee?
Choose Saigon Espresso.
Saigon Espresso is the espresso-first coffee in The Phinist range.
It combines 50% Robusta from Bảo Lộc with 50% Arabica from Cầu Đất, bringing together the body and strength of Vietnamese Robusta with the aroma and cleaner finish of Arabica.
The 50/50 composition makes it particularly suited to espresso when you want a full cup without pushing all the way into the heavier character of a 100% Robusta.
It also gives milk drinks enough coffee presence to remain noticeable after steamed milk is added.
Choose Saigon Espresso if you usually drink:
- flat white
- latte
- cappuccino
- iced latte
- espresso
- long black made from espresso
Choose The 36 Blend.
The 36 Blend is the all-rounder.
Its 70% Robusta / 30% Arabica composition keeps it distinctly Robusta-forward, with the body and boldness associated with Vietnamese coffee while remaining versatile enough for everyday brewing.
Dark chocolate, roasted hazelnut and caramel make it particularly easy to pair with milk, condensed milk and ice.
Choose The 36 if you move between:
- traditional phin
- cà phê sữa đá
- espresso
- flat white
- iced coffee
- bean-to-cup machines
Saigon Espresso vs The 36: Choose Saigon when espresso is your main brewing method. Choose The 36 when you want a more Robusta-forward coffee that can comfortably move between phin, espresso and iced Vietnamese coffee.
Choose Red Soil Robusta.
Red Soil Robusta is the 100% Robusta option.
This is not the coffee to choose because someone told you Vietnamese coffee is supposed to be strong. Choose it because you genuinely enjoy more body, intensity and a deeper cocoa-led cup.
Red Soil is particularly well suited to strong black coffee, phin, condensed milk drinks and espresso where you want the coffee to remain dominant.
Choose Red Soil if you want:
- 100% Vietnamese Robusta
- maximum body
- strong black coffee
- a powerful cà phê sữa đá
- Robusta espresso
- dark chocolate, cocoa and brown-sugar style flavours
Choose Highland Mist Arabica.
Highland Mist Arabica is the cleaner side of Vietnamese coffee.
Made with Vietnamese Arabica from Cầu Đất, it is designed for drinkers who want to explore Vietnamese-grown coffee without the heavier body of a Robusta-forward blend.
It is especially well suited to brewing methods where you can taste the coffee without much milk or sugar.
Choose Highland Mist if you usually drink:
- pour-over
- V60
- long black
- black coffee
- lighter modern espresso
What If You Don't Know What You Like Yet?
Start with the Vietnamese Coffee Tasting Trio.
If terms like Robusta, Arabica, body and acidity do not mean much to you yet, there is no reason to guess.
The Vietnamese Coffee Tasting Trio lets you compare different Vietnamese coffee profiles using the same brewing method.
This makes it easier to discover whether you naturally prefer a balanced blend, a heavier Robusta or a cleaner Arabica.
Try each coffee black first, then add milk if that is how you normally drink coffee.
Which Vietnamese Coffee Is Best for an Espresso Machine?
Start with Saigon Espresso if your espresso machine is your primary brewing method.
Its 50/50 Robusta–Arabica composition is built around a balance of body, crema and aroma, making it particularly suited to espresso and milk-based drinks.
Choose The 36 instead when you want a more Robusta-forward coffee that you will also use for phin and iced Vietnamese coffee.
Choose Red Soil when you deliberately want to pull a heavier 100% Robusta espresso.
For more detail, see our guide to using Vietnamese coffee in an espresso machine and our guide to Vietnamese Robusta for espresso .
Which Vietnamese Coffee Is Best for a Flat White?
Saigon Espresso is the first choice if flat white is one of your main drinks.
Flat white needs espresso with enough body to remain present in milk without relying on an extremely dark roast.
The 50/50 Robusta–Arabica blend gives Saigon enough Robusta character for weight and coffee presence while keeping the cup balanced.
If you prefer your flat white stronger and more Robusta-forward, move to The 36 Blend.
Which Vietnamese Coffee Is Best for Cà Phê Sữa Đá?
The 36 Blend is the best all-round starting point for traditional Vietnamese iced milk coffee.
Its 70% Robusta composition gives the coffee enough weight to remain obvious against condensed milk and melting ice.
Choose Red Soil instead if you want an even stronger 100% Robusta version.
Saigon Espresso can also be used for iced milk coffee, but its main role in the range is espresso-machine brewing rather than traditional phin.
Which Vietnamese Coffee Is Best for Black Coffee?
There is no single answer because “black coffee” can mean very different things.
Choose Highland Mist for long black and pour-over when you want clarity. Choose The 36 when you still want noticeable Robusta body. Choose Red Soil when the whole point is a strong, concentrated black coffee.
Which Vietnamese Coffee Is Best for a Phin?
The 36 Blend is the easiest everyday recommendation for phin brewing.
It retains the Robusta-forward character associated with Vietnamese phin coffee while remaining more balanced than 100% Robusta.
Red Soil is the stronger alternative.
Highland Mist can also be brewed through a phin if you want to explore a lighter profile, although pour-over and black coffee allow more of its clean Arabica character to show.
Which Coffee Should You Choose by Flavour?
| If you like... | Choose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Balanced espresso with milk | Saigon Espresso | 50/50 balance of Robusta body and Arabica aroma |
| Chocolate, caramel and roasted nuts | The 36 Blend | Robusta-forward but versatile and approachable |
| Dark cocoa, deep flavour and maximum body | Red Soil Robusta | 100% Robusta with the fullest profile in the range |
| Cleaner, brighter and more aromatic coffee | Highland Mist Arabica | 100% Arabica from Cầu Đất |
Which Vietnamese Coffee Is the Strongest?
Red Soil Robusta is the strongest choice in the core range if by “strong” you mean maximum Robusta character, body and caffeine potential.
The 36 Blend comes next with 70% Robusta.
Saigon Espresso uses a more balanced 50/50 composition, while Highland Mist is 100% Arabica.
Strength is not only about caffeine, however. Roast, recipe, coffee dose and brewing method can all change how strong a coffee tastes.
Read Vietnamese Coffee Caffeine Explained for a deeper explanation.
Saigon Espresso vs The 36 Blend: What's the Difference?
This is likely to be the most important comparison for many shoppers because both are Robusta–Arabica blends.
| Saigon Espresso | The 36 Blend | |
|---|---|---|
| Composition | 50% Robusta / 50% Arabica | 70% Robusta / 30% Arabica |
| Main purpose | Espresso-first | All-round Vietnamese coffee |
| Best brewer | Espresso machine | Phin, espresso and multiple methods |
| Milk drinks | Excellent | Excellent, slightly more Robusta-forward |
| Phin | Can be used | Preferred choice |
| Character | Balanced espresso, body + aroma | Bolder Vietnamese Robusta character |
| Choose this if... | Your espresso machine is your main brewer | You want one bag for almost everything |
The easiest way to decide: If you own an espresso machine and that is how you make almost every coffee, start with Saigon Espresso. If you alternate between phin, iced coffee, espresso and milk drinks, start with The 36 Blend.
Do You Need to Choose Robusta or Arabica First?
No.
For most people, choosing coffee by how you drink it is more useful than beginning with the species name.
You do not need to understand coffee genetics to know that you want:
- a stronger flat white
- a clean pour-over
- a bold cà phê sữa đá
- a versatile everyday bean
- or a heavy 100% Robusta espresso
Once you know what you enjoy in the cup, Robusta and Arabica become useful explanations for why different coffees behave differently.
Our Simplest Recommendation
Espresso machine? Start with Saigon Espresso.
If flat white, latte, cappuccino or espresso is your normal coffee routine, Saigon Espresso is the most direct choice.
Use several brew methods? Start with The 36 Blend.
If you switch between phin, iced coffee, espresso and milk drinks, The 36 is the more versatile everyday Vietnamese coffee.
Final Answer: Which Vietnamese Coffee Should You Buy?
Forget the idea that there is one “best” Vietnamese coffee.
The better question is:
What do you want your coffee to do?
Choose Saigon Espresso when your espresso machine is at the centre of your coffee routine.
Choose The 36 Blend when you want a versatile Robusta-forward coffee for phin, iced coffee, espresso and milk.
Choose Red Soil Robusta when you deliberately want maximum body and 100% Robusta intensity.
Choose Highland Mist Arabica when you prefer black coffee, pour-over and a cleaner, more aromatic cup.
And if you still do not know which camp you fall into, start by tasting more than one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Vietnamese coffee should I buy for an espresso machine?
Choose Saigon Espresso if your espresso machine is your primary brewer. Its 50% Robusta / 50% Arabica blend is designed around balanced espresso, body and milk performance. Choose The 36 Blend if you also frequently brew with a phin.
Which Vietnamese coffee is best for flat white?
Saigon Espresso is the first choice for flat white because its 50/50 Robusta–Arabica composition provides enough body for milk while retaining Arabica aroma and balance.
Which Vietnamese coffee is best for latte?
Start with Saigon Espresso for espresso-machine lattes. Choose The 36 Blend if you prefer a more Robusta-forward and stronger coffee flavour through milk.
Which Vietnamese coffee is best for a phin?
The 36 Blend is the most versatile starting point for phin brewing. Choose Red Soil Robusta when you want a stronger 100% Robusta phin.
Which Vietnamese coffee is best for cà phê sữa đá?
The 36 Blend is the easiest everyday recommendation for cà phê sữa đá because its 70% Robusta composition provides enough body to remain noticeable through condensed milk and ice. Red Soil creates a stronger version.
Which Vietnamese coffee is best for black coffee?
Choose Highland Mist Arabica for a cleaner and more aromatic black coffee, The 36 Blend for more body, or Red Soil Robusta for the boldest and most intense black cup.
Which Vietnamese coffee is best for pour-over?
Highland Mist Arabica is the best starting point for pour-over because its cleaner and more aromatic profile suits filter brewing. It is also a useful way to experience a different side of Vietnamese coffee beyond traditional Robusta-forward phin brewing.
What is the difference between Saigon Espresso and The 36 Blend?
Saigon Espresso is a 50% Robusta / 50% Arabica espresso-first blend. The 36 Blend contains 70% Robusta / 30% Arabica and is designed as a more Robusta-forward all-rounder for phin, iced coffee, espresso and milk drinks.
Which The Phinist coffee is the strongest?
Red Soil Robusta is the strongest core choice for people seeking maximum Robusta body and intensity because it is made with 100% Vietnamese Robusta. The 36 Blend contains 70% Robusta, while Saigon Espresso contains 50% Robusta.
Which Vietnamese coffee should a beginner try first?
Choose based on your normal drink. Espresso-machine users should start with Saigon Espresso, while people wanting a versatile introduction to phin and Vietnamese iced coffee should start with The 36 Blend. If you do not know your preference, a tasting set is the easiest way to compare profiles.
Should I buy Robusta or Arabica Vietnamese coffee?
Choose more Robusta when you want greater body and intensity, and choose Arabica when you prefer a cleaner and more aromatic cup. A blend such as Saigon Espresso or The 36 combines characteristics of both.
Where can I buy Vietnamese coffee beans in Australia?
The Phinist offers freshly roasted Vietnamese Robusta, Arabica and Robusta–Arabica blends for phin, espresso, milk drinks and filter brewing, with delivery across Australia.