Coffee meets cocktails in Sài Gòn. This 90-minute workshop blends Vietnamese coffee culture with hands-on mixology at Lacàph, guided by English-speaking Coffee Guides. I love the way the Lacàph Phin Blend shows up across the experience, and I like that the teaching includes short videos that break up the steps. One thing to plan around: the caffeine is intentionally low, so this is a taste-first evening, not a jolt.

The setup is simple and easy to enjoy: there’s a café area on the lower floor, and the workshop is upstairs where you can focus on mixing. If you want a friendly, low-pressure way to spend an evening with fellow travelers, plus a story behind ingredients you’ll actually use, this is a smart pick for Hồ Chí Minh City.

Key things that make Shake & Savor different

• Coffee-first mixology: Vietnamese coffee elements aren’t just garnish; they drive the flavor plan.
• Two signature cocktails: Cà Phê Mít and Phở Fizz, made with specific Lacàph and Vietnamese spirits.
• Short instructional videos: You get visual explanations between hands-on steps.
• A clean, comfortable space: café downstairs, workshop upstairs, both kept tidy.
• English support with local flavor: guides teach in English (and Vietnamese), with cultural stories built in.

Finding Lacàph in District 1: the purple door detail that matters

I like that the meeting point is very specific, because it helps you arrive calm instead of scanning streets. Head to 220 Nguyễn Công Trứ, Nguyễn Thái Bình Ward, District 1. Lacàph sits on the upper floor of an old building.

Here’s the quick way to not miss it:

• Look for a small sign in front of a purple iron door.
• Go through the door.
• Climb the stairs.
• When you reach the top, take a sharp left to get to the workshop.

That purple-door clue is quirky, but it’s also useful. And because the workshop is upstairs, you can expect a clear separation between the relaxed café vibe downstairs and the focused class space upstairs.

90 minutes, step by step: welcome drink, videos, and mixing time

This is designed as a smooth evening flow rather than a long lecture. You’ll start with a welcome drink, then move into the tutorial rhythm: short explanations, watch-for-it videos, then hands-on mixing.

The pacing matters here. It keeps you engaged even if you’re not a mixology person. And because you’re working on cocktails that use recognizable Vietnamese coffee flavors, it feels more like learning a local technique than copying something complicated from a cookbook.

You should also know what the experience is (and isn’t). The goal is not a high-caffeine party drink. The caffeine level is low, so you can enjoy your cocktails without worrying about staying up all night.

Cà Phê Mít: jackfruit coffee cocktail with ginger soda

Cà Phê Mít is the playful one: jackfruit, coffee, and spirits in one glass. In class, you’ll make a cocktail built around the Lacàph Phin Blend, mixed with the essence of jackfruit. It also uses Việt Nam Sampan Rhum, plus a signature house-made ginger soda on top.

What you should pay attention to while you’re mixing:

• How the jackfruit character changes the coffee. Jackfruit is sweet and aromatic, so it softens coffee’s edges rather than making it taste harsh.
• How the ginger soda lifts everything. Ginger usually adds sharp, warm brightness. In this drink, it helps keep the sweetness from feeling heavy.
• Balance. You’re not just throwing ingredients together. The guide’s goal is a flavor harmony between coffee and spirits.

If you like drinks that feel slightly exotic but still grounded in familiar flavors (coffee, sweetness, ginger), this is a great match. It’s also a nice introduction if you’re new to Vietnamese coffee beyond the basics.

Phở Fizz: phở-inspired flavors using cascara tea and Mekong Delta gin

Phở Fizz turns the idea of a Vietnamese meal into a cocktail structure. You’ll make it with Lady Triệu Mekong Delta Dry Gin, paired with sweetness from Lacàph Cascara Tea, plus added complexity from Lacàph Raw Coffee Blossom Honey.

The phở theme is clever because it signals a warm, savory-spice mood—even though what you’re actually drinking is a cocktail. The coffee elements do most of the heavy lifting: cascara brings a tea-like flavor profile, and blossom honey adds a rounded, aromatic sweetness.

In class, use this drink to train your palate:

• Notice how the gin backbone stays present even with sweet elements.
• Notice how cascara tea functions like a bridge between coffee and drinkable sweetness.
• Notice how coffee blossom honey changes the finish. Honey tends to linger, and in this cocktail it helps create a more layered aftertaste than plain sugar would.

The Vietnamese coffee ingredients you’ll actually taste (and remember)

One reason this workshop works is that the coffee ingredients have names you’ll recognize during the experience. You’re not just learning general coffee facts; you’re learning what each ingredient does in a mixed drink.

Here are the big ones you’ll encounter:

• Lacàph Phin Blend: the coffee base for the Cà Phê Mít.
• Lacàph Cascara Tea: made from coffee cherry husks, used in the Phở Fizz for sweetness and aroma.
• Lacàph Raw Coffee Blossom Honey: used to build complexity and a rounded finish in Phở Fizz.

This part is more useful than it sounds. If you’re visiting Việt Nam, you’ll see Vietnamese coffee in many forms. After this class, you’ll start noticing how coffee can show up as brewed liquid, as tea-like notes from cascara, or as sweetness via honey. That makes later tastings around Hồ Chí Minh City feel more intentional.

Your guides and the cultural story behind the glass

The class is run by English-speaking Coffee Guides (with Vietnamese also used). The teaching includes both technique and storytelling through the ingredients, which helps you understand why certain flavor pairings make sense in Vietnamese coffee culture.

The practical side: guides explain what you’re doing and why, so you’re not guessing. The social side: the experience is set up for an easy conversation pace, so it’s good if you’re traveling solo or want a friendly evening with people who also came to try something different.

And it’s not just spoken. The course includes cool videos between tutorials, which keeps attention from drifting while the ingredients settle into place.

Food-and-drink value: what you get for around $30 per person

At about $30 per person for 90 minutes, the price feels reasonable if you judge it by what’s included: the welcome drink, hands-on cocktail instruction, and the specific coffee-and-spirits components used in class.

Here’s how I’d think about value:

• You’re paying for guided ingredient pairing. Vietnamese coffee ingredients are easier to enjoy when someone shows you how they behave inside cocktails.
• You’re paying for structure. The videos and step-by-step format help if you’re not confident in a bar setting.
• You’re paying for access to named products like Lacàph Phin Blend, Lacàph Cascara Tea, and Lacàph Raw Coffee Blossom Honey, plus Vietnamese spirits used in the two cocktails.

If you’re the type who likes learning local food or drink methods rather than just ordering cocktails, this class can be a high-value evening.

Who should book, and who should skip it

This is a coffee-themed cocktail workshop, so it’s ideal for adults who want a guided tasting and a fun skill-building night.

You should go if:

• You want a relaxed evening activity in Hồ Chí Minh City.
• You like Vietnamese coffee flavors and want to see them used in cocktails.
• You want instruction in English.

You should not book if you’re any of the following:

• Pregnant women
• People with heart problems
• People with high blood pressure
• Wheelchair users
• Children under 18 (and in practice, it also states under 17)
• People who don’t want alcohol at all (the drinks include spirits like gin and rum, even if caffeine stays low)

Also note: pets aren’t allowed.

Should you book Shake & Savor?

I’d book this if you want an evening in Hồ Chí Minh City that’s more than just sitting at a bar. You get a clear 90-minute structure, a welcome drink, and two well-defined cocktails that let Vietnamese coffee ingredients play the lead role. The English-friendly guidance and the fact that the teaching includes videos make it approachable even if you’re not a drink-making person.

Skip it if caffeine matters most to you. This class is low-caffeine by design, so you’re here for flavor and technique, not energy. And if any of the health or accessibility restrictions apply, it’s best to choose a different kind of activity.

If you’re planning an intimate night out in Sài Gòn and want something hands-on, this is a strong choice.

FAQ

How long is the coffee-themed cocktail workshop?

It lasts 90 minutes.

Where is the meeting point in Hồ Chí Minh City?

You’ll meet at 220 Nguyễn Công Trứ, Nguyễn Thái Bình Ward, District 1. Lacàph is on the upper floor of an old building; look for the purple iron door, go inside, climb the stairs, then take a sharp left at the top.

What cocktails are included?

You’ll make Cà Phê Mít (jackfruit coffee cocktail) and Phở Fizz (phở-inspired cocktail).

Is the caffeine high?

No. The experience is low-caffeine, and the activity is designed to offer a slight kick rather than a strong caffeine hit.

What language do the instructors speak?

Instruction is available in English and Vietnamese.

Who can participate?

It’s not suitable for pregnant women, people with heart problems, people with high blood pressure, wheelchair users, and children under 18 (also noted as under 17).

Are pets allowed?

No, pets are not allowed.

Can I pay later or cancel?

You can reserve now and pay later. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.