I love iced coffee, particularly iced Americano. The relationship between me and this icy beverage holds sentimental value which sparked a journey and a career in Hanoi’s specialty coffee scene that I didn’t know was possible. I embarked on a mission to polish my coffee-making skills by stumbling through coffee-drinking sprees while grinding part-time at a local joint.
I have thus made it a mission to scout for specialty cafes in Hanoi that provide the most rewarding cups of coffee while learning how to enjoy coffee at the same time.
Essentially, I am forever longing to recreate a good cup of Americano for myself.
I can’t help but notice that this simplistic yet energizing drink holds such alluring powers, mesmerizing coffee enthusiast newcomers while satisfying “purists” like myself.
Hanoi has seen recent waves of coffee innovation, but I’m a purist
Yes, the simplistic drink has been modified throughout the years, and local coffee owners are continuously reinventing it with familiar ingredients from Vietnam and beyond. Recent trends include combinations with milk, cream, fruit syrups, and other sweeteners such as homemade sugar cane syrup and honey. Some shops outright replace water with coconut juice, soda, etc.
The Vietnamese-centric possibilities with the humble Americano are truly endless, but I still find myself craving the original taste.
Iced Americano has consequently become a consistent tool for me to evaluate new joints. Producing such a mundane drink requires a barista skill set that often only materializes in reliable hands.
In other words, I have trust issues.
A new joint that offers a good cup of Americano instantly turns me into a frequent customer. I can tell if a cafe’s entire menu is of desirable quality on the first sip.
It may be controversial but I usually stay clear of the cafe lattes and straight espressos. For one, I’m not a big fan of milk-based coffee. Two, the latter option gives such an intense and heavy caffeine content, which presents itself as an unpleasant coffee experience for me.
If everything tastes perfect in a glass of Americano, you know for certain that the barista has done a good job dialing in a shot — a good sign that I can skip out on the lattes and the espressos to make room for another cup of “ame đá” (iced Americano).
After years of sipping ame đá, here is a list of specialty cafes in Hanoi that I hold in high regard for their technicality and consistency!
ACID8 Specialty Coffee (34 Xóm Hạ Hồi)
ACID8 is the first pick that comes to mind when people ask me for specialty cafe recommendations. They have been in the game for almost five years now, pushing six.
The thing that takes me away is that each option on the menu was meticulously crafted by veteran baristas. The levels of detail they put into their drinks, including garnishing, are enough to keep me lingering. Simple, but reliable.
ACID8 serves two versions of our diluted espresso goodness — Americano and Long Black.
To be honest, I find myself unable to differentiate the two.
I know it’s controversial but in my opinion, they look and taste almost identical. However, the star of the show here is their Americano. What’s so special about it you might ask? ACID8 froths it before serving. This method produces a thick foamy layer above the coffee which introduces a creamy and “bubbly” sensation when drinking. Compared to its physically similar relative, the nitro cold brew, an “aerocano” has more personality and a rounder drink experience.
Today’s choice of beans at ACID8 is the “entry-level” option of Honey processed Langbiang Catimor from Langbiang Coffee Project.
ACID8’s novel approach to “aeration” introduces complex levels of acidity that are absent in a typical glass of nitro cold brew. I also detected an almost toffee-like sweetness.
186 Coffee Roasters (Alley 162/4/21 Nguyễn Văn Cừ)
This spot is a veteran local micro-roastery based in Long Biên District.
The owner recently expanded his “caffeine playground” towards Hanoi’s city center central area and opened a small joint in Trần Quốc Toản Alley in Hai Bà Trưng District which helped widen his fan base.
Yet his headquarters on the other side of sông Hồng (Red River) still holds a special place in my heart.
For the past few years, 186 Coffee Roasters has been providing high-quality batches of specialty coffee for various local cafes, a feat that not many can proudly declare. Besides that, the roastery is chock-full of his personality. A place filled with rock music memorabilia and DIY aesthetic, which has an “oomph” effect on his product. Enjoy sipping a cup of joe while watching roasting magic happen just two steps away.
The choice of bean here was Ethiopia Guji, a standard at many Hanoian specialty cafes.
The uniqueness of his iced Americano is that he served it without water. Undiluted.
Yes, you can say I cheated a bit. And yes, I know, it’s just an iced espresso. But I dare say that this is mind-blowing for a “newcomer” barista like me. The first time I met him, he recommended this peculiar drink just to be met with a doubtful face. Yet that very encounter was the start of another coffee romance. It preserved the strength of the espresso shot without overt intensity.
I always ask for a refill whenever I visit.
Off Street Fine Coffee (Alley 7 Yên Thành)
This spot is a solid newcomer for daily caffeine intake if you love the “OG taste” like me.
What makes Off Street Fine Coffee stand out from the competition is a pretty diverse bean selection. The owner opts for beans from various local roasters from both the North and South of the country.
While I was waiting for my coffee, I kept glancing at the shelves stacked with colorful packages of roasted coffee. The endless choice excites me every visit. Furthermore, the owner is a very reliable barista who can brew consistent cups every time I happen to drop by for my iced Americano fix.
My choice for the day at Off Street was a Washed Ethiopia Lugeta.
Tasting notes? Gardenia flower, lemon zest, and honey. Unfortunately, my taste buds could not detect any Gardenias, which was overpowered by the strong lemon zest. This Ethiopian is surprisingly light-tasting. Featuring a smooth, clean flavor and round body, it was an enjoyable cuppa, striking a drink experience resembling a cup of iced pour-over. Very revitalizing.
Room501 Coffee Roasters (6A Lý Nam Đế)
Another solid contender if you want to gulp down an [adj] ame đá, and yet another location with a special place in my heart. Back when I was a part-time barista, Room501 influenced the way I made coffee. They are truly the nicest and the funniest people that I’ve had the chance to know in Hanoi’s world of coffee geeks.
Jokes aside, Room501 is serious when it comes to the coffee business. The way they preserve their coffee beans might seem extreme when compared to other cafes. Every dose of coffee beans destined for extraction is vacuum-sealed and frozen until right before grinding — extra elbow grease for ensuring top-grade and uniformity in their products.
The diverse choices at Room501 Coffee Roasters include Washed Ethiopia Guji 74110, a seasonal option of Natural processed Costa Rica Rojo, and their best seller, Natural processed Yunnan with tasting notes of tropical fruit, “winey” and mango.
Yunnans has never disappointed me, nor has today’s order. Despite a somewhat sour winey smell that kept clinging onto the roof of my mouth, these beans still produced a soothing taste, finishing with a strong, funky banana-like flavor and a hint of pineapple aroma for a truly refreshing cup as usual.
Conclusion: I’m just a Hanoian who loves Iced Americanos with a passion
For nearly 4 years my staple order all year round has been this cool and invigorating liquid. Under the scorching Northern Vietnamese summer heat, it’s my preferred beverage to cool off.
It’s autumn in Hanoi and the same process will repeat itself when the winter arrives in spite of how it makes my throat beg me to stop doing iced drinks — having it hot introduces more bitterness and I like my Americanos cold for my daily caffeine needs!
