The 3rd of March 2025 was a truly memorable occasion for Saigon’s specialty coffee scene — Sherry Hsu of Sherry Selection, 2022 World Brewers Cup (WBrC) Champion from Taiwan, served up her delightful roasts to local specialty coffee lovers at Hoff Specialty Coffee (170A Võ Thị Sáu, Phường 8, Quận 3, Hồ Chí Minh).
Vincent Cheng, coffee veteran from barista equipment distributor Fox Coffee Vietnam, was the decisive link between the collaboration, one that resulted from efforts at Ho Chi Minh City’s Vietnam Coffee Fest 2025.
Saucefish was delighted to receive insights about the coffee scene in Taiwan where Hsu runs an operation from her residence in Taipei.
On the island, higher-quality commercial beans sold at convenience stores such as 7 Eleven that are easy to acquire have been hooking people to more complex flavor profiles for decades.
Coffee enthusiast flocked to Hoff Specialty Coffee to sample the world of Taiwanese caffeine indulgence
Hsu flew in with 10 coffee beans, many of which were high-scoring South Americans.
Most notably, ones that can be considered the most luxurious were two Panama Geishas with a price tag of VND950,000 (~US$37) for a cup of V60 pour-over.
Owing to her achievements, Hsu has become a trusted leader of the Taiwanese specialty coffee industry — she is currently a brand ambassador for 1Zpresso, a Taiwanese brand of manual grinders that has become quite a sensation amongst home baristas worldwide.
“Before becoming a barista, I attended an introductory coffee course where I met my mentor. She sparked my curiosity about coffee, and I was deeply fascinated by the complexities of pour-over brewing,” Hsu recounted.
This led to her working as a barista, experimenting with different brewing techniques, before finally winning the championship in Melbourne.
“…[Winning] was a pivotal moment that allowed me to travel, learn from different coffee cultures, and further develop my expertise,” she shared.
“Never stop learning and exploring,” Hsu offered advice to young Vietnamese baristas who might be considering a similar path.
“Specialty coffee is an ever-evolving field, and the best baristas are those who embrace curiosity. Taste as much coffee as you can, experiment with different brewing methods, and most importantly, connect with the global coffee community. Passion and persistence will take you far,” Hsu added.
The uniqueness of the Vietnamese coffee scene key to its growth
For Taiwan, the coffee scene evolved into an immersive experience thanks to strong influence from Japan.
“The Japanese emphasis on precision, craftsmanship, and hospitality helped shape Taiwan’s coffee culture, making pour-over, siphon, and other manual brewing techniques widely appreciated,” Hsu explained.
Taiwan’s specialty cafes gradually began to focus on storytelling, engaging customers through immersive coffee experiences focusing on sensory exploration and education.
Yet the fate of the Vietnamese specialty coffee world may very well be different as the world’s second largest coffee producing country.
“Vietnam’s specialty coffee industry is developing its own unique identity, with a growing focus on high-quality Robusta and Arabica production,” Hsu said.
It may be her first visit to Vietnam, but she has already noticed a strong connection between coffee and daily life.
“From traditional phin-brewed coffee to emerging specialty cafes, coffee here isn’t just a drink. It’s a culture, a ritual, and a social experience,” Hsu elaborated..
In her opinion, Vietnam can take inspiration from Taiwan’s approach by expanding consumer education, alternative brewing methods, and fostering deeper engagement between baristas and customers.
“By making coffee more than just a beverage and turning it into an experience, Vietnam’s specialty [coffee scene] can cultivate a more diverse and sustainable coffee culture both locally and globally,” she concluded.
Sometimes, things get geeky with Vietnamese specialty coffee!
The one-day event saw a full house, attracting hordes of attendees including coffee roasters, coffee baristas and coffee fans. Local coffee professionals from other roastery-cafes such as XLIII Specialty and Intenso Coffee Roasters also joined to have a taste of Sherry Selection’s beans.
As caffeine-induced enthusiasm filled the room, water became the “hype of the day”. Award-winning baristas Đặng Gia Cát Tường and Tôn Nguyễn Hàn Anh, founders of Micous, a locally-founded brand of coffee brewing water mineral additive, ensured that no batch of Hsu’s pour-over coffee was lacking in extraction of desirable flavor notes.
With Micous’ food-safe recipe of Magnesium, Potassium, Calcium, and Sodium, local coffee enthusiasts no longer need to fret for a perfect cup of home brewed coffee.
“Magnesium enhances the perception of fruity and acidic notes, while calcium contributes to body and texture. Sodium softens acidity and bitterness while making the mouth-feel rounded and full-bodied,” explained the founders of Micous.
In essence, properly mineralized water prevents undesirable compounds from overpowering the coffee, allowing natural sweetness and complexity to shine.
The rise of local community events will expand the popularity of specialty coffee in Vietnam
“The dedication of local baristas and roasters to refining their craft is truly inspiring,” Hsu exclaimed.
Ultimately, despite it being a time of chaos and uncertainty for the Vietnamese cafe scene due to rising costs and real estate, events like these no doubt offer a platform to unite a community with shared passions and values.
For Sherry Hsu and beyond coffee, every meal in Vietnam’s vibrant food scene has been a delight, yet what truly stood out was the warmth of the people.
“I’ve been met with kindness, generosity and a genuine passion for sharing local culture, experiencing this level of hospitality has made my time in Vietnam even more special.”
