Vietnamese Coffee Dominates Southeast Asia Rankings With Three Drinks in Top 10

From iced milk coffee to Hanoi’s iconic egg coffee, Vietnam’s beverage culture continues its global rise — backed by booming exports and growing international recognition.

Vietnam has strengthened its reputation as Southeast Asia’s coffee powerhouse after three Vietnamese coffee drinks were named among the 10 best beverages in the region, according to Taste Atlas, the global food-mapping platform known for its expert and crowd-based rankings.

In the updated list of 62 signature Southeast Asian drinks (released November 13), Vietnamese iced milk coffee (cà phê sữa đá) ranked #3, celebrated for its bold roasted Robusta, sweet condensed milk, and iconic aluminum phin filter — a combination Taste Atlas calls one of the world’s most distinctive flavor profiles. Many modern cafés now prepare the drink using espresso for speed, but the balance of bitterness, sweetness, and creaminess remains unmistakably Vietnamese.

Vietnamese black coffee (cà phê đen đá) placed #6, recognized for the country’s unique roasting style and its status as the world’s largest exporter of Robusta coffee. Typically brewed strong and served over ice — often without sugar — the drink is prized for its intensity, long finish, and minimal acidity. Roasters frequently enhance the beans with butter, sugar, cacao, or vanilla to create the deep flavor many Vietnamese grew up with.

Vietnamese ice coffee is a refreshing pick-me-up on a hot afternoon

Meanwhile, Hanoi’s egg coffee (cà phê trứng) secured a spot in the top 10. Born in the 1950s, the drink blends hot coffee with whipped egg yolk and condensed milk, creating a rich, velvety “liquid tiramisu” beloved by travelers and locals alike.

Other Vietnamese drinks also performed strongly: lotus tea (#12), iced yogurt (#23), rượu táo mèo (#26), rượu cần (#29), and black sticky rice wine (#31). Modern creations such as salt coffee and coconut coffee also appeared in the broader ranking.

Vietnam’s ascent in global coffee culture is not new. In 2023, Taste Atlas ranked Vietnamese iced milk coffee the #2 best coffee drink in the world. CNN ran its now-famous feature “Why the world is waking up to Vietnamese coffee.” Canadian travel magazine The Travel named Vietnam the world’s best coffee destination. In early 2023, Vietnamese iced milk coffee tied with Italy’s ristretto for #1 best coffee globally.

Coffee, introduced by the French in 1857, has since become one of Vietnam’s defining agricultural and cultural industries. Today, roughly 680,000 hectares of coffee are cultivated nationwide — mainly in the Central Highlands — with Robusta as the dominant variety thanks to ideal soil and climate conditions.

The country’s coffee export boom reflects this global appeal. By mid-November 2025, Vietnam exported 1.35 million tons of coffee worth US$7.64 billion, up 14.6% in volume and a remarkable 62.3% in value from the previous year.

What began as a colonial import has evolved into a uniquely Vietnamese identity: strong Robusta brews, slow-dripped phin filters, condensed milk, ice, and a culture of creativity. With three drinks now in Southeast Asia’s top 10 — and global demand surging — Vietnamese coffee continues to cement its place on the world stage.

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Source: Vietnam Insider