43 Factory Coffee Roaster, located at 178A Pasteur Street in the downtown District 1, specializes in serving high-quality Arabica beans. The café opened in 2022 and is the Ho Chi Minh City branch of an original coffee shop that has been operating in Da Nang since 2018.
One of the standout items on the menu is a 250 ml cup of coffee made from Sudan Rume #00046 beans, priced at VND500,000 ($20), the most expensive option on the menu. These rare Arabica beans are grown at Café Granja La Esperanza farm in Colombia.
According to the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA), Arabica beans are more diverse in flavor compared to Robusta beans, contain less caffeine, and are generally more expensive.
The café has an area on the first floor where customers can experience specialty coffees. Here, patrons can observe the entire brewing process while staff explain each type of coffee and how to best enjoy it.
In the photo, visitors Megan and Nirga from Singapore are experiencing specialty coffee in Vietnam for the first time. They ordered two types of coffee: Finca Soledad Sydra from Ecuador and Sudan Rume.
Thuy Duong performs the brewing process at the table for customers to watch. The amount of coffee and water used is displayed openly. The Sudan Rume #00046 beans have received a score of 93.5 out of 100 from the SCA, indicating strict farming standards and limited production.
The coffee is brewed at a temperature of 80-90 degrees Celsius, with the entire process taking about 3-5 minutes. The final color of the coffee varies depending on the type of beans used.
The café representative explained that Sudan Rume #00046 is expensive due to its rarity, combined with high shipping and tax costs from Colombia to Vietnam. They ensure the fastest possible shipping time to avoid spoilage and maintain quality.
As customers observe, staff provide additional information about the coffee, including its flavor profile, aroma, and the best way to enjoy it. Information cards about each type of coffee, including the variety, farm, and how the flavors change at different temperatures, are placed on the tables.
Megan and Nirga from Singapore noted that the lingering flavor after drinking the $20 cup of coffee was a refreshing eucalyptus taste, with less acidity compared to the Finca Soledad Sydra they tried earlier.
Nirga mentioned that this was his first time learning in-depth about specialty coffee and that he discovered the café by chance while searching on Google.
"I haven't seen a café like this in Singapore. It's definitely an experience worth trying," Nirga said.
Megan and Nirga try the $20 coffee.
The café's representative explained that the coffee's flavor changes with temperature. When hot, the Sudan Rume has notes of lemongrass, eucalyptus, and lemon. When warm, it takes on flavors of mint and chamomile, and when cold, it has a combination of eucalyptus, peach, and ginger.
"The aftertaste is sweet, with a eucalyptus aroma that lingers in the mouth," the representative added.
Unlike Robusta beans, the Arabica beans used in specialty coffee shops offer a wider range of flavors. In addition to enjoying coffee on-site, customers can learn more about the different types of beans. When purchasing coffee by the kilogram, staff will provide samples for customers to observe and appreciate the aroma.
The café does not have a traditional sign like other shops, and its interior is entirely black. It has three floors, designed in a minimalist style. The ground floor features a plant display that spans most of the space, while customers usually sit on the two upper floors.
The café can accommodate up to 40 guests at a time. The busiest time of day is in the morning, with most patrons being international tourists and coffee enthusiasts. The average price for a cup of coffee here ranges VND250,000-375,000 ($10-15).
