Coffee is not just a beverage, but has become an integral part of Vietnamese cultural life and daily habits. From street-side stalls serving refreshing iced milk coffee to modern coffee chains in major cities, coffee can be found everywhere. This deep connection has made Vietnam one of the world’s leading coffee-producing and consuming countries.
If in the past, the most familiar Vietnam coffee maker was the compact aluminum or stainless steel phin filter, today’s needs have changed. The strong development of specialty coffee shops, to-go coffee culture, and the trend of home brewing has made many people more interested in modern Vietnam coffee machines. Below are the most popular types of coffee machines in Vietnam.
Espresso Coffee Machines
Espresso machines are specialized machines that use high pressure to extract coffee. Unlike the slow drip method of the phin filter, these machines use pumps to push hot water at 9-15 bar pressure through fine coffee grounds in 25-30 seconds. This results in an intense, aromatic coffee with the characteristic golden-brown crema layer – an element that traditional phin filters cannot create.
In Vietnam, almost every restaurant and coffee shop is equipped with at least one Espresso machine. The biggest advantage of this type of machine is consistency: every cup maintains uniform flavor, unlike the “hit or miss” nature of phin brewing. Additionally, the machine allows for quick brewing of multiple cups consecutively, suitable for business models.
Currently, Espresso machine prices in Vietnam vary widely: from 5-10 million VND ($200-400 USD) for compact home machines, around 20-40 million VND ($800-1,600 USD) for mid-range semi-automatic machines, and over 100 million VND ($4,000 USD) for professional machines for large establishments. Some popular brands include Breville, DeLonghi, Nuova Simonelli, Rancilio, Gaggia, and La Marzocco.
Automatic Coffee Machines
Automatic Coffee Machines are machines capable of completing the entire coffee brewing process with just the push of a button. From grinding beans, compressing grounds, extraction to milk frothing, everything is pre-programmed.
Worldwide, automatic coffee machines appeared in the 1980s in Europe. But in Vietnam, this Vietnam coffee machine type only began widespread use from around the early 2010s, when Italian coffee culture and the “take-away coffee” movement gradually became popular.
In Vietnam, it’s not uncommon to find automatic coffee machines in coworking spaces or company pantries. This is because they save time while ensuring consistent quality, not depending on brewing skills. Users can choose espresso, cappuccino, or latte in just one minute, suitable for modern lifestyles.
Price-wise, popular models typically range from 10-30 million VND ($400-1,200 USD) for home segments, over 50 million VND ($2,000 USD) for professional segments. Some famous brands widely sold in Vietnam include Jura, Saeco, DeLonghi, Philips, and others.
Semi-Automatic Coffee Machines
Semi-automatic coffee machines are machines where part of the brewing process is automated (such as creating water pressure, heating the boiler), but baristas still need to intervene in important operations like grinding beans, measuring coffee grounds, tamping coffee, and adjusting extraction time. Therefore, this type of machine provides both stability through technology while maintaining the “handcrafted quality” in brewing artistry.
In Vietnam, semi-automatic machines appeared early, around the 2000s when Italian-style coffee shops began expanding in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. Especially when franchise brands and international coffee chains like Highlands, Starbucks, The Coffee Bean entered the market, semi-automatic machines became the “heart” of every coffee bar.
Until now, this remains the most popular type of Vietnam coffee maker in medium and large coffee shops in Vietnam. Semi-automatic machine prices range from about 20-40 million VND ($800-1,600 USD) for basic models, and can exceed 200 million VND ($8,000 USD) for professional machines with multiple group heads.
K-Cup / Pod / Capsule Coffee Machines
K-Cup / Pod / Capsule coffee machines are machines that use pre-packaged coffee in compressed pods or filter bags. Users simply insert the pod, press a button, and in less than a minute have a hot cup of coffee. All complex procedures like grinding beans, compressing grounds, and adjusting temperature are replaced by the manufacturer’s packaging standards, making brewing absolutely simple.
Worldwide, this machine type appeared in the late 1990s with pioneering companies Nespresso (Nestlé, Switzerland) and Keurig (USA). In Vietnam, capsule machines were introduced around 2015 and developed more strongly from 2020 onwards. K-Cup / Pod / Capsule machines are particularly favored in small offices, modern apartments, and busy families, as they require no brewing skills while still providing delicious, clean, and quick coffee.
Price-wise, popular models range from 2-5 million VND ($80-200 USD), more accessible than semi-automatic or automatic machines. However, long-term costs lie in purchasing capsules, typically 10,000-20,000 VND ($0.40-0.80 USD) per capsule. Popular brands in Vietnam include Nespresso, Dolce Gusto, Illy, Lavazza, and recently some Vietnamese coffee brands have launched domestic capsules.
French Press Manual Brewing
French Press, also known as French coffee press, is a manual brewing device that originated in 19th century Europe. Its structure is very simple: a heat-resistant glass or stainless steel container with a lid and metal filter plunger. When brewing, coffee grounds are steeped directly in hot water for about 4-5 minutes, then the plunger is pressed down to separate the grounds. The result is a rich coffee that retains the natural oils and flavors of the coffee beans.
Worldwide, the French Press coffee maker is extremely popular in European and American households due to its compactness, ease of use, and not requiring electricity or complex technology. In Vietnam, French Press appeared later, mainly following the Specialty Coffee trend and hand-brew coffee culture over the past 10 years. This press is now collected and used by many coffee lovers at home, especially urban youth wanting to experience authentic coffee flavors without going to cafes. Some modern-style coffee shops also include French Press on their menus as an alternative to traditional phin filters.
Price-wise, manual French Press coffee makers are very accessible: only 200,000 – 1,000,000 VND ($8-40 USD) depending on brand and material. Popular brands include Bodum (Switzerland), Hario (Japan), Timemore (China), and others.
Cold Brew / Cold Drip Coffee Machines
Cold Brew or Cold Drip coffee machines are tools or devices specialized for brewing coffee using cold extraction methods. Unlike espresso or phin using hot water, Cold Brew uses cold water or room temperature water to slowly drip, steep, or extract through coffee grounds over extended periods (8-24 hours). The result is a mild, less bitter, less acidic coffee that’s easier to drink – suitable even for coffee beginners.
Worldwide, Cold Brew became a trend from the early 2010s, especially in the US and South Korea, where “take-away” coffee style and cold beverages developed strongly. In Vietnam, Cold Brew / Cold Drip Vietnam coffee machines only became popular in the past 5-7 years. Initially appearing in Korean-Japanese style coffee shops, they gradually became familiar menu choices in many large and small coffee shops in Hanoi and Saigon.
Price-wise, Cold Brew / Cold Drip machines are quite diverse: compact tabletop tools cost only a few hundred thousand VND, while professional glass Cold Drip towers can cost several million VND ($120-400 USD). Popular brands include Hario (Japan), Toddy (USA), Yama (Taiwan), and others.
Industrial Coffee Machines
Industrial coffee machines are specialized high-capacity machines designed to continuously serve hundreds to thousands of cups of coffee daily. Unlike home or small office machines, industrial machines typically have multiple group heads (2-4 brewing arms), large capacity boilers, and powerful pressure pumps, ensuring stable operation over extended periods.
In Vietnam, industrial coffee machines appeared quite early (around the 2000s). Today, this type of Vietnam coffee machine is almost mandatory in all medium and large coffee shops, especially in major cities like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang. Not only famous chains like Highlands, Phuc Long, and Starbucks use them, but individual coffee shops also consider industrial machines as “weapons” to assert quality.
Price-wise, industrial coffee machines are quite diverse: popular models from 40-70 million VND ($1,600-2,800 USD), mid-range machines from 100-200 million VND ($4,000-8,000 USD), and high-end imported models can exceed 300-500 million VND ($12,000-20,000 USD).
Read more:
- How many ways to brew coffee? 8 popular coffee brewing methods
- How to make Vietnamese coffee at home
Thus, it can be seen that Vietnam’s current market is very diverse in coffee machine types, from semi-automatic, automatic, capsule machines to manual tools like French Press or Cold Brew. Each machine type has its own advantages, suitable for different needs: family, office, or professional coffee shops. Hopefully this article has helped you gain an overview and easily choose the appropriate equipment for your coffee shop.
