Thai coffee vs. Vietnamese coffee: What is the difference?

A colleague introduced me to Thai and Vietnamese coffees, and being an avid regular coffee drinker, I found the flavors of these coffees unique. I loved these coffees so much that my colleague would make me some and bring them to work. However, I had problems differentiating Thai and Vietnamese coffee after weeks of consuming them. After intense taste tests and research, I finally mastered their differences.

If you’re struggling to differentiate these coffees, this post is for you. We’ve written this article to help you easily discern Thai and Vietnamese coffee. You’ll learn about their ingredients, taste, and caffeine amounts. Keep reading to discover more.

What are the differences between Thai coffee vs. Vietnamese coffee?

Features	Thai coffee	Vietnamese coffee
Ingredients	Ice, Thailand-grown Robusta coffee, condensed, evaporated, or regular milk and water.	Ice, Vietnam-grown Robusta coffee, sweetened condensed milk, and water.
Taste Profile	Spicy, nutty, slightly bitter, cooling, and sweet taste.	Rich, bold, smooth, sweet, and slightly bitter, with bright hints of caramel, chocolate, and vanilla.
Caffeine Content	A cup (8fl oz.) has approximately 120mg of caffeine.	A cup (8fl oz.) has 100mg of caffeine.
Availability	Available on online retail sites, the Asian market, Thai restaurants, and Thai coffee brands’ websites.	Available on online retail sites, Vietnamese restaurants, and Vietnamese coffee brands’ websites.
Roast Level	Dark roast.	Dark roast.

Thai coffee vs. Vietnamese coffee – How they compare

What it’s made of (Ingredients)

Thai coffee is prepared with condensed, evaporated, or regular milk, dark roast Thailand-grown Robusta coffee, water, sugar (optional), and ice. The Thailand coffee used in this beverage has cardamom, soybeans, and sesame corn mixed in it.

Vietnamese coffee is prepared with sweetened condensed milk, a sweetener (optional), dark roast Vietnamese-grown Robusta coffee, water, and ice.

In this category, Thai coffee wins as it incorporates other ingredients besides plain coffee beans.

Taste Profile

Thai coffee has a rich, cooling, and slightly bittersweet taste with spicy and nutty flavors and subtle chocolate notes.

Vietnamese coffee has a rich, smooth, bold taste with contrasting bitter and sweet flavors and bright hints of caramel, vanilla, and chocolate.

Thai coffee is better for taste as it presents a unique flavor, which you wouldn’t expect in coffee.

Caffeine content/Nutritional value

A cup (8fl oz.) of Thai coffee has around 120mg of caffeine. This coffee has 155 calories and 26g of sugar per serving (8fl oz.)

A cup (8fl oz.) of Vietnamese coffee has 100mg of caffeine. This beverage has 100 calories and 30g of sugar per serving.

In this category, Thai coffee is better as it provides more caffeine.

Availability/Accessibility

Thai coffee is available in Thai restaurants and online retail websites like Amazon. Brands like Café Du Monde, Dalat Peaberry Robusta, and Chestbrew Moon Bear also sell Thai coffee.

Vietnamese coffee is also accessible in Vietnamese restaurants and on Amazon. Brands like Roots Café, Bluekoff, Akha Ama, and Gong coffee also sell Vietnamese coffee.

In terms of availability, both coffees are equally good as they are both easily accessible.

Roast Level

Thai coffee uses dark roast Thailand-grown Robusta coffee beans. Vietnamese coffee uses dark roast Vietnam-grown Robusta coffee.

Here, both coffees are equally good as they are both dark roast.

Thai coffee vs. Vietnamese coffee: A comparison review

Vietnamese Coffee – Overview

Vietnamese coffee has sweetened condensed milk, dark roast Vietnamese Robusta coffee, water, and ice. This coffee is sweet with tasty hints of chocolate, caramel, and vanilla. The coffee has 100mg of caffeine, 100 calories, and 30g of sugar per 8fl oz.

What I liked;

• The contrasting, well-balanced flavors.
• The tasty caramel, vanilla, and chocolate notes.

What I didn’t like;

• High sugar levels.

Whom it’s best suited for;

• Best suited for anyone that enjoys highly caffeinated, sweet coffees with chocolatey flavors.

Thai Coffee – Overview

Thai coffee has water, ice, condensed milk, and Thailand-grown Robusta dark roast coffee. This coffee has a sweet, slightly bitter, and cooling taste with nutty and spicy flavors. Thai coffee has approximately 120mg of caffeine, 155 calories, and 26g of sugar per serving (8fl oz.).

What I liked;

• Spicy and nutty flavors.
• High caffeine amounts.

What I didn’t like;

• The high number of calories.

Whom it’s best suited for;

• Best for anyone who wants a highly caffeinated beverage and enjoys spicy flavors.

Final Verdict: So, which is better? – Thai coffee vs. Vietnamese coffee

Both coffees are equally good because they are both highly caffeinated with rich, bold, and strong tastes and flavors. They are also both dark roast coffees and are easily accessible.

FAQ SECTION

Is Thai coffee stronger than Vietnamese coffee?

Yes. Thai coffee is stronger since it has more caffeine than Vietnamese coffee.

Which one tastes better? Thai coffee or Vietnamese coffee?

Thai coffee has a better spicy and nutty taste. However, remember that taste is personal.

Which is easier to make? Thai coffee or Vietnamese coffee?

Both coffees are easy to prepare as they use similar ingredients, the only difference being the kind of coffee.

Which one is sweeter? Thai coffee or Vietnamese coffee?

Vietnamese coffee is sweeter as it typically uses sweetened condensed milk.