Vietnam is the world’s second-largest coffee exporter, and Hoi An in central Vietnam sits at its epicenter. Steeped in history dating back to the French colonial period, Hoi An’s coffee culture embodies the ethos of slow-living, with intimate, atmospheric cafes and high-quality, locally-roasted specialty beans forming the backbone.

READ MORE: The Ultimate Hoi An, Vietnam Guide: What To Do, Eat & Drink

Unlike the hectic pace of Hanoi or Saigon, Hoi An focuses on holistic coffee experiences that complement its treasured heritage. Today, those same deep-rooted coffee rituals continue to evolve through contemporary styles and indulgent creations ideal for savoring amidst the Old Town’s historic, lantern-lit streets. From conventional drip (phin) coffee to creative blends like salted cream, avocado, or coconut coffee, expect robusta beans, condensed milk, and inventive presentations at even the humblest of shops.

Milk Coffee (Cà Phê Sữa)

The most iconic Vietnamese coffee staple found at every café around the country, milk coffee, or ca phe sua da (cold) / nong (hot), sees a strong, dark brew poured directly over a metal filter (dubbed phin cà phê, or Vietnamese drip coffee) into a glass lined with sweetened condensed milk. The result? A concentrated coffee-like sludge for those seeking caffeinated inspiration to start the day.

Slightly off the tourist trail, Café Hương Xuân is a rustic coffee shop, most popular with neighborhood regulars for its full-bodied coffee that forms the core of its menu. Milk coffee is the most common order, served with fragrant jasmine tea. 283 Nguyễn Duy Hiệu; VND20,000

Coconut Coffee (Cà Phê Dừa)

Blended coconut milk and ice form a coconut slushie, while a shot of jet-black Vietnamese espresso is poured over the top, juxtaposing the coconut’s honeyed creaminess with bitter coffee richness. Crowned with sugar-coated coconut crisps or puffed coconut flakes, coconut coffee leans more decadent dessert than morning kickstart.

Faifo Coffee not only pours one of the city’s most scrumptious libations, it also boasts a three-story rooftop with sprawling views over Old Town’s yellow French façade-lined lanes. 130 Trần Phú; VND65,000,   

Just a 15-minute cycle outside of the Old Town, the surrounding rice terraces offer breathtaking vistas and a chance to experience traditional rural life. Here is where you’ll find Coffee Xóm Chi, a charming café hidden amongst the greenery, pouring one of Hoi An’s most memorable coconut coffees. 55 Lê Thánh Tông; VND35,000

Salt Coffee (Cà Phê Muối)

While coffee and salt may not sound like the most appetizing pair, when said salt is folded into a whipped cream, it’s a welcome addition. The fluffy amalgamation of salt-laced and frothed whipping cream tempers the robusta coffee’s intensity.

Uncle Huan Coffee is a laid-back café doling out craft coffees, like egg, salted, and coconut, with personalized artwork hand-drawn on each dewy glass. 675 Đ. Hai Bà Trưng; VND65,000

Egg Coffee (Cà Phê Trứng)

Egg yolks are whisked with condensed milk and spooned over aromatic coffee, forming a velvety cap that is at once custardy and airy. Start with a spoonful of the creamy egg foam before stirring it into the coffee. That first sip leaves a guaranteed milky moustache above equally sticky and satisfied lips.

Tucked into a back alley, Hoi An Coffee Hub is a serene oasis away from the Old Town’s bustle. Here, patrons can relish in refined coffee amongst eclectic décor, a koi pond, and mossy, plant-lined walls. Hẻm 11 Nguyễn Thái Học; VND60,000

Avocado Coffee

Frozen avocado is pureed into a thick smoothie, layered with dark-roast Vietnamese coffee. The fruit’s subtle sweetness softens the coffee’s sharp edges, without the addition of added cream or sugar. (Although the suggested dollop of condensed milk never hurts.)

Shelter Café on An Hoi island uses seasonally-ripe fruit grown from nearby farms coupled with hand-picked coffee beans, resulting in the most luscious cold treat, perfect from dawn till dusk. 19 Châu Thượng Văn; VND70,000

Peanut Butter Coffee

Like a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup in drinkable (and caffeinated) form, this peanut butter, condensed milk, and double shot of espresso bevvie can be found at specialty shops like Phin Coffee Restaurant. Here, slow-brewed Vietnamese coffee drips through traditional metal “phin” filters as the base for all of the whimsical drinks on offer. 132/7 Trần Hưng Đạo; VND70,000 

Coffee Cubes

Best for mindful, slow mornings, The Espresso Station freezes high quality, butter-roasted bean coffee into onyx-hued cubes of liquid rocket energy. Presented alongside warm, cocoa-dusted and frothed milk, the two are combined tableside creating a rich iced coffee that strengthens rather dilutes as the ice melts. 28/2 Trần Hưng Đạo; VND85,000 

Fish Sauce Coffee

A playful, local ingredient riff on the aforementioned, internet-famous salt coffee, Mam House, a fish sauce workshop and eatery in Hoi An’s Old Town, infuses its salted cream with in-housemade fish sauce. Lending an extra hit of bold umami and a nip of fermentation funk to its iced coffee, the fish sauce acts as a tip of the hat to Vietnamese legacy flavors. 16 Đ. Phan Chu Trinh, VND50,000

READ MORE: The Ultimate Hoi An, Vietnam Guide: What To Do, Eat & Drink

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This article was originally written and published for Travel + Leisure here.