KOK Coffee - Ha Noi - Vietnam

A week ago, I opened my eyes in Saigon; today, as on most mornings, I awoke to the exotic aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the golden sunshine pouring into my bedroom from the azure sky. My Dad has been making his “Sleeping Beauty” her first cuppa every day for 60 years, and it’s still the highlight of her day.

“I like my coffee black, my beer from Germany, and my wine from Burgundy, the darker, the better. I like my heroes complicated and brooding, like James Dean in oiled leather, leaning on a motorcycle. You know the colour. ("Ode to Chocolate”) ― Barbara Crooker, More

A few Saturdays ago, I had the pleasure of scooting around Hanoi on a vintage Vespa, enjoying the drive around the lake and stopping off at the Boutique Coffee House of Ashley Yang, who selects the best coffee beans from all over the world. Here, raw beans are selected, roasted, blended, and packaged for clients.

As I slipped off my Vespa, I was assaulted by the rich, dark, earthy aroma of Coffee, pure bliss. We were shown around the studio, a beautiful, sparsely furnished space, where coffee is the star. Huge hessian bags filled with coffee beans line the walls. In another corner, there’s a huge Red, brass, and steel monster, the roaster, I presume. 

Ashley’s partner, a coffee aficionado, will passionately select, mix, toast, grind, and brew you the perfect cup of coffee. Nothing is taken lightly; this is art at work, and these are masters of their craft. We were treated to three cups of different coffees, each made in his own unique way. It was like watching an alchemist at work. What a privilege it was, and we were under his spell. I drink my coffee with milk and a touch of sweetness, but here I tasted coffee in its raw form, and I loved it, like drinking a glass of Côtes de Provence, where every drop must be savoured. It would've been an insult to gulp this precious elixir, so we sipped with reverence.

We selected a Vietnamese coffee, Son La Premium, and an Ethiopian coffee, Yirgacheffe Premium. We opted for the beans because we enjoy grinding our own beans for our brew. Ashley treated us to samples of her one-cup coffee bags, whose contents are also individually selected by the client. Her choice for us was the Arabica coffee from Son La, Vietnam, grown at low elevations in the northern provinces. The coffee tends to have a light, fruity aroma, a softer taste, lower acidity, and a smooth body. No artificial flavourings are added to any of the coffees. This packaging is perfect for traveling. Pop a bag into a cup, cover with boiling water, brew, and voilà, you have the perfect pick-me-up. 

In Vietnam, an espresso-sized shot is poured and is commonly drunk with condensed milk. It sounds wild, but it tastes delicious! For iced coffee, add ice cubes to a tall glass.  

KOK Coffee Roasting House has been recognized by The Roasters Guild of the Specialty Coffee Association of America as a qualified specialty roaster!

This is how Ashley describes her product: “A Vietnam-based Coffee Roasting House certified with SCAA, is providing the daily fresh roasted beans with an affordable price and excellent quality”

My first “crush” at school was a boy whose pickup line was “I like my coffee like my women, black, strong, and bitter.” He was 16! The romance didn’t get off the ground. I was none of those things... typical.

To Contact ASHLEY YANG:

KOK Customer Services: +84-914368655 

Email: [email protected]