Highlands Coffee
Highlands Coffee is a coffee chain originating from Vietnam, operating numerous outlets both domestically and internationally. Founded in 1999, it is known for combining Vietnam’s traditional coffee culture with a modern café style. Its popular menu items include iced coffee with condensed milk (cà phê sữa đá) and various flavors of milk tea. With locations in major Vietnamese cities such as Ho Chi Minh City, as well as abroad, Highlands Coffee is widely popular.
- Taste Rating
-
- Price
- ? Dong
- Meal Date
- 5/1/2022
- Food Travel Log
- Vietnam’s version of Starbucks, Highlands Coffee
It’s my favorite coffee chain that I recommend to all travelers. It has the most stores in the country! The intense bitterness of Vietnamese coffee and the rich sweetness of condensed milk attack simultaneously, causing your brain to surrender immediately! Look forward to a unique combination of flavors you can’t find at other stores!
AI Gourmet Analysis
Overview
Highlands Coffee is a coffee chain with numerous branches both inside and outside Vietnam. Its roots trace back to 1999, born from the fusion of Vietnamese coffee culture and a modern café style. With stores in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang, and overseas locations such as the Philippines, it leads a distinct café culture, enjoying great popularity among locals and travelers alike.
History and Background
Highlands Coffee was founded by David Thai, a Vietnamese entrepreneur with roots in America, who focused on Vietnam’s traditional coffee culture. Initially centered on coffee bean exports, in 2002 the company began its café business starting in Ho Chi Minh City.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, a wave of café chains emerged throughout Vietnam, and among them, Highlands Coffee rapidly expanded by focusing on locally sourced Arabica and Robusta beans, providing unique blends and Vietnamese-style coffee drinks (such as cà phê sữa đá), setting itself apart from the competition.
Signature Menu Items
| Name | Description & Features |
|---|---|
| Cà phê sữa đá | Traditional Vietnamese iced coffee with condensed milk. Sweetened condensed milk is combined with rich Robusta-based coffee and served chilled over ice. |
| Cà phê đen đá | Unsweetened iced coffee. Allows you to savor the richness and bitterness of Robusta beans. |
| Milk Tea | Popular, especially among the younger crowd and women. Various toppings such as brown sugar pearls are available. |
| Various Smoothies | A diverse range of drinks suited to Vietnam's climate, including fruit and yogurt-based smoothies. |
Role in Local Life in Ho Chi Minh City
Highlands Coffee has become an essential part of modern urban spaces in Ho Chi Minh City. Its stores are located in a variety of places, including high-rise buildings, shopping malls, business districts, and university campuses, making it a popular spot for socializing, business, and student study sessions.
One of its hallmarks is free Wi-Fi and comfortable interior design, closely tied to Vietnam’s rapidly growing urban lifestyle.
Vietnamese Coffee Culture and Globalization
Vietnam’s coffee culture originated from plantations introduced during the French colonial era. Over time, unique sweet serving styles using condensed milk were developed and are now central to the country’s café culture. Highlands Coffee has become the modern embodiment of this tradition and is also embraced by foreigners.
Furthermore, through overseas expansion, it plays a key role in sharing Vietnamese coffee and café culture with the world.
Conclusion
Highlands Coffee is more than just a coffee chain; it is a symbol of urban life and the development of culture in Vietnam. With a diverse menu, comfortable atmosphere, and services that reflect local culture, it has earned strong reputations from both local residents and international travelers. For those visiting Ho Chi Minh City, it is a must-visit spot to experience the first step into Vietnamese coffee culture.