Dat T.
Yelp
This is the second time I've been to Cafe Ca Phe, and I really wanted to give it a second chance. I'm giving it a 4 star based on the other aspects that lift it up, but taste wise, I'd give them a 3.
Let's talk about the pros first. I love this coffee shop mission and ideology. I love how it supports Vietnamese grown coffee, how they buy beans straight from Nguyen Coffee Supply, and how they've been collaborated with the Nguyen Coffee Supply's CEO. The marketing and artwork design is fantastic - I love the logos, the name, the branding, and the work that's gone into all of it. Huge shout-out to the team behind the scenes and their social media pages, and the big emphasis on coffee and its cultural connection to Vietnam. All the drink ideas itself are super cool, and I love how unique the specialty drinks are.
The coffee shop itself is cozy. There's enough seating if you need to stop by and get some work done, and the aesthetic is thoughtful. There's some merch that you can buy as well, along with coffee gear and coffee beans.
Now, about the coffee. The first time I came, I got the Mango Sticky rice coffee. Maybe I just don't like alternative milk, because the oat milk and coconut condensed milk were not complementary in my opinion. The mango syrup was fine, but if I were to go again, I'd try this and request whole milk, with normal condensed milk. The second drink I tried here was the Paris by night. Same problem - sesame milk as the alternative milk just tasted off. I was hoping for a nice, creamy texture to the drink, but I don't think the sesame milk was providing that. Cayenne syrup - definitely added a noticeable spicy kick to the drink which was interesting, but not necessarily my fav. And then finally, the cinnamon - I wish the milk had been steeped in cinnamon sticks and then strained, because there was visible cinnamon specks/clumps in my drink, which made the drink taste gritty overall.
Again, 4 stars for the overall concept, 3 stars for actual flavor. I'd love to come back and give it another shot - maybe third time's the charm.