96B cafe & roastery sits on Phan Ngu in Tan Dinh, just north of central District 1's busiest tourist loop and close enough to plan as a dedicated coffee stop rather than an incidental cafe break. The address works well for a first Ho Chi Minh City specialty-coffee route: tucked into a quieter neighborhood street, but still connected to the city center by a short ride.
96B combines a café, roastery and coffee education business with work in Vietnamese green-coffee production and export. Liberica/Excelsa is a particular focus, alongside Robusta and Arabica. Come to taste those coffees, discuss the differences and browse beans for brewing at home.
Coffee
96B roasts Vietnamese coffee for espresso, phin, filter and cold brew. Its range includes Arabica, Robusta and Liberica/Excelsa, with retail bags available for different brewing methods. That makes it a useful place to compare species grown in the same country, rather than assuming that every Vietnamese coffee will taste like a dark Robusta blend.
Start by asking which Vietnamese lots are on bar. A Liberica/Excelsa filter is a useful departure from familiar Arabica, while espresso and milk drinks let you try the range in a different format. Ask about the current recipe if a signature cold drink catches your eye.
Filter
Filter allows time to compare the coffee as it cools. Tell the barista what you normally enjoy and how you brew at home, particularly if you plan to buy beans after tasting.
Ask which Liberica/Excelsa is available for filter, then check the bag for its origin and processing details. The range changes with harvests, so a particular lot should not be the only reason for coming. If you prefer espresso or milk, ask which of the same Vietnamese species is being served that way; Liberica has appeared across both the filter and espresso menus.
Food
96B is easiest to plan as a drinks stop. Coffee shares the menu with tea, chocolate and composed cold drinks; alternative milk gives milk-coffee drinkers another option. Check the current counter before depending on food. A full lunch is better planned separately, particularly if you are coming specifically to taste several coffees.
For a change from straight coffee, the signature menu has paired cold brew with soda and citrus or herbs, as well as using cream for a fuller texture. Those drinks offer a different way to try the coffee, especially in hot weather. Ask what is on the current menu, since individual recipes can change.
Service & Room
The café shares its address with a roastery and coffee education business. Retail beans and brewing choices are central to the visit: ask about species, processing, or how to prepare a bag at home. Workshops are a separate reason to return, but check availability in advance rather than assuming that an ordinary café order includes a class.
A takeaway is possible, but allow longer if you want help choosing beans. The useful conversation here concerns the coffee itself: which species is in the bag, how it was processed and which brewing method suits it. Check workshop arrangements separately if you want a more structured session.
Why Filter Notes shortlisted 96B cafe & roastery
96B earns its place for its sustained work with Vietnamese Liberica/Excelsa alongside Arabica and Robusta. The same café can serve someone who wants a familiar milk drink and someone looking for a less familiar species on filter. Its Phan Ngu address is also convenient for a separate stop at GrandMUM in the Tan Dinh area.
Go for the Vietnamese coffee range, especially the chance to taste beyond the usual Arabica frame. Know before going that the food is secondary and the most memorable version of the visit is conversational: order coffee, ask what is on bar, browse beans, and let 96B show why Vietnam's specialty scene is much broader than the sweet dark-roast stereotype.