Croatian man brings Vietnam’s sidewalk coffee culture to Amsterdam

Matko Kmezić, a 28-year-old Croatian, speaks Vietnamese and serves Vietnamese-style coffee in the heart of Amsterdam, introducing customers to the distinctive flavors of Vietnamese Robusta.

Kmezić told Tuoi Tre (Youth) online newspaper that his coffee cart, Viet Drip, is his way of bringing the flavors and experience of Vietnam to customers in Europe.

Vietnamese coffee wins over customers in Amsterdam

Viet Drip recently marked its second anniversary. Kmezić currently operates the coffee cart on weekends at Oosterpark, from around 10:30 am to 4:30 pm, serving about 50 to 150 orders a day depending on the time of year and customer demand.

The menu features Vietnamese coffee favorites such as iced black coffee, iced coffee with condensed milk, coffee with condensed milk and fresh milk, coconut coffee, salted coffee and egg coffee.

Salted coffee and iced coffee with condensed milk are the two most popular drinks.

“Salted coffee naturally makes people curious. Some customers are skeptical when they hear that salt is added to coffee, but many change their minds after trying it,” Kmezić said.

He does not believe coffee preferences can simply be divided between Vietnamese and Western customers.

In his view, the appeal of Vietnamese coffee lies in its distinctive flavors — from the intense taste of iced coffee with condensed milk and the salty, creamy character of salted coffee to the combination of coffee and coconut.

Each preparation method offers a different experience, creating opportunities for Vietnamese coffee to appeal to a broader range of customers in international markets.

Viet Drip’s customers include Vietnamese living in Amsterdam, international students, people who have visited Vietnam, Amsterdam residents and tourists.

Rather than opening a traditional coffee shop, Kmezić started with a bicycle, Vietnamese coffee and Vietnamese brewing methods. The decision was driven both by financial considerations and his desire to test the market.

“Without business experience or significant capital, I thought opening a coffee shop in Amsterdam would require a substantial investment. A coffee cart, meanwhile, allowed me to start small, test the products directly and adjust the operation based on customers’ responses,” he said.

Images of Vietnamese coffee served beside a bicycle, with red plastic stools under the Amsterdam sun, have also gone viral on social media and offered young customers a taste of Vietnam’s sidewalk coffee culture.

Why Kmezić chose Vietnamese Robusta

Kmezić chose coffee as the focus of his business in Amsterdam because, for him, it is more than a drink. It is also part of the way Vietnamese people meet, talk and spend time together.

He specifically chose Vietnamese Robusta, a coffee variety that he said still faces some prejudice in parts of the specialty coffee industry.

He rejected the idea that Robusta is inherently low quality. In his view, its naturally high caffeine content and bold bitterness make Vietnamese Robusta particularly suitable for drinks such as iced coffee with condensed milk and fresh milk.

“About eight years ago, while riding a motorbike in Vietnam, I happened to see a street vendor selling coffee and orange juice. I ordered a black coffee, which came in a plastic bag with a straw.

I wasn’t a regular coffee drinker at the time, but I was fascinated by its strong, distinctive flavor,” he recalled.

Kmezić imports green coffee beans from Vietnam and roasts them himself in the Netherlands. This allows him to control the flavor and preserve the beans’ freshness, while avoiding additives and artificial flavorings.

“Boldness is not a flaw. It is a characteristic I want to preserve,” he said.

His interest in Vietnam, including its coffee culture, began through his relationship with his Vietnamese fiancée. His trips to Vietnam and the time he spent living and working there gave him a deeper understanding of the country’s language, food and everyday life.

“Vietnamese coffee, especially the experience surrounding it, has a lot of potential in international markets, much like Vietnamese cuisine has established itself in many European cities.

I hope Vietnamese coffee will be embraced for what it is, rather than being changed too much to suit outside tastes,” he said.

Looking ahead, Kmezić said he wants Viet Drip to retain the authenticity it has maintained from the beginning — a bicycle cart, cups of Vietnamese Robusta and enough space for people to sit, enjoy their coffee and start a conversation.