CULTIVATING UNIQUE EXPERIENCES THROUGH THE INTIMATE PROCESS OF VIETNAMESE COFFEE.
Tí, at its core, is the embodiment of family. It embraces the very fundamentals of our roots and takes us back to a familiar place teeming with the nostalgia of our upbringing: waking up to a bustling kitchen, parents cooking eggs on the stovetop to eat with soy sauce, siblings getting dressed for school, and the nutty smell of freshly brewed coffee on the $10 coffee machine that's lasted an entire generation; or, winding down after a long day in the hot sun along the boisterous streets of Vietnam with a loaf of French bread and slow-drip coffee waiting to be poured over ice.
It's what we all had in common from the start: the familiar warmth of family that we find ourselves cultivating in order to preserve and pass on those memories, culturally nuanced in a way that only experience can translate. And whether that's chosen or by blood, there's nothing more empowering than a sense of belonging on foreign ground in a city thousands of miles away.
Home isn't always a place. To some, it's a cup of coffee that smells like Saigon.
Here at Tí, we are a celebration of those roots and the future generations in bloom. As a coffee shop, we aspire to curate a safe space for the creative and unique, a place that bridges differing backgrounds while nurturing individuality in all of its forms over a common pastime—in Vietnamese culture, coffee is a moment of connection and a reflection of our heritage. Each phin-dripped cup tells a story, from the meticulous brewing process to the shared moments it fosters. It's a testament to our resilience and a beacon of our shared journey that we wish to introduce.
From our family to yours,
Tí Cafe
WHAT IS
VIETNAMESE COFFEE?
Vietnamese (iced) coffee, or ca phe sua da, is a staple in Vietnamese culture and is known for its bold flavor and unique brewing method which uses coffee grinds from robusta beans and a small metal drip filter called a phin. With the concentrated brew, the drink is then mixed with sweetened condensed milk and typically served over ice, creating a distinct flavor profile that is both bitter and strong, yet sweet and creamy.
More than just a cup of coffee, it's considered a social activity and is widely available from street vendors, making it an integral part of daily life in Vietnam. Vietnamese people often gather at local coffee shops to relax, chat, and enjoy their coffee at a leisurely pace.
With the creamy blend of condensed milk and the intensity of robusta espresso, Vietnamese coffee can be dangerously addictive because of its well-roundedness and balance. As the second largest coffee producer in the world, accounting for over 18% of global coffee exports, Vietnam primarily produces robusta beans, which is known for its high caffeine content (up to 80% more caffeine to be exact!). As a result, they contain stronger, bolder flavor profiles than arabica beans.
TI HOMIES
TI HOMIES are real characters from our first respective drawings as kids, each one representing the three sisters + TÍTUM (the first grandchild of the family). Since “tí” is a common term of endearment used especially for kids, we wanted to integrate elements capturing that nostalgia within Vietnamese culture, directly symbolizing childhood and upbringing.
Tí will continue to be passed down to our kids, their kids, and so on. Our HOMIES will continue to grow as our community builds, our cultures connect, our stories passed on, and our experiences shared.
