Pumpkin spice, but make it Vietnamese. That was the reason we stopped at Saigon Coffee in North Park, and Kyle’s Charlie Brown latte delivered.
The seasonal drink brings together bold Vietnamese coffee, pumpkin spice, sweet condensed milk and a hint of hazelnut. It is rich and creamy, but the coffee flavor still comes through. Kyle’s verdict was simple: it was bomb.
I went a different direction with the Vegan Coconut. After ordering, I wished I had chosen matcha instead. That was my own order mistake: I had picked something that was not what I was really craving.
Kyle picked the fall drink. I left knowing my next order.
Our takeaway is to choose your lane before you get to the counter. If you want pumpkin spice with bold coffee behind it, the Charlie Brown is the order from our visit to keep on your list. My next pick would be matcha, which we did not try this time.
Four hours before your first sip.
Saigon Coffee says its extra large phin filters take about four hours to brew a batch. That slow process is rooted in a family recipe from 1977, long before siblings Vinh and Tu Duong launched the business at the Hillcrest Farmers Market in 2012.
What makes it differentWhat we ordered at Saigon
Two coffees, one seasonal standout and an honest note about choosing the wrong drink for your craving.
Charlie Brown latte
Vietnamese coffee with pumpkin spice, sweet condensed milk and a hint of hazelnut. Rich, creamy and still coffee forward. This was the bomb order from our visit.
Vegan Coconut
The café’s original coffee blended with coconut condensed milk and coconut creamer. I personally wished I had ordered matcha. That was my order mistake, rather than a problem with how the café made it.
The details worth knowing
Ask about the seasonal menu
The Charlie Brown was a seasonal fall drink during our visit. Confirm it is available before making a trip specifically for that latte.
Plan a daytime stop
The official website lists the North Park shop at 3994 30th Street as open daily from 9 AM to 3 PM. Check current hours before heading over.
Check the drink ingredients
The Vegan Coconut uses coconut condensed milk and coconut creamer. The iced matcha on the regular menu is blended with condensed milk, so ask about options if dairy matters to your order.