Say Coffee House, a new vietnamese coffee shop opening at 2414 central avenue | st. pete rising

Known for TikTok-worthy slow-dripped brews topped with colorful cold foams and inventive add-ins, Vietnamese coffee shops have been popping up in major U.S. cities like New York, Portland, and Los Angeles.

Now, it’s St. Pete’s turn.

Last week, a banner appeared in the window of 2414 Central Avenue in the Grand Central District announcing Say Coffee House, set to open in March in the space formerly occupied by the Crisp Waffle Company.

The name “Say” translates to “obsessed” in Vietnamese.

“It means you drink it so much that you’re obsessed with it,” said owner Haley Huynh in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. “That’s why we chose the name.”

Vietnamese coffee is traditionally brewed using a small metal drip filter called a phin, producing a bold, slow-dripped coffee.

Traditional Vietnamese phin-dripped coffee | Waka Coffee

It’s also defined by the beans themselves. Vietnamese coffee uses robusta beans, which contain nearly twice the caffeine of the arabica beans more commonly found in U.S. coffee shops.

“We import our coffee beans directly from Vietnam, which is the second-largest exporter of coffee beans in the world,” said Huynh, who also owns Sip Tea Boba in Pinellas Park.

Once brewed, the coffee is typically topped with sweetened condensed milk, which balances out the bitterness of the Vietnamese coffee.

Customers will also be able to customize their drinks with a variety of specialty foams.

Say Coffee House will offer egg foam made from whipped egg yolks, along with sea salt foam and ube foam, which adds a subtle sweet potato flavor.

“That’s actually what we’re going to specialize in,” Huynh said. “Vietnamese egg coffee is a staple back in Vietnam.”

Three drinks from Say Coffee House: Vietnamese sea salt coffee (left), lychee green tea (center), and matcha einspänner (right) | Say Coffee House

Another offering will be sea salt coffee, which features a lightly frothed mixture of cream, milk, and salt layered over coffee and ice.

The shop will also serve coconut coffee, which blends coconut, ice, and condensed milk with slow-dripped coffee poured on top.

In addition to coffee, Say Coffee House will offer ceremonial-grade matcha lattes and fruit tea drinks made with green or black tea bases and tropical flavors like mango and peach.

To complement the beverages, customers can enjoy a small menu of pastries and “croffles”, a trendy breakfast item that combines a croissant and a waffle by pressing croissant dough in a waffle iron.

While not traditionally Vietnamese, the croffle has become popular in Asian-style coffee shops across the U.S.

Rendering of Say Coffee House, coming to the Grand Central District in St. Pete | Say Coffee House

Huynh, who moved from Vietnam to the Tampa Bay area more than 15 years ago to be closer to family, says she’s excited to introduce Vietnamese coffee culture to downtown St. Pete.

When it opens this spring, Say Coffee House will join other nearby businesses including Lost & Found, The Floribbean, Hits and Munchies (formerly Tubular Tokes), and Valkyrie Doughnuts.

Additional details, including operating hours and a grand opening date, are expected to be announced soon.

For updates, follow Say Coffee House on Instagram and Facebook.