Our story

Rooted in Vietnam.
Made for New York.

A good cup of coffee can make room for a moment of pause, a familiar face, and a little connection.

The Story of how FifthSip started.

Fifthsip. grew from a growing realization that New York City was craving quality Vietnamese food and drinks.

In many ways, New York reminds me of Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City). Both cities are fast-paced and full of energy, with people constantly moving between work and their daily routines. In Saigon, it’s very common for people to take short breaks at coffee shops - whether to pause for a moment, enjoy a cup of coffee, or catch up with friends. When I came to New York, I found myself missing that simple ritual of sitting down with friends over something delicious. FifthSip really grew from that feeling - a desire to recreate that sense of pause, connection, and community through Vietnamese coffee.

"In Vietnam, sharing good food and drinks is a love language"

In Vietnam, sharing good food and drinks is very much a love language. People often meet at coffeeshops to catch up, enjoy a conversation, or simply spend time together over something delicious. At FifthSip, we wanted to recreate that feeling by designing a menu that gives people a reason to gather - to discover new flavors together or catch up over a great cup of coffee. We also stay close to tradition in how we brew our coffee. Our signature drinks use the traditional phin drip, which slowly extract coffee over six to eight minutes. That process naturally embraces the spirit of Vietnamese coffee culture and the idea of savoring the moment rather than rushing through it.

The dinstinctiveness of Vietnamese coffee

Vietnamese coffee is distinct largely because of the beans and the way it’s traditionally prepared. In Vietnam, robusta beans are commonly used, whereas in North America most coffee drinks use arabica. Robusta has a much bolder flavor profile - it’s stronger, richer, naturally higher in caffeine, and often carries deep chocolatey notes with a fuller body.That preference for bold, creamy coffee has shaped Vietnam’s brewing traditions. The coffee is often brewed using a traditional phin filter and paired with condensed milk, which balances the natural bitterness while adding sweetness and texture. The result is a cup of coffee that’s strong, creamy, and deeply flavorful - quite different from many other coffee styles around the world.

"We want every cup to feel thoughtful, exciting and delicious"

At FifthSip, we do everything with a strong intent, whether that’s a garnish, a flavor pairing or how we adjust our roast. Our beans - both robusta and arabica - are sourced from Vietnam and roasted in-house to ensure quality and balance in the flavor. All of our syrups and toppings are also made fresh in-house, and even some of our specialty milks, like corn milk and banana milk, are prepared daily by our team. We also pay close attention to presentation and the overall experience. From how a drink looks to how it tastes, we want every cup to feel thoughtful, exciting, and delicious for our customers.

Each of our drink has a story

Vietnam is geographically long and culturally diverse, with three main regions - the North, Central, and South - each with distinct flavor preferences. In the North, particularly Hanoi, flavors tend to be more delicate. Southern people, in Saigon, often enjoy sweeter profiles.

Central Vietnam, where Da Nang is located, is known for saltier flavors, and that regional influence inspired our drink DaNang. We incorporate a touch of salt into Vietnamese robusta coffee, which helps balance the bean’s natural bitterness while adding depth to the flavor. In some ways, it’s similar to why sea salt works so well with dark chocolate. The salt enhances the richness rather than making it taste salty - I think that is why it resonates so strongly with people.

A closer look at FifthSip.

Explore our menu