By Tam Nguyen, Nguoi Viet
GARDEN GROVE, Calif. – Which do you prefer: Vietnamese iced coffee or Starbucks?
Starbucks at its new location at 13992 Brookhurst St. in Garden Grove. (Photo by Tam Nguyen/Nguoi Viet)
When a new Starbucks location opened about a month ago in Garden Grove Plaza across Brookhurst Street from Lee’s Sandwiches, known for its Vietnamese iced coffee, it got us to thinking about the favorite coffee among the Vietnamese population.
Starbucks manager Richard Tran said his customers range from seniors to teens but that his customers are primarily under 40. While sitting inside the Starbucks, it was rare to spot an older customer.
So we decided to conduct an informal man-on-the-street survey, asking people ages 18 to 40 and older than 40 their favorite coffee.
As it turns out, 95 percent of the Vietnamese community members surveyed said they preferred Starbucks over the famed drink of Lee’s Sandwiches. They gave a number of reasons, including the greater variety of flavors – from frappuccino to espresso — to choose from at Starbucks.
“Starbucks coffee just plain tastes better than Vietnamese coffee,” said Allen Le, 19. “Vietnamese coffee is just too bitter for me.”
By contrast, 90 percent of the Vietnamese people surveyed over age 40 said they preferred the traditional coffee served at Lee’s. They said they didn’t grow up with Starbucks, and the Lee’s coffee is a familiar favorite.
Lee’s Sandwiches is famous for its Vietnamese iced coffee. (Photo by Tam Nguyen/Nguoi Viet)
“I tried Starbucks one time and didn’t like it,” said Minh Vu, 65. “I can’t even taste the coffee, and it is not as strong as the Vietnamese iced coffee. Vietnamese coffee reminds me of home.”
As for me, I join with my fellow under 40s in preferring Starbucks for the flavor. I agree with others who said Vietnamese iced coffee is just too bitter.
But which do you prefer? Let us know in the comments.
