Cacao is one of the simplest drinks on a café menu, but good cacao is surprisingly difficult to find. Too often, it becomes either overly sweet hot chocolate or a sugary powder drink with very little chocolate character. A well-made cacao should taste richer than that: deep, comforting, slightly bitter, and unmistakably chocolatey.
In Paris, cacao is usually associated with European cafés and pâtisseries. Vietnamese cafés offer a different context. Instead of sitting alongside only espresso and cappuccino, cacao appears next to phin coffee, coconut coffee, matcha, Vietnamese tea, and other drinks built around texture and balance.
If you are searching for cacao in Paris, here is what it is, what it tastes like, and where to try it in Vietnamese-inspired café settings.
What Is Cacao?
Cacao is a chocolate-based drink made from cocoa or cacao powder mixed with milk, water, or another liquid base. Depending on preparation, it can be served hot or iced.
Although many people use the words cacao and hot chocolate interchangeably, cafés often use “cacao” to suggest a richer and less sugary drink where the chocolate itself remains the focus. The best versions balance sweetness and bitterness rather than overwhelming the palate with sugar.
At Ha Noi 1988 Cà Phê and Ha Noi 1988 Flowers & Archives, cacao appears on the menu as a dedicated drink alongside coffee, matcha, chai latte, and tea. At Cộng Cà Phê, cacao sits within a menu that also includes Vietnamese coffee specialties, coconut drinks, local beverages, and matcha.
Unlike coffee-based drinks, cacao contains no coffee and appeals to people who want something warming and comforting without the intensity of espresso or phin coffee.
Cacao Variants
On Vietnamese café menus, cacao can appear in several forms, from simple hot cacao to richer iced or cream-topped drinks. The core idea stays the same: a chocolate-based drink that is smooth, comforting, and less coffee-forward than Vietnamese coffee.
At Cộng Cà Phê, cacao appears through drinks such as Coconut Cacao, Cinnamon Cacao, and Cacao with Salted Egg Cream. Coconut cacao feels richer and more tropical, cinnamon cacao adds warmth and spice, while cacao with salted egg cream turns the drink into a more dessert-like option.
At Ha Noi 1988 Cà Phê, cacao appears as Milo Cacao, alongside matcha, Vietnamese coffee, tea, smoothies, and desserts. At Ha Noi 1988 Flowers & Archives, the closest chocolate-based option is Hot Chocolate, served as part of the winter speciality drinks menu.
The Vietnamese Connection
Cacao is not usually the first drink people associate with Vietnamese cafés. Coffee tends to dominate the conversation. Yet modern Vietnamese cafés increasingly treat drinks as a broader category that includes coffee, tea, matcha, chocolate, and fruit-based beverages.
That approach is visible in Paris. Vietnamese cafés such as Ha Noi 1988 and Cộng do not limit themselves to traditional coffee drinks. Instead, they create menus where cacao sits naturally beside coconut coffee, egg coffee, matcha, kumquat tea, and Vietnamese specialties.
The result is a café culture that feels more flexible. You do not have to drink coffee to enjoy the experience. Cacao becomes part of the same atmosphere: a drink designed to encourage conversation, relaxation, and lingering a little longer at the table.
Where to Try Cacao in Paris
Cộng Cà Phê
Cộng Cà Phê is located at 18 Rue Volney, 75001 Paris.
While many visitors come for coconut coffee or Vietnamese coffee specialties, the menu also includes cacao alongside matcha, tea, local drinks, and coffee-based options. This makes it a useful stop if you are visiting with a group where some people want coffee and others prefer a chocolate-based drink.
Website: congcaphe.fr
Instagram: instagram.com/congcaphe.fr
What customers say:
“So gooood! Its nice to have a cong now in europe aswell, less far then traveling back to vietnam 😝” — Mio, Google Map
Ha Noi 1988 Cà Phê
Ha Noi 1988 Cà Phê is located at 35 Rue Galande, 75005 Paris, near Notre-Dame. Inspired by nostalgic Hanoi cafés and traditional tailor shops from the 1980s, the café offers a menu that blends Vietnamese coffee culture with specialty drinks, teas, and desserts.
The menu includes cacao alongside Vietnamese coffee, matcha, chai latte, and tea. This makes it a good choice if you are visiting with friends who want different kinds of drinks without leaving the same café.
Website: viet-eat.com
What customers say:
“First Vietnamese coffee for me and I loved it!! 😀 🤩 Great service with very nice waitresses ♡ Beautiful super original drinks!” — Thelia, Google Map
Ha Noi 1988 Flowers & Archives
Ha Noi 1988 Flowers & Archives is located at 51 Rue des Archives, 75003 Paris, in the Marais. This concept combines Vietnamese coffee, flowers, pastries, and artistic details inspired by Vietnam.
The menu includes cacao alongside coffee, matcha drinks, chai latte, Vietnamese tea, and homemade cakes. The flower-filled setting gives the location a calmer atmosphere than a typical coffee shop, making it particularly suited to slower drinks such as cacao.
Website: viet-eat.com/en/flowers-archives
Instagram: instagram.com/hanoi.1988.flowers
What customers say:
“Ha Noi 1988 in the Marais is an absolute hidden treasure: part flower shop, part café – and all charm. The space itself is small but magical, filled with fresh blooms and a calm, welcoming vibe that makes you want to stay a little longer.” — Mara, Google Map
Frequently Asked Questions About Cacao
What is cacao made of?
Cacao is usually made from cacao or cocoa powder mixed with milk or another liquid base and served hot or cold.
Is cacao the same as hot chocolate?
They are very similar. Many cafés use the word cacao to emphasize a richer chocolate flavour and a less sugary profile.
Does cacao contain caffeine?
Cacao naturally contains small amounts of caffeine, but much less than coffee-based drinks.
Where can I try cacao in Paris?
You can find cacao at Ha Noi 1988 Cà Phê, Ha Noi 1988 Flowers & Archives, and Cộng Cà Phê, alongside Vietnamese coffee, matcha, tea, and other specialty drinks.
Looking for cacao in Paris? Visit Ha Noi 1988 Cà Phê, Ha Noi 1988 Flowers & Archives, or Cộng Cà Phê to enjoy a chocolate-based drink in a Vietnamese café setting. For menus, opening hours, and café information, visit viet-eat.com for Ha Noi 1988 and congcaphe.fr for Cộng Cà Phê.
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