Our Story – PJ's Coffee Vietnam

Our Story

Our History

a new orleans original

PJ’s Coffee of New Orleans was founded in 1978 by Phyllis Jordan, a pioneer in the coffee industry that demonstrated better beans, superior roasting techniques, and pure passion for the art of coffee-making mattered. PJ’s Coffee serves a wide variety of hot, iced and frozen coffee beverages, as well as organic tea and fresh breakfast pastries.

PJ’s famous iced coffees are brewed daily using a special cold-drip process that protects the flavor and strength of the beans, while producing a coffee that is 2/3 less acidic – a process pioneered by our founder. Bags of whole bean coffee and single serve cups of PJ’s Coffee are available for sale in-store and online.

PJ’s Coffee

simply the best

PJ’s Coffee utilizes only the top 1% of Arabica beans, sourcing 14 origin coffees from Sumatra to Ethiopia, Colombia to Papua New Guinea. This gourmet coffee is small-batch roasted in 300lbs or less by Roastmaster Felton Jones, who alone has over 22 years of experience with PJ’s Coffee.

PJ’s Coffee strives to deliver a unique coffee experience to Vietnam , regardless if they are located in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, or far-flung across the world. With one step in the door you are greeted with the scent of our 100% Arabica beans, invoking the soul and unique experience of our original location on Maple Street.

PJ’s Coffee carries a complete line of espresso-based beverages, flavored coffee, and award-winning Original Cold Brew™ iced coffee, as well as a variety of food options. Fresh baked pastries & desserts are available for multiple day parts with a focus in supporting sustainability. PJ’s Coffee is the industry leader in sourcing methods; from farm to cup.

In the community

our heart and soul

PJ’s Coffee has a long tradition of involvement in the communities we serve. From our humble beginnings on Maple Street in Uptown New Orleans to Vietnam, baristas, managers, corporate employees, and their families unite throughout the year and throughout their communities to support the causes that are most dear to their areas, providing funding and event support with some of the world’s best coffees, teas, pastries and more for hundreds of events each year.

Since 2000 BBGV has held an annual charity fun run that brings people out into the fresh air to have fun and exercise while raising money for charity. Every year, PJ’s Coffee joins the fun run to help give back to the community and give its employees an opportunity to relax and have fun with co-workers and family, while helping a good cause.

Sustainable Living

Who’s behind

PJ’s Coffee in Vietnam

TRG International

TRG International was founded in 1994 and has grown into a global professional service firm specialised in delivering IT solutions.

Other than IT solutions, TRG also has a Food and Beverage department which runs PJ’s and other brands.

Ballard Brands

Founded in 2012 by Paul, Scott and Steve Ballard, Ballard Brands is a multi-branded restaurant and coffee company headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana. The company’s restaurant portfolio includes retail brands PJ’s Coffee of New Orleans, WOW Café: American Grill & Wingery, The Original City Diner, and Boardhouse Serious Sandwiches.

Vietnam Master Franchisee

Rick Yvanovich

Rick Yvanovich being an expat, grew a love of Vietnamese coffee “cà phê sữa đá” and after 25 years of drinking it whilst living and building his business in Vietnam and around the region. He thought that the quality and styles of international coffee coming into Viet Nam, were not the greatest and while they might be trendy, they did not match Vietnamese “tastes” or educate the Vietnamese consumer about coffee or create a unique coffee experience.

True to his entrepreneurial spirit, Rick found and fell in love with PJ’s Coffee of New Orleans. New Orleans has a hot and sticky climate that is similar to Vietnam, a history, culture and gastronomy that are French-inspired, with warm and friendly people. Rick thought PJ’s Coffee would be perfect for the Vietnamese consumer and decided to bring PJ’s to Vietnam, where we today mix Vietnamese, American and French tastes to create a unique coffee experience for you.

Learn more about Rick