Vietnameses Coffee

What is Vietnamese coffee?Let’s see what makes Vietnamese coffee so good!

Coffee culture is big in Vietnam, especially in Ho Chi Minh city. Vietnamese coffee beans are dark, strong, intense, and have a deep flavor. Vietnam grows really strong and flavorful coffee beans, and typically is enjoyed with sweetened condensed milk. Vietnamese coffee is slowly dripped through a metal filter, called phin filter, to make this original coffee recipe. You can find it prepared with ice cubes or as hot coffee; it pretty much depends on the hour. Vietnamese iced coffee is usually served in warm afternoons, while hot coffee is preferred in the mornings.

There’s a misconception that Vietnamese coffee is any kind of coffee bean with sweetened condensed milk, but originally, Vietnamese coffee is made from robusta coffee beans grown in Vietnam, rather than the most common type of coffee, Arabica beans.

Why robusta? Well, Robusta beans are known for being bitter, less acidic, and most importantly, have twice as much caffeine as Arabica. So if you’re one who’s always looking for an extra energy boost, Vietnamese coffee might be perfect for you. Besides, the strong flavor produced by Robusta beans, combined with sweetened condensed milk, makes for a great combination that can’t usually be found in other cups of coffee.

If you’ve never had the pleasure of trying Vietnamese coffee, let us tell you it is delicious – especially if you prefer dark roast coffee with a hint of roast caramel, sweet flavor, and chocolate notes.

Relax and enjoy the Vietnamese take on an enjoyable coffee drinking experience. Here is our simple recipe for you to try today.

Ingredients

1. 8 ounces water
2. 3 tablespoons ground coffee
3. 1 ounce sweetened condensed milk

Tools

Vietnamese phin coffee filter

Instructions

1. Put the ground coffee into the basket of the phin then place the filter on top.
2. Set the phin on top of a medium sized ceramic coffee mug.
3. Heat the water in a small saucepan over high heat until just before it boils.
4. Pour 1 ounce of the hot water over the filter and let the coffee bloom (bubble a little as carbon dioxide is released) for a few seconds.
5. Pour the remaining hot water into the phin, then wait while the coffee drips into the mug.
6. Stir in the condensed coffee.

How to serve Vietnamese coffee

Typically served in smaller quantities in a calm, unrushed setting.

What is a phin coffee filter?

Vietnamese phin coffee filters are different from other coffee drip filters you’ve seen. A Vietnamese dripper is a stainless steel filter that gives a much stronger brew than an American drip machine. This filter is typically made of three parts: the lid, the body, and a filter disk. Coffee grounds are placed into the body, then the press is placed on top and then the lid covers everything. The coffee drips slowly for about 5 minutes. A phin is similar to a pour-over and a French press.ietnamese phin coffee filter makes coffee taste stronger than other brewing methods.

Tips

For the most authentic Vietnamese coffee taste, use a Vietnamese coffee or a French roast.

If you don’t have a Vietnamese phin coffee filter, use a French press instead.

Adjust the amount of condensed milk depending on how sweet you prefer your coffee.Want a larger serving? Be sure and keep the proportion of coffee to condensed milk the same!

This recipe is not the same as Vietnamese egg coffee (ca phe trung  or  cà phê trứng) which is made by shipping an egg yolk with condensed milk to make a merengue-like topping served on espresso or iced coffee.

 

Fun facts about Vietnamese coffee

Coffee was introduced by the French in the 19th century.

Vietnamese coffee is more about the ritual of making and serving a high quality cup of coffee.