There are many delicious coffees in today’s coffee industry. Among them, Vietnamese coffee attracts a huge following among coffee lovers. It’s loved by many people throughout the world for its sweetness, intense strength, and rich aroma. Its strength is sufficient to give you a mood and energy boost that can last an entire day. In this article, we’ll show you how to make Vietnamese coffee.
Brewing Vietnamese coffee requires using dark roasted coffee beans and condensed milk. These ingredients are brewed using a metallic Vietnamese coffee filter known as a phin. The phin filter also goes by the name Vietnamese coffee press. Other terms used in other countries, including Southeast Asian countries, Europe, and America, include Vietnamese dripper, Vietnamese press, and Vietnamese coffee maker.
In Vietnam, restaurants and coffee lovers brew coffee leisurely. The brewing process is not as intense as that of brewing pour-over coffee. In Vietnam, Vietnamese hot coffee, or Café Sua Nong as known by the local language is taken after waking up. On the other hand, Cafe Sua Da (Vietnamese iced coffee) is taken during the daytime, especially when hot.
Vietnamese coffee is typically brewed using a device known as a phin. It features a small metallic cup that’s placed over a cup or mug. It brews coffee quite slowly but gives a small amount of strong coffee that resembles a more caffeinated and thicker espresso. In fact, the phin brews stronger coffee than the French press, espresso machine, or typical drip machines.
The metallic filter used in brewing Vietnamese coffee makes this coffee drink unique. Vietnamese coffee filters are available at an attractive price. It is something you should have in your kitchen as a coffee lover. It is one things you should add in your next shopping list. Besides, you will enjoy brewing Vietnamese coffee while preparing dinner or lunch for your family.
Whether you’re preparing salad, rice, vegetables/veggies, dessert, pepper sauce, oven baked chicken, meat, soup, breakfast, side dish for serving along the main course, or any other meal/food, you can enjoy doing it while brewing Vietnamese coffee.
Vietnamese coffee is a drink that everyone may love taking. Also, it’s enjoyable at any season of the year. It has a thicker texture than espresso. Although it is best taken after waking up, you can take it after other meals or dishes.
How Vietnamese Coffee Was Invented
While the ingredients used to make Vietnamese coffee got into the country during the French colonial period, the innovation behind this coffee is purely Vietnamese. The brew is prepared with dark roasted coffee using a phin and mixed with a few spoons of condensed milk.
Sometimes, the brew is served with crushed ice for a more refreshing taste, especially during hot days. You can also take it while hot, especially during cold mornings.
How is Vietnamese Coffee Made?
Although you can buy Vietnamese coffee from Starbucks, local cafes, or any other coffee company in your area, nothing can feel better than making several cups of this coffee drink at home. It is one thing you should try at least once in your life. In addition, you will love everything about the preparation process. On top of that, it will only take you a few minutes of your time as you don’t have to wait all day like you would when making something like cold brew coffee.
To make Vietnamese coffee, you’ll need a phin, condensed milk, water, and dark roast coffee. Robusta coffee beans are the best option for brewing Vietnamese coffee at home. You can get robusta beans from local coffee shops, supermarkets, or roasters. You can grind them or else buy pre-ground from top coffee brands.The best grind size is a medium to fine grind.
Here’s a standard vietnamese coffee recipe for making Vietnamese coffee.
Ingredients:
- Boiling water (1 cup)
- Condensed milk (2 teaspoons)
- Trung Nguyen premium blend or café du monde coffee (4 teaspoons)
Equipment required:
- Phin
- Coffee mug (preferably an insulated type)
- Gooseneck kettle (preferably an electric type)
How to prepare Vietnamese coffee:
Step 1- First, boil water using a gooseneck kettle. If you can get an electric kettle, it’ll get the job done faster than boiling water with a stovetop. When boiling, the water temperature is optimum for brewing Vietnamese coffee.
Step 2- Next, preheat the phin and mug by pouring some little boiling water into them. Pour the water after preheating them.
Step 3- Next, remove the metallic filter. Add 1 heaped tablespoon or 4 teaspoons of Cafe Du Monde coffee into the phin.
Step 4- Replace the metal filter in place.
Step 6- Pour a little amount of water through the filter. Doing so will wet the ground coffee. Allow the grounds to expand a little bit. That way, smaller grounds that may pass through the holes of the phin into your cup can be removed. Toss away any such grounds.
Step 7- Place the phin over the mug.
Step 8- Next, fill the phin with hot water. Allow it to drip like the way a drip machine does. It’s recommended to allow it to brew for about 3-5 minutes without interfering with the drip rate. Thus, adjust the metallic filter accordingly. If the filter is too loose, you’ll get a brown, runny brew. If it’s too tight, the brew won’t drip through. You can adjust it with a fork as it’ll be quite hot.
Step 9- Once you’re done brewing, add condensed milk (1 teaspoon) into the brew. If you want a sweeter brew, then add 2 or 3 teaspoons of the condensed milk. You can use any brand of condensed milk as per your liking.
You may add the condensed milk ingredient either before or after brewing. However, adding the condensed milk into the mug before brewing will affect the flavor as the hot water will cook it a little bit. Adding the condensed milk after brewing will allow you to know the right amount of condensed milk to add and to avoid cooking the condensed milk.
Step 10- If you prefer taking Vietnamese iced coffee, allow the brew to cool a little. Next, add ice cubes into a glass and add over the brew. Thus, a Vietnamese iced coffee recipe just needs ice cubes as the extra ingredient for standard Vietnamese coffee recipes. Although Cafe du Monde is famed for some of the best Vietnamese iced coffee in its American open-air coffee shop, it is a brew you can easily make at home. Thus, it is not always a must to visit a restaurant to get the best coffee.
Vietnamese Coffee Nutrition Facts
According to this recipe, the brew will contain the following quantities of nutrients:
- Calories- 32 kilocalories
- Sugars- 5 grams
- Sodium- 24 milligrams
- Carbohydrates- 5 grams
- Cholesterol- 3 milligrams
- Protein- 1 gram
- Calcium- 28 milligrams
- Saturated fat- 1 gram
- Potassium- 24 milligrams
- Fat content- 1 gram
What Makes Vietnamese Coffee Sweet?
Vietnamese coffee is an extremely sweet beverage. The reason behind its sweetness is the added condensed milk. Traditionally, Vietnamese coffee drinks have extreme strength. However, its caffeine content depends on the serving size.
Also, this concentrate tastes very sweet when mixed with condensed milk. Condensed milk is affordable and is typically packed in cans. You can reduce the sweetness by using a lower amount of condensed when making Vietnamese coffee, especially if you want to feel a more intense coffee flavor. It doesn’t have any significant bitterness like black coffee.
How to Brew Vietnamese Coffee without a Phin
What if you do not have a phin but you still want to brew Vietnamese coffee? Luckily, it’s possible to make tasty Vietnamese coffee without a Vietnamese phin. Here’s one of the easiest ways to go about it.
Supplies required:
- Clean cloth
- Hot water
- Fork
- Spoon
- Cup
Instructions:
Step 1- First, add water to a cup and heat it in a microwave. You can also boil the water in a kettle.
Step 2- Next, add enough coffee grounds to a clean cloth. Carefully wrap the piece of cloth to make a coffee bag out of it. Clamp the cloth coffee bag with a fork to make it flatten out for a wider brewing surface area.
Step 3- Insert the cloth into a mug or cup containing hot water. Allow it to sit in the hot water for about 3-5 minutes. Press the cloth against the walls of the cup with a spoon to extract more coffee flavors. You can now remove the cloth from the cup.
Step 4- Add milk or sugar to taste and enjoy the drink.
How to Make Vietnamese Egg Coffee
There are several variations of Vietnamese coffee. A famous version/variety of traditional Vietnamese coffee is the Vietnamese egg coffee. Sounds strange right? Well, Vietnamese egg coffee, locally known as Ca Phe Trung or Café Trung, is prepared by mixing sweetened condensed milk with an egg yolk for 10 minutes or so until the mixture becomes creamy, fluffy, and airy. The mixture blends well with a hand whisk. The mixture is then poured over iced coffee or hot espresso. Here’s how to make this coffee brew.
Ingredients:
- Espresso (12-ounce shot)
- Egg yolk
- Sweetened condensed milk (4 tablespoons)
Recipe:
Step 1- Gather the required ingredients and supplies. Make a strong 12-ounce espresso shot. That’s enough for two servings.
Step 2- Add sweetened condensed milk and the egg yolk into a pitcher. Whip them with a whisk or hand blender. Whipping them blends them into a consistent mixture.
Step 3- Whip the mixture until it forms soft peaks. Also, the volume of the mixture will double.
Step 4- Pour the espresso into 2 coffee mugs. Spoon the whipped mixture over the espresso servings and enjoy.