Vietnamese drip coffee is one of the best coffees in the world, with a rich and smooth taste. The experience is only improved with the inclusion of condensed milk.
The first time we had a Vietnamese drip coffee we were living in Dublin. The combination of condensed milk and coffee sounded great to us.
So when we finally went to Vietnam, we got to experience it in a very traditional setting. We planned a lovely day walking around Saigon and that’s where we found a coffee shop called Talk Barista Saigon. The owner is so passionate about his coffee. He was a joy to talk to and if you are ever in the area, I’d highly recommend popping in for a visit.
What is a Vietnamese Drip Coffee?
Vietnamese coffee is one of the best coffees in the world, with a rich and smooth taste. Normally, people only talk about the more famous brands like the Columbian and Ethiopian varieties. In general it is served with a layer of condensed milk at the bottom of a clear heatproof glass with a filter, called a Phin, sitting on top.
The coffee slowly drips into the glass and then you can mix it with the condensed milk. You can enjoy it hot with a treat. Or serve it with condensed milk over ice cubes.
If you can, get Trung Nguyen Vietnamese brand coffee. But you can also use French roast coffee as well.
How sweet do you like your coffee?
In Vietnam, they will ask you ‘sweet’ ‘less sweet’ or ‘more sweet’.
Which, roughly translates as:
- 1 tablespoon – less sweet coffee
- 2 tablespoons – sweet coffee
- 3 tablespoons – more sweet (enjoy!)
How do I serve Vietnamese Coffee?
Serve hot in the traditional manner or pour your freshly dripped coffee over a glass of ice and condensed milk and stir. If you want to make it more of a sweet treat, serve it with a lovely slice of Tarte Tatin. Enjoy!
Enjoy your first of many Vietnamese coffees!
Check out our other coffee drinks
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How to make a great Vietnamese Coffee
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons Ground Coffee
- 1-3 tablespoons Condensed Milk
- Boiling water
Instructions
- Evenly spread 3 tablespoons of ground coffee into the coffee Phin (without the filter in it). Don’t shake or compress the coffee or it could block the filter holes.
- Pour condensed milk into your coffee glass. Place the Phin on top of the glass.
- Put the metal filter into the Phin which is on top of the coffee glass. Pour 2 tablespoons of water into the filter & wait 20 seconds for the coffee to bloom.
- Press on the filter gently to compress the bloomed coffee. This will slow the drip rate and improve the coffee taste.
- Now pour the rest of the hot water to the top and wait 5 minutes to let the coffee finish dripping.
- Remove the coffee Phin and stir your coffee and condensed milk. Enjoy!
Notes
- The bloom is important for the coffee brewing process as it lets the sour-tasting carbon dioxide escape, meaning it allows more water to interact with the coffee to extract the flavor.
- Depending on your preference, add 1-3 tablespoons of condensed milk.
Nutrition
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