When it comes to food and drink, Vietnam does things right. From tender beef pho's to the best Vietnamese coffee, you can eat out for a cheap buck.
The street food stalls in Vietnam are the best place to head if you want authenticity. On the same note, buy coffee from the locals for the best results. You'll find the coffee is strong and full of flavor. The only bad thing is, it will probably leave you wanting more!
At least then you'll have the energy to explore the beautiful, unique cities of Vietnam! Of course, if you're not on a plane to South-East Asia, you can drink the coffee at home. Just make sure you use the best Vietnamese coffee beans, and I'll provide the recipe!
What is Vietnamese Coffee?
Vietnamese coffee (or ca phe) has a style of its own! It uses variations that I doubt you've seen in any other coffees. Coffee made with eggs, yogurt, or fruit, anyone? Vietnamese coffee is strong but sweet. You can take it with milk (ca phe sua) or experiment with the other processes. Let's take a look at what's on offer.
Vietnamese yogurt coffee
While the French brought coffee to Vietnam, they also introduced yogurt. The locals took both foods on board and ingrained them into their traditional culinary. If you want to try this unusual mixture, add ice cubes to turn it into a cold drink.
Place the ice cubes into a glass and then add the brewed coffee. Pour your yogurt over the top and watch it drizzle down into the coffee. Give it a stir to help it on its way. For extra exotic flavor, you can even add fruit or fermented rice!
Vietnamese coffee smoothie
If you want that hit of caffeine, along with some essential daily vitamins, Vietnam has the answer! Recently, coffee shops have begun selling coffee smoothies. This is usually a shot of coffee in a creamy blend of fruit, with some cashews or yogurt added.
A popular combination is coffee with banana and avocado. Other flavor is coffee blended with tropical fruits. It's tastier than you might think and great for those that don't enjoy the coffee flavor so much.
Vietnamese egg coffee
Yes, the Vietnamese egg coffee is the one that makes my face screw up a little, too! Though I always say, never knock something until you've tried it! The Vietnamese use egg yolk and whip it with condensed milk. The result is a fluffy, light froth. Pour the egg mixture over the fresh coffee for something like a white chocolate/coffee desert.
This cocktail was born in the 1940's. Back then, milk was scarce and egg yolks were a good alternative.
How to make the best Vietnamese coffee (a brief intro)
If you want the best Vietnamese coffee when making your own, I advise always using Vietnamese coffee beans. They are robust little things with hints of chocolate, nuts, and caramel. You should grind the beans to a coarse grind and brew them in a French drip filter. In Vietnam, it's called a phin.
You can put a cup underneath your phin and when you add hot water, the brewed coffee will trickle into the cup. The coffee should be strong and dark. You can sweeten it up with some condensed milk.
Press the coffee tightly into your coffee press. The coffee drips out slowly, so be patient and let it take its time! It will be worth the wait, as you'll appreciate the cup when you come to drink it. Sometimes, those new to this coffee don't like the initial taste. But often, after another couple of cups, they grow to love it!
Coffee Production in Vietnam
The French introduced coffee to Vietnam in 1857. Since then, it has become a huge part of the country's culture. While the locals enjoyed it, it was also a major source of income. Its success has been phenomenal, and Vietnam is now the second largest coffee producer in the world. In 2008, it produced around 1.13 million tons of the stuff!
Most major coffee producers are large, private companies. 97% of the beans from Vietnam are Robusta beans, which are seen as a lower quality. However, many producers are starting to focus on Arabica beans. This will make marketing much easier.
Coffee has provided a major turning point in Vietnam's economy. After the Vietnam war ended in 1975, the country was struggling badly. The Communist Party placed its bets on coffee to try and make big improvements. It turned out to be a good move. Since the 1990's, coffee production increased 20-30% every year.
In 1994, around 60% of people living in Vietnam were below the poverty line. Now, less than 10% of the population live below that line. Coffee producers keep some of their crops for locals, but most of it gets exported.
Vietnam's Coffee-drinking Culture
In the past, most Asian countries would prefer to drink tea whenever they wanted a hot drink. That all changed in the 19th century in Vietnam, when they discovered coffee!
Coffee is something of a social drink in Vietnam. Drinkers choose taste over convenience, so instant coffee isn't very popular. Instead, fresh coffee beans pair well with the unique additions like eggs or fruit.
It's traditional to use sweet, condensed milk in your Vietnamese coffee. This tradition began with the French. When they brought coffee to Vietnam, they struggled to source fresh milk. Instead, they opted for condensed milk and this method has never really fizzled out since. Since they use dark, Robusta coffee beans, it can be too strong and bitter to drink without milk!
The Vietnamese drink coffee throughout the entirety of the day. You'll often see locals perched on tiny plastic stools out on busy streets. Generally, coffee is brewed in individual portions and drunk from small cups. It is brewed drip-by-drip, so you get to appreciate the full process. You should take your time when drinking the coffee to savor the flavor.
While Vietnam is littered with small, boutique coffee shops, there is one name that you can't miss. Trung Nguyen is a large, successful coffee chain. Its name is on much of the exported coffee, and its shops are set up around the country. Apparently, Trung Nguyen even came up with the idea of egg coffee!
How to Make Vietnamese Iced Coffee
I've already given you some rules on how to make Vietnamese coffee properly. Vietnam is a hot, humid country, and a warm drink may not be what you're looking for! Instead, check out this Vietnamese iced coffee recipe. This recipe makes 4 cups so you can share it with your friends.
You will need:
- Water (4 cups)
- Dark roast ground coffee beans (1/2 cup)
- Sweetened condensed milk (1/2 cup)
- 16 ice cubes
- Coffee brewer
- Spoon
- 4 cups
| The Method |
|---|---|
1. | Brew the coffee. Use the traditional method and brew each cup individually. Use a French drip filter, unless you have another brewing method you prefer. |
2. | Add the milk. The dark roast coffee can be bitter, so it's time to sweeten it up. Spoon 2 tablespoons of the condensed milk into each cup. |
3. | Pour the coffee. Pour your fresh coffee into each cup. Give it a stir to dissolve the milk. |
4. | Cool it down. Generally, your guests will pour their own brewed coffee into their cup or glass. Give them a tall glass filled with ice cubes and hand them their cup of coffee. They can pour the hot coffee into the glass and stir with a long spoon. |
The Bottom Line
As well as yogurt, eggs, and fruit, you might find butter and cheese in your coffee! I love how adventurous the Vietnamese are. It gives us the chance to try something we may never have thought of before.
You may think the best Vietnamese coffee is the traditional, small cup with condensed milk. However, you may try some other variations and never look back! Which type of Vietnamese coffee would you prefer?
