How to Make Vietnamese Coffee • Recipe for Perfection (2024)

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By Katie Moseman 16 Comments

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Learn how to make Vietnamese coffee easily with this step-by-step recipe! You need coffee, sweetened condensed milk, and a Vietnamese coffee filter.

How to Make Vietnamese Coffee

I fell in love with Vietnamese coffee the first time I dined at a Vietnamese restaurant. Years previous, I had read a precise and sensuous description of Vietnamese coffee in Anthony Bourdain’s book A Cook’s Tour, so my anticipation was high. It was just as wonderful as described, and I want to share with you how to make Vietnamese coffee so that you can enjoy it for yourself. (Also check out these Vietnamese Coffee Browniesand the cold brew latte version of this recipe!)

If you’re unfamiliar with Vietnamese coffee, it’s made in a single cup filter that balances atop your coffee cup. You can purchase the filter for about $5 at an Asian grocery store or online. For the coffee itself, I usually stick with Trung Nguyen brand (Trung Nguyen Gourmet is my favorite variety). You can also use Cafe Du Monde successfully, and in fact, it’s often sold in Asian grocery stores for that very purpose.

Vietnamese coffee is traditionally made sweet with the addition of sweetened condensed milk. To get the full visual effect, you use a clear glass or cup, add a layer of sweetened condensed milk on the bottom, and brew the coffee directly directly into the cup. Once brewed, the coffee and the sweetened condensed milk are swirledtogether. You can drink it hot, of course, or you can pour the mixture directly over a tall glass of ice to make iced Vietnamese coffee.

It’s easy and inexpensive to pick up the proper filter and coffee brands at your local Asian grocery store or at online retailers, so I encourage you to give the authentic version a try. If you decide to make some Vietnamese coffee, let me know! I’d love to hear about it.

How to Make Vietnamese Coffee • Recipe for Perfection (3)

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How to Make Vietnamese Coffee

One of the great pleasures in my life is an afternoon cup of Vietnamese coffee. Made hot or iced, this delicious beverage is well worth the inexpensive purchase of a special coffee filter.

CourseDrinks

CuisineVietnamese

Prep Time 1 minute

Cook Time 4 minutes

Total Time 5 minutes

Servings 1

Author Katie Moseman

Ingredients

Equipment

  • 1Vietnamese style single coffee filteravailable online and in Asian grocery stores

Ingredients

  • Vietnamese coffeeyou may substitute Cafe Du Monde
  • Sweetened condensed milk

Instructions

  1. Place the coffee mug on a flat surface. Pour in enough sweetened condensed milk to make a layer on the bottom of the cup.

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  2. Top with the dish-like section of the filter.

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  3. Place the cup section of the filter on top of that. Measure out about 3 tablespoons of coffee (20 grams) and place in the filter cup.

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  4. Put the filter insert on top of the coffee.

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  5. Tap it down very gently and spin it a few times to level the coffee grounds.

  6. Add just a little very hot, but not boiling, water to the filter- just enough to moisten the coffee grounds. Wait 20 seconds for the water to soak in.

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  7. Add enough water to almost fill up the coffee filter cup. Let brew for a maximum of 4 minutes.

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  8. Let brew for a maximum of 4 minutes.

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  9. Remove the entire filter.

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  10. Stir the sweetened condensed milk into the coffee. Serve hot or pour over ice, and enjoy!

    How to Make Vietnamese Coffee • Recipe for Perfection (12)

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Comments

  1. Alisa Fleming

    This is so cool! I’ve actually not heard of Vietnamese coffee before, but this is definitely something my husband would like!

    Reply

    • Katie

      Great! Give it a try some time, or seek out a Vietnamese restaurant and order a cup (or glass). 🙂

      Reply

  2. Marlene @Nosh My Way

    How to Make Vietnamese Coffee • Recipe for Perfection (14)
    Now that’s what I call a perfect cup of coffee.

    Reply

    • Katie

      Me too. 🙂

      Reply

  3. Joanie @ Zagleft

    This sounds heavenly. I’ve heard of Vietnamese Coffee but have never tried it. I love that you showed the steps to make it, I would love to try it soon.

    Reply

    • Katie

      Thank you! I thought it might be helpful, since it’s an unfamiliar process. Give it a try some time!

      Reply

  4. Gwen @simplyhealthyfamily

    This looks SO good! I’ve had Vietnamese coffee a few times & loved it.

    Reply

    • Katie

      A fellow fan! So glad you like it. 🙂

      Reply

  5. Kim Beaulieu

    I have a friend who is totally addicted to this stuff. Now I can make it for her. This is fabulous!!

    Reply

    • Katie

      LOL, it is totally addictive! I was not a coffee drinker at all until this stuff came my way.

      Reply

  6. Erin

    I LOVE Vietnamese coffee. I think I need to go out and get this filter so I can make them at home!

    Reply

    • Katie

      Go for it, Erin!

      Reply

  7. Vietnamese coffee

    I also wrote Vietnamese coffee recipes and i think you like that. Actually i like your recipe.

    Reply

    • Katie

      Thank you! I do love Vietnamese coffee. 🙂

      Reply

  8. Jim

    I noticed that the Vietnamese coffee brand has added ingredients.Do you know what they are? It has a warning on the box from the state of California.

    Reply

    • Katie Moseman

      As far as added ingredients go, I think they use various oils in the process. This is what I found on the website:

      “The special butter-roast process that gives Trung Nguyen coffees their unique flavor and aroma is a proprietary recipe and we cannot promise that it is safe for individuals with severe allergies to any vegetable oil, such as soy. We also can’t promise it’s vegan, but it is certified Halal and safe for lacto-vegetarians. If you are vegan or if you have any concerns about allergens, we suggest our new Saigon Cafe Blend, which we can promise are free of common allergens and 100% vegan.”

      I didn’t see a warning on my old boxes of coffee. I wonder what that’s about?

      Reply

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How to Make Vietnamese Coffee • Recipe for Perfection (2024)

FAQs

What makes Vietnamese coffee so good? ›

The use of Robusta beans in Vietnamese coffee instead of Arabica gives it a higher caffeine content and a more intense flavor. These beans are typically roasted dark, which contributes to the strong taste. Additionally, the drip method used in Vietnam further enhances the richness and concentration of the final cup.

What is the ratio of coffee to water for Vietnamese coffee? ›

For Nguyen Coffee Supply phin filters, we recommend a fine grind size and a 2:1 ratio of water to coffee. For other phin filters, we recommend experimenting to dial in according to that specific filter.

What makes Vietnamese coffee thick? ›

Vietnamese coffee is also renowned for having a very thick and dense mouthfeel. While there is some truth to this, Vietnamese street coffee in particular is often brewed with additives. Many street coffee vendors add starches such as corn, soy bean powder, and even more butter to thicken the brew.

What are the best beans for Vietnamese coffee? ›

Robusta coffee beans: Robusta beans are the most common choice for traditional Vietnamese coffee. They are known for their bold and robust flavor, which pairs perfectly with the addition of sweetened condensed milk, a staple in Vietnamese coffee.

What is added to the most popular Vietnamese coffee drink? ›

Among them, iced milk coffee is one of the most popular drinks here. Iced milk coffee at Baguette Coffee is made from premium Vietnamese Robusta coffee beans, roasted to medium ripeness to retain its rich flavor. Coffee is brewed in the traditional Vietnamese way, then sweetened condensed milk and ice are added.

Why do Vietnamese use condensed milk? ›

Because of limitations on the availability of fresh milk, as the dairy farming industry was still in its infancy, the French and Vietnamese began to use sweetened condensed milk with a dark roast coffee.

What is the perfect coffee ratio? ›

Coffee-to-Water Ratio

A general guideline is called the "Golden Ratio" - one to two tablespoons of ground coffee for every six ounces of water. This can be adjusted to suit individual taste preferences. Check the cup lines or indicators on your specific brewer to see how they actually measure.

How long should Vietnamese coffee take? ›

With these steps, you'll be able to achieve the optimum brewing time. Slowly pour the rest of the water into the filter. The coffee will begin dripping into your cup or glass. Wait about 5 minutes for the coffee to finish drip brewing!

How long to wait for Vietnamese coffee? ›

After that, wait for about 3 to 6 minutes for the water to drip to your mug or glass. Then stir the drink with a spoon so that the sweetened condensed milk at the bottom of the glass will dissolve. Now put ice cubes into the second glass, then pour the coffee drink into it and that's it, your drink is ready.

What is unique about Vietnamese coffee? ›

Vietnamese coffee is unique for its bold, nutty flavor, often attributed to the Robusta beans primarily used. The traditional roasting with butter and brewing methods using a Phin filter contribute to its distinctive taste and strength.

What grind setting for Vietnamese coffee? ›

We recommend a grind setting between 14-16 for a phin filter.

Why is my Vietnamese coffee dripping fast? ›

If it's too fine, the water won't flow through. If it's too coarse, the water will flow too fast without time for proper extraction. There isn't paper to catch them, so you need to make sure that you've got the correct grind size to begin with. Luckily, we've got your back with that too.

Which is stronger Thai or Vietnamese coffee? ›

Thai iced coffee tends to be milkier, sweeter, and milder as it uses light-medium roast coffee beans. While Vietnamese iced coffee, is stronger as it uses dark-roast robusta coffee.

What is the famous Vietnamese coffee? ›

1. Trung Nguyên Legend. Trung Nguyên is Vietnam's leading coffee brand and one of the largest domestic coffee companies in the world. Its founder, Dang Le Nguyen Vu, is known as the “Coffee King” of Vietnam for his vision of bringing Vietnamese coffee to international markets.

Can you use any ground coffee for Vietnamese coffee? ›

Certainly you can; however, there are few differences: ground espresso coffee is usually made from Arabica beans; whereas Vietnamese ground coffee is made from Robusta beans, or from a blend with more Robusta beans.

What is special about Vietnamese coffee? ›

The brewing process is unique, utilizing a drip filter called a Phin, which brews a single cup at a time. While it's often enjoyed with sweetened condensed milk, the beans and roast themselves are the heart of what makes Vietnamese coffee stand out.

Why does Vietnamese coffee taste so different? ›

Beans are roasted slowly at lower than standard temperatures so that the beans do not burn. Butter is added during the roasting process to makes Vietnamese coffee taste so distinctive and delicious. You might find that the coffee from Vietnam has flavor of chocolate.

What makes Vietnamese coffee different from regular coffee? ›

Vietnamese coffee is renowned for its strong and smooth flavor, which is the result of two things: the coffee beans used and the way it's brewed. Unlike other coffee-producing nations, Vietnam specializes in the cultivation of robusta coffee beans. These beans are stronger and far more potent than arabica coffee beans.

What's the deal with Vietnamese coffee? ›

Traditionally, Vietnamese coffee is known for having a dark roast. The roasting process often includes added flavors such as mocha, chicory, vanilla, butter or even whiskey. Copper Cow Coffee opts for an all-natural European-style roast, that lets the natural flavors of our specialty bean brew through.

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