When people think about Vietnamese coffee, drip coffee (Ca phe) is always the one that appears to be top of their mind, and most iconic. Apart from the stainless steel Phin Vietnamese filter, do you want to know more about the culture and history behind these national coffee drinks of Vietnam?
Vietnam is known as the second-largest coffee bean producer in the world. In Vietnam, Arabic and Robusta coffee beans are commonly used, while Robusta accounted for nearly 97% of domestic usage and contributed over 40% of the world's Robusta production. The note of Robusta coffee bean tends to be bitter and higher in caffeine than Arabica, plus, has a chocolaty, nutty aroma.
The coffee culture of Vietnam was under heavy influence of the French culture. Coffee was being introduced back in the 19th century - when Vietnam was a French colony for decades. The traditional way of making coffee is using a phin - consists of the aluminum drip filter, a cup and a lid.
Coffee in western culture usually pairs up with fresh milk, while fresh dairy was difficult to preserve under the torrid weather of Vietnam, people found a substitute which is the sweet, gooey condensed milk. They use it to mix with the aromatic black coffee to balance out the bitter acidic note by immersing this milky sugary flavor into the extract. This is how Vietnamese coffee was shaped and developed.
Variations of Vietnamese Coffee
Hanoi Egg Coffee
Egg Coffee (Ca phe trung) was invented by Giang in 1946 because of milk shortage. A marvelous twist of Vietnamese coffee, egg yolk and condensed milk are mixed together to form a creamy, dense layer on top of black coffee. A pleasant aftertaste of yolk makes it more like a heart-warming dessert to round up the meal.
Coffee Coconut Smoothies
Coffee Coconut Smoothies (Ca phe cot dua) is more like a modernized coffee. Coconut milk and condensed milk are blended into frothy slush, pour a shot of freshly brewed espresso and stir well, a Vietnamese style of coffee frappe is here. Rich in aroma and full of the amazing coconut flavor that you will moreish for more.
You can order these two coffee from us at BEP- Wellington Street Branch, the only shop that carries these two goodies. Make sure you come over and take a sip of the love and passion we put in!
Reference sources:
https://heyexplorer.com/vietnamese-coffee-culture/, https://foodandroad.com/vietnamese-egg-coffee/, https://www.hungryhuy.com/icy-vietnamese-coconut-coffee/
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