What is Cà Phê Sữa Đá
Cà Phê Sữa Đá, or Vietnamese iced milk coffee, is the most popular coffee drink in Vietnam. Made from dark-roasted robusta and/or arabica beans, this caffeinated drink is sweetened with rich and creamy condensed milk before being poured over ice. The result is a perfect balance of sweet and bitter flavors that’s perfect for any coffee lover on a hot day.
Robusta and Arabica Coffee Beans
Robusta and arabica are the two most commonly used coffee beans to make Vietnamese coffee. The beans are roasted for a longer period of time, resulting in a dark roast with a bolder, more robust flavor. Once roasted, they are ground to a medium to coarse texture, and ready for brewing.
Both types of beans are known for their strong, earthy flavor and high caffeine content. However, robusta coffee beans are stronger and more bitter than arabica beans. Arabica coffee beans tend to have a smoother and sweeter taste. Some popular Vietnamese coffee blend contains just one type of coffee bean while other blends may contain a combination of both.
What is a Phin
A phin is a small single-serving Vietnamese coffee filter designed to make a strong, concentrated coffee. It consists of four parts: a perforated plate that sits on top of the cup, a chamber that holds the coffee grounds and hot water, a tamper to compress the grounds, and a cap to cover the filter.
The phin is typically made of stainless steel or aluminum and is reusable, making it an eco-friendly and cost-effective option for coffee lovers.
How to Brew Vietnamese Coffee with a Phin
To brew coffee the traditional way with the phin, add the desired amount of sweetened condensed milk to the bottom of a small cup. Place the phin on top of the cup, add coffee grounds to the chamber, and use the tamper to press the grounds down. Then, pour hot water into the filter chamber and cover with the cap. The coffee will slowly drip through the filter and into the cup below.
Once all the water runs through the chamber, use a small spoon to mix the hot coffee with sweetened condensed milk. Adjust sweetness to your liking by adding a bit more condensed milk if needed. Pour the sweetened coffee over a tall glass of ice and serve.
For a stronger brew, prime the coffee ground by adding a bit of hot water into the phin and let the coffee ground soak it up. Discard any water that goes through the filter. The plumped coffee ground will slow down the drip, resulting in a stronger flavor.
Vietnamese Iced Coffee (Ca Phe Sua Da)
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 1 1x
Description
A popular Vietnamese iced coffee made with dark-roasted beans and sweetened condensed milk, served over ice for a perfectly refreshing caffeinated drink.
Ingredients
- 2 heaping tablespoons Arabica and/or Robusta coffee ground
- 2 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk
- Hot water
- 1 cup ice cubes
Instructions
- Add condensed milk in a short glass.
- Add a phin on top of the glass then add ground coffee into the chamber. Use the tamper to press the coffee grounds down gently and evenly. Twist the tamper to tighten and secure it in place.
- Fill the phin chamber with hot water to the top. Cover with a lid. Let the coffee drip through the filter and into the cup below. This process can take 5-10 minutes. Coffee is ready once the hot water completely runs through the phin. Remove the lid and use it as a coaster for the phin.
- Stir to mix coffee with condensed milk until it’s completely dissolved then transfer coffee to a tall glass of ice, stir, and enjoy.
Notes
For a stronger brew, prime the coffee ground by adding a bit of hot water into the phin and let the coffee ground soak it up. Discard any water that goes through the filter. The plumped coffee ground will slow down the drip, resulting in a stronger flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Category: drink
- Cuisine: asian, vietnamese
