Vietnamese iced coffee

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Cà phê đá
Cà phê sữa đá ready to be stirred and poured over ice
Alternative namesVietnamese iced coffee, cafe da
TypeBeverage
Place of originVietnam
Region or stateSoutheast Asia
Serving temperatureHot or cold
Main ingredientsDark roast coffee, water, sweetened condensed milk

Vietnamese iced coffee (Vietnamese: cà phê đá, lit.'iced coffee') is a traditional Vietnamese coffee recipe. It is created using coffee roasted between medium and dark. The drink is made by passing hot water through the grounds into a cup that already contains condensed milk. To serve the drink cold, ice is added to the cup.

Variations[edit]

Cà phê sữa nóng, a hot variation

Variations involve additions of ice, sugar or condensed milk. A popular variation is cà phê sữa đá (or nâu đá in the North), which is iced coffee served with sweetened condensed milk.[1] This is done by putting two to three teaspoons or more of condensed milk into the cup prior to the drip filter process. Other variations include:

  • Black coffee (hot or cold) - Cà phê đen[2]
  • White coffee/Saigon style coffee - bạc xỉu:[3] Hot or iced milk with some added coffee, similar to a macchiato. Popular in Saigon.
  • Pandan coffee - Cà phê lá dứa: Made with coffee, Pandan paste, and honey.
  • Coconut coffee - Cà phê dừa: Made with coffee, coconut milk, and condensed milk.
  • Blended coffee/Coffee shake - Sinh tố cà phê-
  • Egg coffee - Cà phê trứng: Made with brewed coffee, chicken egg yolk, and condensed milk. It has a similar taste and texture to tiramisu and eggnog. Popular in Hanoi.
  • Salted cream coffee - Cà phê kem mặn: a variation from Huế.
  • Avocado coffee - Cà phê bơ: coffee grounds, avocado, condensed milk, and vanilla powder

History[edit]

Coffee was introduced to Vietnam in 1857 by a French Catholic priest in the form of a single Coffea arabica tree.[4] The beverage was adopted with regional variations. Because of limitations on the availability of fresh milk, as the dairy farming industry was still in its infancy,[5] the French and Vietnamese began to use sweetened condensed milk with a dark roast coffee.

Vietnam did not become a major exporter of coffee until the Đổi Mới reforms and opening of the economy after the war. Now, many coffee farms exist across the central highlands. Vietnam is now the largest producer of the Robusta variety of coffee and the second largest producer of coffee worldwide.[6]

Vietnamese coffee chains[edit]

Coffee chains[7] Description Specialty
Highlands Coffee The dominant chain café brand in Vietnam makes them a rival to Starbucks This store is known to be a community where people talk about their love coffee, teas, and food.
The Coffee House The second most popular Vietnamese chain coffeehouse, serving thousands of customers every day in their several stores scattered throughout Vietnam. The Coffee House is known for its viral “Passionate journey from farm to a cup of coffee”, enjoyed by many aficianados
Cong Coffee Best known for their frozen coconut milk beverages.
Urban Station Coffee Urban Station Coffee is inspired by the American style of "grab-and-go" coffee. The interiors of its locations are styled similar to chains in American cities, with green walls and images. This coffeehouse is known for being inspired by America's takeaway coffee.
Trung Nguyen Legend This coffee shop is the official coffee shop of Trung Nguyen. It is valued by the Vietnamese for its reputation and cultural knowledge. Trung Nguyen Café is known for its unique culture and for its mindful, successful, and happy lifestyle
Phuc Long Coffee and Tea Phúc Long Coffee and Tea is located in Saigon which is now Ho Chi Minh City. It was established in 1968 and has been popular for many generations. This café is similar to Cong Café and is very popular place with young Saigonese
Gemini Coffee Gemini Coffee was established in 2008. It focuses on younger generations with a middle income. This is how it survived the 2013 chain café crisis. Since 2017, the store has 18 branches nationwide. Gemini Coffee is known for its "green and clean coffee"

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Fabricant, Florence (2021-02-08). "Vietnamese Iced Coffee, Ready to Drink". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  2. ^ "Best Types of Vietnamese Coffee Tourists Need To Try In Hanoi". www.lasinfoniadelreyhotel.com. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  3. ^ "Saigon Style Coffee [Bạc Xỉu]". Chef Tu David Phu: Vietnamese American Diaspora Cuisine. 3 April 2021. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  4. ^ "The Story Of Coffee - Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam". Atexpats.
  5. ^ "Ca Phe Sua Da - Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam". Atexpats.
  6. ^ "World coffee exports". West African Studies: Regional Atlas on West Africa. 2009-07-15. doi:10.1787/9789264056763-graph30-en. Retrieved 2022-09-05.
  7. ^ Do, Tracy (2020-11-28). "Top 9 Coffee Chains in Vietnam - Scooter Saigon Tours". Retrieved 2023-02-03.

External links[edit]