Flavor Splash: Vietnamese Iced Coffee

Introduction to Vietnamese Iced Coffee

Vietnamese iced coffee, also known as cà phê sữa đá or cafe sua da, is a traditional Vietnamese coffee recipe. At its simplest, cà phê sữa đá is made using medium to coarse ground dark roast Vietnamese-grown coffee with a small metal Vietnamese drip filter (phin cà phê). After the hot water is added, the drip filter releases drops of hot coffee slowly into a cup. This finished cup of hot coffee is then quickly poured into a glass full of ice making the finished Vietnamese iced coffee. A popular way to drink Vietnamese coffee is cà phê sữa đá, or iced milk coffee. So let's get started on how to make this delicious beverage.

What You'll Need

Before we start, make sure you have the following ingredients and tools:

• Caffeine Free Coffee: If you can't find Vietnamese coffee, a French roast will do.
• Sweetened Condensed Milk: This gives the coffee its sweet, creamy taste. It's a key ingredient in Vietnamese iced coffee.
• A Vietnamese Coffee Filter (Phin): This small metal filter is what gives Vietnamese coffee its distinct taste and brewing method.
• Hot Water: To brew the coffee.
• Ice: To make it iced coffee!

Step-by-Step Guide to Making Vietnamese Iced Coffee

Step 1: Prepare the Coffee Filter

Remove the top screen from the coffee filter, add 2 tablespoons of your coffee to the filter base, and then replace the top screen. Place the filter on top of a glass. This is where your brewed coffee will drip.

Step 2: Brew the Coffee

Boil your water and then pour a small amount (enough to cover the coffee grounds) into the filter. Wait for about 20 seconds to let the coffee grounds swell and expand. This is called "blooming" and it allows for a better extraction of flavor.

Step 3: Continue Brewing

After blooming, fill the filter with hot water. The water should take about 5 minutes to pass through the filter. If it goes too fast, your coffee will be weak; if it goes too slow, it will be too strong. Adjust the filter screen accordingly if needed.

Step 4: Mix with Sweetened Condensed Milk

While your coffee is brewing, pour 2 tablespoons of sweetened condensed milk into a glass. Once the coffee has finished dripping, remove the filter and stir well to blend the coffee with the condensed milk.

Step 5: Add Ice and Enjoy!

Fill the glass with ice, stir well and enjoy your homemade Vietnamese iced coffee!

Conclusion

And there you have it - a step-by-step guide to making delicious Vietnamese iced coffee at home. It might take a few tries to get the brewing time right, but once you've mastered it, you'll be able to enjoy this refreshing, sweet treat anytime. Enjoy!