The Art of Vietnamese Coffee

Vietnamese coffee is among the best coffees in the world. The country takes a lot of pride in the production and preparation of this robust and aromatic beverage which is an integral part of its culture and heritage. If you visit Vietnam, you will know how important and popular coffee is in the country. In this article, we speak about the different aspects of Vietnamese coffee and give you a rich insight into its past and present statuses.

History and origin

Coffee has been popular in Vietnam for centuries. Interestingly, the beverage was unheard of in the country before the French Colonisation. But when the French missionaries began to arrive in Vietnam around the mid 19th Century, they brought coffee with them. This is when the beverage was introduced to the locals, who took an instant liking to it.

Fortunately, the geographical placement of Vietnam and its climate make it very conducive to coffee farming. The central highlands are extensively used for coffee plantations. Vietnam has emerged as the second-largest producer of coffee in the world and today it is one of the biggest contributors to the country’s economy.

Coffee holds a special part in Vietnam’s history as it is bold and resilient and has beaten all the odds to emerge victorious. This beautifully reflects the spirit of the country that also fought its way through wars and other obstacles and stands as a proud and independent nation today.

Traditional ways to make Vietnamese coffee

Vietnamese coffee is one of the finest and most delicious variants of coffee in the world. This is because of the traditional way in which it is made. The coffee beans, right at the offset, are roasted for an extended period of time to extract the boldest flavours. This makes Vietnamese coffee very strong and robust. The coffee is then packaged and sold.

To prepare it, a phin is used. A phin is a small metal filter that slowly lets the brewed coffee to drip by. This is one of the most unique ways of brewing coffee and is seldom used anywhere else. This gives the coffee a very distinct and lingering flavour, which is both delicious and heady. The coffee is mixed with a small dash of sweetened condensed milk which makes it rich and creamy. You can adjust the sweetness based on your preferences.

The entire process of preparing coffee in Vietnam, from roasting the beans to using a phin, is slow and requires patience. It also requires a very strong understanding of coffee, which the locals are very well aware of. These factors come together and give the coffee its wonderful taste and aroma.

Unique characteristics

Vietnamese coffee is of the robusta variety. It is distinctly dissimilar to the more delicate arabica variety. Robusta coffee is stronger as the caffeine content is higher. Therefore, you will find Vietnamese coffee to be more bitter with undertones of chocolate and nuts. It has a very earthy appeal and flavour.

The central highlands of Vietnam, where the coffee plantations are predominantly found, are situated at a high altitude. They are also rich in volcanic soil. These factors contribute to the richness of the robusta beans, giving them a unique and long-lasting flavour.

Apart from the beans, the way of farming also plays a very important role in the finished product. Highly experienced and skilled coffee farmers handpick the ripest cherries to ensure they stay on the longest possible time on the plants for complete flavour development. Then, the wet method is applied where the plucked beans are put in water, fermented, then dried and roasted. This makes the taste of Vietnamese coffee very different from all other coffees in the world.

Popular coffee-based beverages

Ca Phe Sua Da is a traditional Vietnamese cold coffee. It is nothing but a concoction of strongly brewed coffee, sweetened condensed milk and lots of ice. The bitter coffee is beautifully married to s creamy milk with the ice balancing everything nicely. The mix of flavours is a good interpretation of Vietnam, where different people live in harmony.

Ca Phe Trung is another delicious coffee preparation where strong, black coffee is mixed with a creamy egg yolk custard. It is very unique and something that you will rarely find outside Vietnam. This is a dessert beverage that is best enjoyed after a hearty meal of traditional Vietnamese cuisine.

Many locals and tourists like sipping a plain cup of strong black coffee, freshly brewed. However, if you want to up the ante, you can always have your coffee with added ingredients such as coconut milk, caramel, yoghurt, etc.

The role of coffee in Vietnamese society

Coffee is a way of life in Vietnam. It is a comfort beverage and people meet over a cup of coffee to discuss their joys and share their sorrows. You will find many cafes all across the country. While some cafes are very modern and upscale, most are rustic and roadside establishments. However, the quality of coffee served everywhere is excellent and you can enjoy a fresh cuppa wherever you go.

Coffee in Vietnam is associated with love and friendship. Though it is not uncommon to see a person sitting alone and sipping a cup of coffee, it is very easy to spot large groups of people huddled around a table, with coffee mugs in their hands. The coffee is ripped slowly over long conversations about life, society and emotions.

Coffee is also the most commonly served beverage in Vietnamese homes. It is customary to offer a brew to the house guests, irrespective of their hour of visit. It is also popular to find people carrying packets of coffee as a gift when they visit a relative or friend’s house.

Therefore, coffee has a very important and beautiful role in Vietnamese society where it is enjoyed with a lot of love and fanfare.

A typical cafe setting

Since coffee has a strong connection to Vietnam’s history and culture, the cafes reflect these flavours wholeheartedly in their decor and ambience. A typical, traditional Vietnamese coffee shop has rustic furniture, a large wooden door, ambient lights and soothing music. This ambience is created to keep the conversations alive and to give the patrons a sense of the culture.

Many modern cafes have mushroomed all across the country, especially in big cities like Hanoi and Da Nang. These cafes have a very global design and appeal to the younger generation and also to the foreign tourists who throng these cafes in search of authentic Vietnamese coffee.

Tips to make Vietnamese coffee at home

If you wish to make Vietnamese coffee at home, you can easily do so as the recipe is very simple. However, you need a special tool called the phin. If you are travelling to Vietnam, get a phin filter from there. Otherwise, you can try getting it through a specialised online store. Brew the coffee using the phin and mix it with condensed milk and ice and you will feel like you are in Vietnam!

The secret here is to get the best quality coffee beans. Ensure you have authentic, robusta, Vietnamese coffee. Do not settle for a cheap brand or a blended coffee. If you want the real taste, get real coffee and half the battle will be won!

Experiencing the coffee culture

To truly embrace and enjoy the warm coffee traditions of Vietnam, you need to visit the country. Walk through the lanes of the towns and cities and find the enticing aroma of coffee coming from the small and big coffee shops all around.

Sit at any one of the coffees and watch life go by while sipping the most flavourful and intense robusta coffee. You can also see people enjoying one another’s company over endless cups of coffee.

After you do so, do not forget to buy some packaged coffee and bring it with you when you travel back to India