Vietnamese Iced Coffee

The Vietnamese are serious coffee consumers and like their coffee really strong and bitter. But to counter that bitterness, sweetened condensed milk is used to create a bittersweet beverage which can be served both hot or cold.

• Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk, or to taste
  • 1/3 cup (80 ml) hot espresso prepared using an espresso machine, stove-top pot, French press or capsule machine OR 2-3 tablespoons freshly ground coffee
  • ice cubes (optional)

• Instructions

  To make Vietnamese coffee using espresso

  1. Place the sweetened condensed milk in the bottom of a glass.
  2. Add the hot espresso.
  3. Stir to dissolve the condensed milk and taste to see if you need to add more.
  4. For an iced coffee, add some ice cubes and serve immediately.
  

  To make Vietnamese coffee using a traditional Vietnamese coffee filter (phin)

  1. Place the sweetened condensed milk at the bottom of a glass.
  2. Place the coffee filter on top of the glass.
  3. Place the ground coffee into the cup of the filter and then press it down with the removable press.
  4. Pour in a little boiling water to moisten the coffee. Wait a few seconds, and then slowly fill up the cup of the filter with boiling water.
  5. Place the lid on the filter and wait for the coffee to slowly drip into the glass. Depending on the size of your filter, this should take about 5 minutes.
  6. Remove the filter.
  7. Stir to dissolve the condensed milk and taste to see if you need to add more.
  8. For an iced coffee, add some ice cubes and serve immediately.