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Vietnamese Coffee

Coffee is enjoyed more so here in Vietnam than anywhere in the world I've travelled.

It's a real culture, from bean to the cup they don't pass up, the locals take any opportunity to sit down, drink and relax. You will find countless coffee shops on every street.

The traditional way to make Vietnamese coffee is using a "cà phê phin", a metal filter, usually made from aluminium or stainless steel.

It's a time-consuming process filtering the coffee and drinking here in Vietnam, which I feel adds to the experience and lets you take a breather,

Unlike in Italy coffee drinkers will typically stand, order an espresso, drink it and go. Or in the USA or UK, people will order coffee to go. Here in Vietnam, more people are happy to let things slow down, sit down and enjoy that cup of coffee. Off course if you are in a rush, you can still get take away coffee here, so don't worry, there is typically coffee ready made if you don't want to wait.

Steps to making Vietnamese coffee with a "phin"

1. In a tea kettle, bring water nearly to a boil. Remove from heat.
2. Heat an 8-oz drinking glass by pouring approximately 1 cup of water into a glass, let stand for 30 seconds, then pour out. Dry glass with a towel.
3. If using, pour condensed milk into the glass.
4. Set chamber component of phin on top of the glass. Set screen/filter and cap aside.
5. Put 1 rounded tbsp coffee into phin. Tap to level.
6. Put screen/filter into phin.
7. Pour water into phin until phin is ¼ full. Wait 20 seconds.
8. Pour water into phin. Fill to the top.
9. Place cap over phin.
10. Read a book or chat with friends, while the coffee drips into the glass.
11. When dripping slows to a stop, remove lid and place upside on the table (so that it can serve as a saucer for the phin). Remove phin and set on the lid.
12. For black coffee. Enjoy hot OR pour over the glass of crushed ice.
13. For sweetened coffee: With a spoon, blend sweetened condensed milk into coffee. Enjoy hot OR pour over the glass of cracked ice.

And there you have it. Great coffee made the Vietnamese way.

My preference

I prefer to have hot and black, due to no sugar. Having coffee with sweetened condensed milk and ice is my favourite though and will occasionally cheat and have some. 😆

This photo was when I was volunteering in Hai Phong; it's kept hot with a little candle,

Is there a better way to make and enjoy coffee?? What's it like where you are from?

Thanks for reading folks.

Keep it real
Derek

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