Learn how to make Vietnamese coffee easily with this step-by-step recipe! You need coffee, sweetened condensed milk, and a Vietnamese coffee filter.
How to Make Vietnamese Coffee
I fell in love with Vietnamese coffee the first time I dined at a Vietnamese restaurant. Years previous, I had read a precise and sensuous description of Vietnamese coffee in Anthony Bourdain’s book A Cook’s Tour, so my anticipation was high. It was just as wonderful as described, and I want to share with you how to make Vietnamese coffee so that you can enjoy it for yourself. (Also check out these Vietnamese Coffee Brownies and the cold brew latte version of this recipe!)
If you’re unfamiliar with Vietnamese coffee, it’s made in a single cup filter that balances atop your coffee cup. You can purchase the filter for about $5 at an Asian grocery store or online. For the coffee itself, I usually stick with Trung Nguyen brand (Trung Nguyen Gourmet is my favorite variety). You can also use Cafe Du Monde successfully, and in fact, it’s often sold in Asian grocery stores for that very purpose.
Vietnamese coffee is traditionally made sweet with the addition of sweetened condensed milk. To get the full visual effect, you use a clear glass or cup, add a layer of sweetened condensed milk on the bottom, and brew the coffee directly directly into the cup. Once brewed, the coffee and the sweetened condensed milk are swirled together. You can drink it hot, of course, or you can pour the mixture directly over a tall glass of ice to make iced Vietnamese coffee.
It’s easy and inexpensive to pick up the proper filter and coffee brands at your local Asian grocery store or at online retailers, so I encourage you to give the authentic version a try. If you decide to make some Vietnamese coffee, let me know! I’d love to hear about it.
How to Make Vietnamese Coffee
Ingredients
Equipment
- 1 Vietnamese style single coffee filter available online and in Asian grocery stores
Ingredients
- Vietnamese coffee you may substitute Cafe Du Monde
- Sweetened condensed milk
Instructions
- Place the coffee mug on a flat surface. Pour in enough sweetened condensed milk to make a layer on the bottom of the cup.
- Top with the dish-like section of the filter.
- Place the cup section of the filter on top of that. Measure out about 3 tablespoons of coffee (20 grams) and place in the filter cup.
- Put the filter insert on top of the coffee.
Tap it down very gently and spin it a few times to level the coffee grounds.
- Add just a little very hot, but not boiling, water to the filter- just enough to moisten the coffee grounds. Wait 20 seconds for the water to soak in.
Add enough water to almost fill up the coffee filter cup. Let brew for a maximum of 4 minutes.
Let brew for a maximum of 4 minutes.
Remove the entire filter.
Stir the sweetened condensed milk into the coffee. Serve hot or pour over ice, and enjoy!
Alisa Fleming
December 10, 2015 at 10:18 amThis is so cool! I’ve actually not heard of Vietnamese coffee before, but this is definitely something my husband would like!
Katie
December 10, 2015 at 6:19 pmGreat! Give it a try some time, or seek out a Vietnamese restaurant and order a cup (or glass). 🙂
Marlene @Nosh My Way
December 10, 2015 at 10:21 amNow that’s what I call a perfect cup of coffee.
Katie
December 10, 2015 at 6:18 pmMe too. 🙂
Joanie @ Zagleft
December 10, 2015 at 11:23 amThis sounds heavenly. I’ve heard of Vietnamese Coffee but have never tried it. I love that you showed the steps to make it, I would love to try it soon.
Katie
December 10, 2015 at 6:18 pmThank you! I thought it might be helpful, since it’s an unfamiliar process. Give it a try some time!
Gwen @simplyhealthyfamily
December 10, 2015 at 4:44 pmThis looks SO good! I’ve had Vietnamese coffee a few times & loved it.
Katie
December 10, 2015 at 6:17 pmA fellow fan! So glad you like it. 🙂
Kim Beaulieu
December 10, 2015 at 9:01 pmI have a friend who is totally addicted to this stuff. Now I can make it for her. This is fabulous!!
Katie
December 10, 2015 at 9:52 pmLOL, it is totally addictive! I was not a coffee drinker at all until this stuff came my way.
Erin
December 10, 2015 at 9:49 pmI LOVE Vietnamese coffee. I think I need to go out and get this filter so I can make them at home!
Katie
December 10, 2015 at 9:51 pmGo for it, Erin!
Vietnamese coffee
October 9, 2016 at 4:29 amI also wrote Vietnamese coffee recipes and i think you like that. Actually i like your recipe.
Katie
October 10, 2016 at 8:04 pmThank you! I do love Vietnamese coffee. 🙂
Jim
December 20, 2018 at 1:56 pmI noticed that the Vietnamese coffee brand has added ingredients.Do you know what they are? It has a warning on the box from the state of California.
Katie Moseman
December 27, 2018 at 12:01 pmAs far as added ingredients go, I think they use various oils in the process. This is what I found on the website:
“The special butter-roast process that gives Trung Nguyen coffees their unique flavor and aroma is a proprietary recipe and we cannot promise that it is safe for individuals with severe allergies to any vegetable oil, such as soy. We also can’t promise it’s vegan, but it is certified Halal and safe for lacto-vegetarians. If you are vegan or if you have any concerns about allergens, we suggest our new Saigon Cafe Blend, which we can promise are free of common allergens and 100% vegan.”
I didn’t see a warning on my old boxes of coffee. I wonder what that’s about?