How to Make Vietnamese Coffee

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!)

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.

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How to Make Vietnamese Coffee

One of the great pleasures in my life is an afternoon cup of Vietnamese coffee. Made hot or iced, this delicious beverage is well worth the inexpensive purchase of a special coffee filter.

Course Drinks

Cuisine Vietnamese

Prep Time 1 minute

Cook Time 4 minutes

Total Time 5 minutes

Servings 1

Author Katie Moseman

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

1. Place the coffee mug on a flat surface. Pour in enough sweetened condensed milk to make a layer on the bottom of the cup.
   
2. Top with the dish-like section of the filter.
   
3. 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.
   
4. Put the filter insert on top of the coffee.
   

5. Tap it down very gently and spin it a few times to level the coffee grounds.

6. 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.
   

7. Add enough water to almost fill up the coffee filter cup. Let brew for a maximum of 4 minutes.

   

8. Let brew for a maximum of 4 minutes.

   

9. Remove the entire filter. 

   

10. Stir the sweetened condensed milk into the coffee. Serve hot or pour over ice, and enjoy!