Vietnamese Iced Coffee Cookies Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between Thai iced coffee and Vietnamese iced coffee? ›

Ultimately, both are unique and delicious in their own way, so you should definitely give both a try. Thai iced coffee tends to be milkier, sweeter, and milder as it uses light-medium roast coffee beans. While Vietnamese iced coffee, is stronger as it uses dark-roast robusta coffee.

Have you ever wondered why Vietnamese iced coffee is so strong? Well, that's because of the robusta beans and the Vietnamese phin. This is a stainless steel filter that sits on top of a cup with condensed milk.

Robusta coffee beans: Robusta beans are the most common choice for traditional Vietnamese coffee. They are known for their bold and robust flavor, which pairs perfectly with the addition of sweetened condensed milk, a staple in Vietnamese coffee.

Robusta has a distinctly bold and nutty flavor that complements the smooth sweetness of condensed milk. It creates a perfect balance between the boldness of the coffee and the sweetness of the condensed milk. One is very sweet, the other very intense. Together, they make an irresistible drink.

The use of Robusta beans in Vietnamese coffee instead of Arabica gives it a higher caffeine content and a more intense flavor. These beans are typically roasted dark, which contributes to the strong taste. Additionally, the drip method used in Vietnam further enhances the richness and concentration of the final cup.

Beyond the flavor, the caffeine in Vietnamese iced coffee depends on the type of milk. For caffeine enthusiasts, a cup typically packs around 95mg.

In Vietnam, sweetened condensed milk is often used instead of fresh milk because of its long shelf-life in a tropical climate. The combination of condensed milk and the strong, bold flavors of Robusta beans creates the classic taste of Vietnamese ca phe sua, which has an irresistible blend of sweetness and bitterness.

Coffee with milk (ca phe nau or ca phe sua)

In the north of Vietnam, the mixture of black coffee and sweetened condensed milk is referred to as ca phe nau (brown coffee), while in the south it's called ca phe sua (milk coffee). While it is mostly served cold with ice, you can also order it hot.

Traditional Vietnamese iced coffee uses condensed milk to balance the bold, smoky flavor of dark-roast robusta coffee. Photo by Frank McKenna via Unsplash.

Almost two centuries later, this coffee would be discovered by Vietnamese refugees who longed for a taste of home and found something very similar in Café Du Monde. Vietnamese Americans popularized this type of coffee in their community where it has remained a staple in many households to this day.

What coffee does pho use? ›

They brew their Vietnamese coffee in Vietnam with medium-to-coarse ground dark roast French Roast. The result is an incredibly strong and aromatic cup of joe that packs a punch where it counts — flavour!

Just use evaporated milk instead as it does not contain any added sugar.

About This Vietnamese Egg Coffee Recipe

This custard is poured over a cup of very strong coffee, and stirred together to enjoy. The egg yolk custard thickens the coffee (similar to how milk or cream would do so in a regular coffee), and gives it a creamy, thick texture with a slightly foamy top.

Vietnamese iced coffee is a traditional beverage incorporating a medium to dark roast Vietnamese coffee with a Vietnamese drip filter. Like many other coffee types, the drip releases the coffee slowly into a cup with ice and sweetened condensed milk after the water is added. Sounds fancy, right?

Ca phe sua da: Vietnamese coffee with condensed milk. Tastes like a thickened version of very strong and bitter coffee, sweetened by the condensed milk. It's the most common coffee variety in Vietnam. Very dense and thick, usually drank cold.

Thai iced coffee is creamy, but with no cream added! We use a combination of sweetened condensed milk (Asia's favourite dairy!) and evaporated milk to achieve a creamy, luxurious body.

The main thing is that the coffee must be very strong because the bitterness of the coffee provides a necessary balance that is tempered with warm spices. Sweetened condensed milk lends richness, body, and, of course, sugar.