VIETNAMESE COFFEE
Guide to different types of coffee in Vietnam
Vietnamese coffee is one of the most intense and tasty coffees you will not get tired of drinking it, in addition, the super duper famous “iced coffee Vietnam “has the advantage that it does not require expensive machinery for making them: it is very easy to make and the in fact its cheap and hassle-free to make your own coffee even at home. And, it is interesting to know that for the first time in history, the Vietnamese coffee surpasses Brazil in that position, according to results from the International Coffee Organization (OIC). The export rate in the first half of 2013 confirms that Vietnam exported 14,325 million coffee representing 13% more than what South American producer achieved. Vietnamese Arabica coffee has a stable demand in the United States, Japan, Germany and Belgium.
A brief history of Vietnamese Coffee
Coffee was introduced to Vietnam by French missionaries in 1857, when they traveled to the country with a few coffee trees from the island of Bourbon. These first coffee trees were planted in the north of the country, in the surrounding areas of the Bay of Tonkin, initially without little incidence. It was not until the beginning of the 20th century that interest in coffee began to grow among the Vietnamese and some small farms were started to plant the Coffee trees. At that time, few could suspect the importance that years later Vietnam will conquer the coffee market. Currently, Vietnam is the second largest coffee producer in the world. By the end of the 1990s, Vietnam had already become the second largest coffee producer in the world after Brazil, having focused almost exclusively all of its production on robust beans. This allowed them to position themselves in the coffee market and create stable export ties with various countries, making coffee product a very important item in the economy of Vietnam.
Where do Coffee plants in Vietnam grow?
Where do coffee plants grow in Vietnam? well, first of all, the Vietnamese coffee trees covered an estimated 630,000 hectares’ plantations throughout the country. The main Vietnamese coffee areas are concentrated in the Cau Dat, Nui Min, Tram Hanh regions (all in Lam Dong province) and most especially in Buôn Ma Thuột (Dak Lak province), the country’s largest coffee barn and the leader in producing robust coffee worldwide. In fact, this area is known as the “coffee metropolis” of Vietnam, since a very important part of all the land suitable for cultivation is destined for the production of the aromatic. From the city of Buôn Ma Thuột itself to all the surrounding areas of Ea Kao, Etam, Tan Lap, Tan Hoa, Tan Hoa, Tan An, Tan Loi, Cu Ebut are important centers of robust coffee production, which also grows in abundance in districts like Cu Mgar or Krong Ana. Infact, the soil, climate and altitude have favored a flourishing development of Arabica coffee production in the ares mentioned above, considering coffee Cau Dat the best of them all for its special and superior coffee beans. In addition to these, other territories have also opted for the cultivation of higher quality coffees, increasing the production of Arabica coffees in Vietnam every year.
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What gives Vietnamese coffee that unique taste?
Coffee in Vietnam has always been known for its attractive taste in the world, the sweet and intense flavor and of course the preparation that makes it to stand a side from the other coffees you ever tried. It is very easy to make Vietnamese coffee on your own at home which you will look for in this article. Iced coffee is a new symbol of Vietnam that is tie with the culture and tourism. With ingredients coming from an excellent quality and a unique way of preparation, Vietnamese coffee will be something you will be always remembered to. Consequently, the Vietnamese attempted to prepare Vietnamese coffee in their own way [away from how French first prepared them when they bring coffee into Vietnam], modifying traditional methods, making them much simpler, and learning the method to prepare coffee from the Chinese, which was called “vot” coffee. At the same time, they also invented the Vietnamese filter to make this new drink affordable for everyone and easy to prepare at home. Today it is not known when the Vietnamese filter was introduced first, but surely, with use of filter, it has radically changed the methods of preparing and consuming coffee in Vietnam. Anyway, what is the secret of the good damn taste on Vietnamese coffee? Whether it’s the filter sipping or the preparation method, but beside that, the traditional roasting method with use of rice wine, salt and butter is the secret of the flavored deep oily texture coffee you sip in the country. You can also find coffees flavored and roasted with caramel and or chocolate.
Types of Coffee in Vietnam
Just for the Coffee Gourmets, Vietnamese Robusta coffee is more bitter and less aromatic than Arabica and is very often used for instant coffees and low-quality blends. Furthermore, it used more than 96% of Vietnam’s coffee crops. Walking along the streets of Hanoi and Saigon, you will see dozen of beautifully designed coffee-shops serving unique coffee each with different flavor and taste, Vietnamese see coffee as part of their joy and the only drink to which they ask for it when they check n to a café. Following are our suggestions for different types of coffee in Vietnam.
Coffee with milk (ca phe sua or ca phe nua)
The cà phê sữa đá (literally ‘coffee with milk and ice’) is a unique coffee recipe in Vietnam which was introduced to Vietnam by French settlers in the late 19th century. Vietnam quickly became a major coffee exporter. The drink was adopted with regional variants. Due to limitations in the availability of fresh milk, the French and Vietnamese began using condensed milk sweetened with roasted coffee. In the north of Vietnam, it is also called cà phê nâu đá (‘brown coffee with ice’). It can be prepared simply by mixing black coffee with about a quarter to a half of sweetened condensed milk, and then pouring the mixture over the ice. Many Vietnamese immigrants from the southern United States, especially Louisiana, use local French roasted coffee, often made with chicory, or use coffee imported from Vietnam, without it. Traditionally, coffee is coarsely ground, and prepared in individual doses with a small Vietnamese metal drip filter (cà phê phin) in a cup containing the condensed milk. Then it is stirred and poured onto ice. In recent times some people add whipped cream on top. The cà phê sữa nóng (hot coffee with milk), also called filter coffee, is made without ice. Vietnamese coffee brewed without condensed milk and served hot is called cà phê đen nong (hot black coffee).
Coffee Yoghurt (sua chua ca phe)
In Vietnam, yogurt can be combined with many different ingredients to bring a new, delicious drink, and as it may sound weird but let’s discover this through blending it to fascinating coffee yogurt. Yogurt has a very good effect on health specially for the skin as well as for the supporting digestion, coffee helps the mind awake and prevent the aging process of the body. When these two ingredients are combined together, it will surely bring an unexpected taste which is unique and you may find it through different topping in Vietnam.
Vietnamese Egg Coffee (Ca phe trung)
It may sound strange, but Egg coffee, locally called the ca phe trung, is one of the drinks you should not miss when in Vietnam, its popular and flavored and brought to you with combination of Egg yolk whipped with condensed milk together with dark coffee. The history of egg coffee dates back to the 1950s when a local cafe owner from Giang Café had to deal with the milk shortage in the country, instead, she added egg yolk with coffee to which later become very well known and today it is one not to be miss part of any coffee-shop in Vietnam. The coffee egg is traditionally made with yolks, sugar, condensed milk and robust coffee. These beans are giving with bitter taste and low acidity. This way it will bring you with a creamy texture and strong smells. It is served in a cup in a container with hot water to keep its temperature constant.
Coconut coffee (ca phe cot dua)
More than a drink, the coconut coffee [ca phe cot dua], is considered as a dessert, since its flavor and style leans towards an affogato (vanilla ice cream, with a shot of liquor and espresso), only that instead of vanilla ice cream they began to change it to coconut milk. Vietnam like other tropical Asian countries where coconuts grow, are home to many places and bars where we can find different options to drink the famous coconut coffee, in which the most common combination is the one that mixes coconut milk and condensed milk with coffee on ice. Whether people prefer to mix coconut water, milk or oil with coffee, most agree that the flavors are beautifully synchronized, thanks to the creaminess provided by the coconut, which at the same time turns out to be refreshing, delicious, and a perfect complement to coffee, either hot or cold.
Coffee smoothie (sinh to ca phe)
It is appealing that Vietnamese has found different ways to add a touch of Coffee into different drinks. In Hanoi and in Ho Chi Minh City, you can find some cafes offering fruit smoothies with a bled of different coffee tossing in yoghurt or famous cashews. It is very delicious and aromatic which can take you to the next level of drinking coffee in Vietnam. We tried it and it was superb and we advice you to try it as well.
Best Places to Get Your Daily Vietnamese Coffee
Ice coffee, café with milk or yogurt and generally any sort of Vietnamese coffee would come first in order in Hanoi, the capital city offers some of the exotic and authentic coffee drinks that you might have a craving for. Whether you are looking for a chilling place with a view over the Hanoi’s many lake and or if you are looking to sample some of the best coffee’s then take our suggestions, we listed following places in Hanoi Vietnam based on the reviews they received from Tripadvisor. The Iced coffee culture, the coffee in Vietnam could happily surprise your taste buds.
Check out Hanoi’s Trieu Viet Vuong street for the Coffee Experience
If you are a living in Hanoi, or coming for a visit and of course, if you have a passion for coffee, then you must know the Trieu Viet Vuong street. This café quarter with lots of cafes one after another, both ancient and a bit modern in style, all creates a very familiar image for those who love brewing coffee in a peaceful corner. This is the intersection between reality and the past, which gives you a different feeling anytime you decide to take a coffee. Let’s find out the famous cafes on Trieu Viet Vuong Street that you should visit.
Cafe Giang
Famous for its creamy egg coffee in Hanoi. The place has been around for decades and many local believe it as the first ever place that introduce the whipping egg coffee in Hanoi, or perhaps in Vietnam. If it’s the first time trying egg creamy coffee, you may enjoy it in the Giang coffee. The place located within the old quarter and at the 39 Nguyen Huu Huan street. In fact, nowadays, there are hundreds of different coffee houses offering the egg coffee, so, you may try few of them and compare them one after eachother. Lots of egg related drinks are on offer here.
Cafe Pho Co
Kinda hidden from the main street as it is accessible via a narrow long corridor that is located at the back of the street-front shops. When in Hoan Kiem, stop at this beautifully hidden cafe near the lake and the busy streets of the Hanoi. Drinks are reasonably cheap and vary, the egg coffee as well as the yogurt coffee are tasty, the rooftop is perfect for a view over the city and the old quarter. The café also offer Pho noodle soup, anyway, don’t expect the café to be something clean and spotless, many reviews indicate the place is not really clean, we visited it few time and the cleaning level was next to Okay, at least to us. Try the cafes more than the easy grab and go foods.
Saigon’s Cafe La Tamia
If you are a craving for a heavily brewed coffee in Saigon, then this classic style café house is the first stop for all your curiosity. Located in 38/05 Tran Khac Chan, go there for relaxing and for a café talk with your local friends.
COFFEE CULTURE IN VIETNAM: For Vietnamese, Coffee is more than just a drink. Coffee-shops are all around the cities and they all serve best, unique and authentic Vietnamese Coffee of all kinds. Furthermore, Vietnamese are also large consumers of coffee in their own homes. When in Vietnam, try coffee like local do and you will definitely get something as a memory back home. If you are interested in to know more about the country, try our essential tips for traveling in Vietnam
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