Enjoying Vietnamese Coffee on a Cool Fall Day

What makes Vietnamese coffee different from others?

Vietnamese Coffee — Coffee culture is strong in Vietnam. No matter what time of day, there are countless coffee shops lining the metropolitan streets of Saigon and Hanoi as well as rural town roads. These places are excellent for mingling and unwinding.

Vietnam’s ca phe sua da (iced coffee with milk) has gained popularity over the years in the U.S. in addition to national specialties like pho (noodle soup) and banh mi (baguette sandwich).

Vietnamese Coffee Production

The second-largest producer of coffee in the world is Vietnam. Coffee is Vietnam’s second-largest export after rice and makes up more than 18% of all coffee exports worldwide. The French brought coffee to Vietnam for the first time in 1857 – more specifically, a French Catholic priest brought an Arabica tree to northern Vietnam with hopes of establishing a small-scale venture as a result. Vietnamese coffee is often brewed as a dark or French roast. After political and economic reforms in the 1990s, Vietnamese coffee production soared, especially in specialty coffee markets over the last 15 years.

Coffee Beans

Robusta coffee, known for its high caffeine level and bitter flavor, is the main variety grown in Vietnam. Vietnamese production and exports of Arabica coffee, which is most popular in the US specialty coffee market, are expanding quickly.

Brewing Coffee

Vietnamese coffee is traditionally made in a phin, a little metal cup that fits over a mug or cup. Phin coffee brews very slowly but produces a potent, small cup that tastes like a stronger, more potent espresso. In metropolitan Vietnam, where both brewing and drinking coffee are enjoyed equally, the slow process drips well over ice and can be observed on almost every street corner. 

Coffee grounds are placed inside the phin, which sits atop a drinking glass. Hot water is poured over the grounds, soaking up the coffee beans’ essence as it ‘drips’ slowly into the glass over several minutes.

Get Vietnamese Coffee at Pho 95

We love our coffee at Pho 95! October 1 is National Coffee Day so stop by and enjoy a hot or iced cup of joe!

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By Leslie Radford