Vietnamese Elixir: What Does Vietnamese Coffee Taste Like?

Nothing can boost our energy levels like a good cup of coffee.

More than a billion people drink coffee every day, while Americans drink about 400 million cups daily.

So, it’s pretty evident that coffee is a favorite drink worldwide.

As you might already know, the taste of coffee varies depending on where it’s from and its type.

Vietnam is the world’s second-largest coffee producer, producing 1.8 US tons of coffee annually.

97% of the coffee grown in the country is Robusta, and it has become very popular worldwide for its unique taste.

Keep reading to learn more about Vietnamese coffee, how it tastes, and what you can serve with it.

You might just find your favorite coffee today.

What is Vietnamese Coffee?

The production of Vietnamese coffee as an income source began in the 20th century.

The French introduced the plant in 1857, after which it became a major agricultural crop, second to rice.

Vietnamese coffee is a rich, strong, and flavorful coffee popular not only in its country of origin but also in other parts of the world.

Its concentrate is creamy, smooth, and bold, which makes the perfect cup for anyone needing a shot of caffeine.

Since this coffee is bitterer than others, people commonly add condensed milk to the brewed coffee.

You can drink it hot or cold, depending on how you like your regular coffee.

Traditionally, a special aluminum or stainless steel filter called phin is used to brew Vietnamese coffee.

Brewing takes time while using this filter, but it gives a thick and strong coffee resembling an espresso.

Nevertheless, you can use a regular coffee press to enjoy a similar taste.

What Does Vietnamese Coffee Taste Like?

Getting to the point, Vietnamese coffee (Arabica) has rich and vibrant notes of caramel, vanilla, and chocolate.

It has low acidity and is known for being smooth.

On the other hand, Vietnamese Robusta coffee is considered very strong.

It is, in fact, 2x more potent than the Arabica beans.

It has a nutty, chocolate-like flavor profile that lingers on your taste buds.

If you like dark, high-caffeine coffee that will boost your energy levels, Robusta might be a better option.

And if you’re not into bitter-tasting coffee, you’ll want to make it lighter and smoother by adding ingredients like condensed milk or simply milk and sugar.

Vietnamese coffee, particularly Robusta, is cheaper than many other varieties of coffee.

However, don’t let the price fool you, as it is an incredibly delicious coffee that tastes like nothing else.

Did you know? Vietnamese coffee has 60% less fats and sugar than regular Arabica coffee.

Therefore, it has a smoother texture than the others.

Your cup of Vietnamese coffee might taste different from another one depending on the other ingredients added.

Since the coffee itself is very bitter, many prefer adding butter, salt, and rice wine during roasting to enrich the flavor.

How to Serve Vietnamese Coffee?

You can drink or serve Vietnamese coffee in various ways, hot or cold.

However, the most popular way of drinking this coffee is by adding condensed milk to the brew, called Ca Phe Sua Da.

Vietnamese coffee is unique because of its special brewing style using the Phin.

Not only is it the traditional way of brewing coffee, but it also gives a superior taste.

You can get the filter easily from local Asian markets.

To make Vietnamese coffee, you only need Phin, coffee grounds, and condensed milk.

Many people enjoy drinking this coffee with iced tea.

You can try Bac Xiu, similar to a latte, Vietnamese egg coffee, and Vietnamese cold brew coffee.

Because of its bitter flavor, Vietnamese coffee tastes best with sweet treats.

You can serve it with pancakes, pastries, waffles, French toast, and desserts.

Bread, sandwiches, and muffins also pair exceptionally well with Vietnamese coffee.

But if you want to enjoy the full Vietnamese experience, check out these breakfast items.

• Pho- A soup dish containing rice noodles, broth, meat, and herbs.
• Banh Cuon- A northern Vietnam dish containing rice batter, wood ear mushrooms, ground pork, and shallots.
• Banh mi- A short baguette filled with veggies, meat, and other ingredients.
• Com Tam- A rice dish made from broken rice, fish sauce, grilled rib, pickled carrots, and oil garnish. You can serve this dish as breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Final Thought

To conclude, Vietnamese coffee is a rich, powerful, and bitter coffee brewed using coffee beans produced in Vietnam.

What makes it special is its higher caffeine content than other coffee, plus a traditional brewing method that uses a unique filter.

It tastes stronger than your regular coffee and has a bold aftertaste with chocolate notes.

There are many ways to drink this coffee, so we suggest exploring and finding your favorite one.

You can try making it on your own if you can’t find Vietnamese coffee in your area.

All you need are some simple ingredients and a phin.

However, you can brew it as usual if you don’t have one.