Vietnamese Iced Coffee (Ca Phe Sua Da)
on Jan 14, 2021, Updated Aug 21, 2023
Vietnamese Iced Coffee (Ca Phe Sua Da) is a robust and sweet coffee popular in Vietnam. Learn how to make it with and without using the Vietnamese filter.
Here are some other coffee drinks that you may like: Nutella Coffee, South Indian Filter Coffee, Beaten Coffee, and Gingerbread Latte.
I am more of a tea person, but I never say no to a good cup of coffee, either. A few years back, we visited a Vietnamese restaurant in downtown SFO and first tasted Vietnamese-style iced coffee.
Strong, robust, and yet refreshing, this drink had a certain charisma that compelled me to order a Phin Filter and brew my cuppa instantly!
About Vietnamese Iced Coffee
Vietnamese Iced Coffee (Ca Phe Sua Da) is a strong brewed coffee that is very popular in Vietnam and is an integral part of Vietnamese culture.
You will find many street-side shops or cafes selling it. It is also made in all Vietnamese households.
Rich, flavorful, and sweet, this coffee is also called ‘Ca Phe Sua’ in the local language.
This coffee drink is very popular all over the world now, and you will find Vietnamese restaurants all around the world selling it on their menu.
To make this beverage, freshly brewed coffee is mixed with sweetened condensed milk. It is then served over lots of ice.
Traditionally, a Vietnamese Phin Filter (pronounced ‘feen’) is used to brew coffee, but you can also use a regular stovetop brewer or any other method.
Ingredients
Coffee – Any medium-grind French roast coffee grounds can make Vietnamese coffee.
I like dark-roasted robusta coffee beans to make this Vietnamese coffee recipe. You can get robusta beans at any coffee shop in an Asian market or online.
My personal preference is the Cafe Du Monde Coffee brand. It is a dark roast coffee with a medium grind. Some added chicory gives it a very earthy and nutty flavor.
You can also check out Trung Nguyen Brand, which is made using Vietnamese coffee beans for authentic Vietnamese flavors.
Condensed Milk – Vietnamese coffee uses sweetened condensed milk instead of regular milk. Additional sugar is not required, as the condensed milk provides enough sweetness. Try the Longevity brand, which is also used by most Vietnamese cafes in the US.
Ice Cubes – To make it chilled (Vietnamese Iced Coffee), many ice cubes are added. If you don’t want ice cubes to dilute your coffee as they melt, freeze some brewed coffee in ice trays. Use these cubes in place of regular ice.
Coffee Filter
If you want to buy a traditional Vietnamese coffee maker, check online portals like Amazon, Ali Express, etc. If you have a local Asian market, they might have it stocked, too. Also, if you get a chance to visit Vietnam, it’s the best place to buy those coffee filters.
You can also brew the coffee using a French Press, French Drip Filter, or Moka Pot. A simple drip machine or paper filter also works great.
If you have an espresso machine, you can use espresso shots instead of brewed coffee.
How To Make Vietnamese Coffee
Vietnamese Phin Filter
I am using a traditional Vietnamese coffee filter (Phin Filter) to brew the coffee, but you can use any method you prefer. I sometimes use my French Press Cold Brew to make this coffee, which tastes fabulous.
This is how the Vietnamese Phin Coffee Filter looks. It comes in various sizes. I use a 6-ounce size (180 ml), perfect for one cup of coffee.
It has a compartment with tiny holes in it for the coffee to drip down. It sits on a plate that fits over the serving cup.
The umbrella-like part is called the plunger, and then there is the lid.
Brew The Coffee
Rinse the filter with hot water just before brewing. This process helps the ground coffee bloom and drop better.
Add condensed milk to a heat-proof glass (or cup). The amount of condensed milk depends on how sweet and strong you like your coffee.
Regular Strong Coffee – add 1 tablespoon
Sweet Coffee – add 2 tablespoons
Extra Sweet that tastes like candy – add 3 tablespoons
Note – Traditionally, Vietnamese-style coffee is overly sweet. But when making it at home, you can adjust the sweetness according to your liking.
I added 2 tablespoon of condensed milk.
Keep the plate and the compartment with tiny holes over the serving cup.
Add 2 tablespoon ground coffee to the filter and spread it evenly using a spoon.
Now press gently with the umbrella-like part (plunger). If you press too hard, coffee granules will clog the filter. Pressing the coffee will slow the drip rate and get strong, flavorful, brewed coffee.
Add 6 oz (180 ml) of water to a saucepan and boil over medium-high heat. You can also use an electric kettle to boil the water.
Let the boiling water sit for 60-90 seconds. This will allow it to cool to 195°F 205°F (boiling water will burn your coffee grounds).
Slowly pour 2 tablespoon of hot water over the coffee.
Cover the filter with the lid and let it sit for 5 minutes. This step will slow the drip rate, resulting in flavorful coffee.
Now, remove the lid and slowly pour the remaining water over the coffee. The brewed coffee will start to drip into the cup.
Cover the filter with the lid and let the coffee brew for 8-10 minutes.
After 8-10 minutes, remove the filter from over the cup.
Note – If you want to drink hot coffee, serve it at this stage.
Make Vietnamese Iced Coffee
Fill a tall glass with ice cubes. Pour the coffee and condensed milk mixture over the ice.
Stir well using a spoon or a stirrer and serve immediately.
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Vietnamese Iced Coffee Recipe (Ca Phe Sua Da)
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons medium-ground coffee
- 6 ounces boiling hot water (180 ml)
- sweetened condensed milk (adjust it as per your liking.)
- ice cubes
Instructions
Brew The Coffee
- Rinse the filter with hot water just before brewing. This process helps the ground coffee bloom and drop better.
- Add condensed milk to the serving cup. The amount of condensed milk depends on how sweet and strong you like your coffee.Regular Strong Coffee – add 1 tablespoonSweet Coffee – add 2 tablespoonsExtra Sweet, that tastes like candy – add 3 tablespoonsI added 2 tablespoons of condensed milk.
- Keep the plate and the compartment with tiny holes over the serving cup.
- Add ground coffee to the filter and spread it evenly.
- Now press gently with the umbrella-like part (plunger).
- Add water to a saucepan and boil over medium-high heat. You can also use an electric kettle to boil the water.
- Let the boiling water sit for 60-90 seconds. This will allow it to cool to 195°F 205°F (boiling water will burn your coffee grounds).
- Slowly pour 2 tablespoon of hot water over the coffee.
- Cover the filter with the lid and let it sit for 5 minutes. This step will slow the drip rate, resulting in flavorful coffee.
- Now, remove the lid and slowly pour the remaining water over the coffee. The brewed coffee will start to drip in the cup.
- Cover with the lid and let it brew for 8-10 minutes.
- After 8-10 minutes, remove the filter from over the cup.
- Note – If you want to drink hot coffee, serve it at this stage.
Make Iced Coffee
- Fill a tall glass with ice cubes. Pour the coffee and condensed milk mixture over the ice.
- Stir well using a spoon or a stirrer and serve immediately.
Hi, you mentioned 3 ingredients but I do not know where to find this espresso. Is espresso and coffee the same?
Yes Ezisoul. Espresso is freshly brewed coffee.