Vietnam: a country of innovative coffee

In 1665, the first coffee house opened in Europe and the rest is history. Coffee has become an indispensable part of our country, but what about coffee in other countries? Every country has its own way and methods of drinking coffee. Today we take a look at the coffee culture of Vietnam.

A real coffee country

You wouldn't think so, but Vietnam is a real coffee country. The country produces the second largest coffee product in the world. In Vietnam, it is customary to start the morning with an incredibly strong cup of coffee. Coffee is so essential to the local culture that it can really be seen as a way of life.

Coffee was originally introduced by the French colonists. However, Vietnamese coffee has grown considerably in the 1990s. In the meantime, the coffee bean has become an important export product for Vietnam. In general, mainly Robusta coffee beans are produced. Vietnamese coffee is often used for blends because of its quality. In recent years, however, the Arabica bean has been increasingly produced to boost the image of Vietnamese coffee. Most coffee plantations can be found in the mountains of Da Lat. 

Despite the fact that most coffee beans come from the Da Lat area, the capital Hanoi is really the coffee capital of Vietnam. Everyone drinks coffee here. On the streets you see old men on low stools drinking coffee everywhere - alone or with friends. In addition, you find coffee cafes everywhere. These cafes generally do not serve food. Vietnamese people drink coffee purely for the coffee. You do often see people eating sunflower seeds to still their hunger.

Life of the coffee filter

Vietnamese people often drink their fresh coffee with condensed milk. It was very difficult for the colonists to find fresh milk and this tradition still exists. The intense Vietnamese coffee is brewed slowly with a small, stainless steel device. The device, called Phin, brews an average of 300ml of coffee. The Phin is a French invention adopted by the Vietnamese.
Making coffee with a Phin is not a complicated process, as no complex machine is used and there is no paper filter. A Phin fits every cup of coffee and it is a simple device that is available everywhere. Despite the fact that the Phin is not complicated, the coffee is unique. For example, the coffee is less concentrated than espresso, but more intense than filter coffee. Often ice is also added to the hot cup of coffee. It is incredibly hot in Vietnam.

Coffee with a twist

Tasty, intense coffee with condensed milk is not the only way to drink coffee in Vietnam. The country has a number of unique variations. One of the most famous variations is Egg Coffee called Ca Phe Trung. Egg Coffee can be found in the north of the country, Hanoi is famous for it. Egg yolk combined with condensed milk is transformed into an airy foam layer. This foam layer is added to dark roasted coffee. Egg Coffee was invented in the 1940s because fresh milk was almost impossible to find.

In addition to coffee, the French colonists also brought yogurt with them. The yogurt was then combined with everything from fermented rice to fresh mango and of course coffee. Yogurt Coffee (Sua Chua Ca Phe) is a combination of black coffee with creamy yogurt. It may sound like a strange combination but it goes perfectly together.

In the North they have Egg Coffee, but in the South they are also known for their coffee: the Coffee Smoothies. Sinh to Ca Phe plays an increasingly important role in the coffee culture of Vietnam. In the largest city of Vietnam, coffee beans are added to sapodilla. This is a tropical fruit rich in a white, sticky milky juice. This combination of fruit and coffee has created the Coffee Smoothies and everywhere in the country they now use different fruits for their coffee. 

Are you now in the mood for a tasty, intense coffee? Here are KoffiePiraat's recommendations:

- Lavazza Gran Riserva coffee beans

- The Roccis Espresso Oro coffee beans