Also known as ca phe da, meaning literally ‘ice coffee’, this drink is a traditional recipe in Vietnam. Although it’s normally served black, there’s also a version with milk known as ca phe sua da.
Coffee was introduced into Vietnam in the late 19th century by French colonists, and has since gone from strength to strength due to the favourable growing conditions. It’s particularly well-suited to the Vietnamese highlands, and Vietnam is now one of the major players in the world coffee market.
As fresh milk is limited, traditional Vietnamese coffee is made with sweetened condensed milk, which produces a thick, rich drink.
If you’d like to recreate Vietnamese coffee yourself, you’ll need a Vietnamese coffee filter, available from online retailers. This little metal cup sits on top of the coffee mug, and has dozens of tiny perforations in the bottom to act as the filter and remove the grounds.
Put three good tablespoons of sweetened condensed milk into a measuring jug, and add some crushed ice. Put a few teaspoons of coarsely ground coffee, made from freshly roasted coffee beans, into the top of the filter, sit the filter on the jug and add boiling water. Wait for the water to drip through, then stir vigorously to mix the thick condensed milk and the coffee together. Pour into a glass or mug, and drink. If you like, you can also pour the mixture through a sieve to remove the crushed ice.
This makes a great cooling drink for hotter days, and works perfectly with our Super Forte coffee beans, a blend made from 100% Vietnamese beans. This intense, full blend is already roasted to perfection, but when you grind it, choose a coarser grind that usual for the most authentic results.
For more information about our range of coffee beans and coffee accessories, please visit our main website at www.wholesalecoffeecompany.co.uk.