From eggs to salt – here’s a list of coffees you can order in Vietnam
“I’ve already Googled how to make Salt coffee” – my cousin texted me a few days ago, less than 24 hours since we returned from our trip to Vietnam.
I knew that the coffee would be decent in Vietnam, but I never thought it would exceed my expectations. As it turns out, upon further research, Vietnam is actually the world’s largest producer of robusta beans – famous for its high caffeine content and bitter profile.
Which means, if you hate coffee, this article is probably not for you. My brother would argue that the coffee in Vietnam is only good due to it being mostly saturated by condensed milk…for which he definitely has a point. However, I thought it would be handy to compile a list of all the coffees available, so you can sip to your hearts content. Here’s a list of coffees you can order in Vietnam.
1) EGG COFFEE (CÀ PHÊ TRỨNG)
I tried Egg Coffee for the first time at Good Day Tea & Coffee which is located in The Cafe Apartment in Ho Chi Minh City. I was so surprised by how yummy it was…to me, the top of the foam tasted like creme brulee (big fan!). This drink is super popular, both served hot and cold with a creamy, frothy egg yolk topping (egg yolks whisked with condensed milk). It became popular during the 1940s in its origin city of Hanoi as a creative solution to milk shortages during wartime. If you’re stopping in Hanoi on your travels, make sure to head to Cafe Giang (Address: 39 P. Nguyễn Hữu Huân, Lý Thái Tổ, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam) which has been opened since 1946 and is the original store to sell this style of coffee.
2) SALT COFFEE (CÀ PHÊ MUỐI)
My cousins favourite style of coffee from the trip was Salt Coffee. This popular drink is the perfect balance of sweet vs salty with a creamy texture, and originates from the coastal city of Hue. A phin filter is used to brew Vietnamese coffee which is then served over condensed milk with a layer of salted cream on top. There’s no wonder I had a few pimples breaking out on my face…the sweetness is hectic at times. I dare you to try and sip this one slowly. We tried the Salt Coffee at Cafe Gieng (Address: 64 Đường Phan Bội Châu, Cẩm Châu, Hội An, Quảng Nam, Vietnam).
3) TRADITIONAL METHOD HOT OR COLD (CÀ PHÊ PHIN)
I’ve had quite a few Vietnamese traditional coffees in Australia so that’s why I focused on trying the others while I was in Vietnam. The traditional method involves a small metal filter called a phin to produce a strong, slow-drip coffee which is then served hot or cold with (yes you guessed it) condensed milk. If you’ve never tried it before, it’s worth a go!
Traditional Vietnamese Coffee | Credit: NAM CZ Unsplash
4) COCONUT COFFEE (CÀ PHÊ DỪA)
I loved the taste of this one initially, but wasn’t a fan of the aftertaste because it felt like there was a juggler in my stomach. However, if you’re keen to try… the beverage is made by blending coffee with coconut milk and condensed milk. It’s tasty and refreshing however in my opinion it can be quite heavy on the stomach. I’m glad I gave it a go, but I don’t think I would have it again.
5) YOGURT COFFEE (CÀ PHÊ SỮA CHUA)
What the actual heck? I never saw this one (most likely because I was constantly ordering Egg Coffee) but apparently Yogurt Coffee is a thing too. It seems that the Vietnamese people are really out here living by the motto, ‘if you can think it, make it’ with this one because it doesn’t entice me at all. This drink combines yogurt and sweetened condensed milk to create a creamy texture and tangy-sweet flavour. All I can say is that much like the Coconut Coffee, I fear that my stomach would be in a world of hurt after this one.
Have you tried any of these coffees before? Let me know below!
As always, stay safe + travel always,
Love Elly-Grace x
All pictures taken by Elly-Grace from Travelly Concierge on Olympus Pen EPL-7 and iPhone 15 pro max – unless otherwise specified.
