Strong, sweet, and icy cold, Vietnamese iced coffee is bold and unforgettable. It takes just 10 minutes and is the perfect summer drink!
Vietnamese iced coffee is not your usual cup of coffee. It’s rich, creamy, and a pick-me-up when you want something different. My Vietnamese coffee recipe doesn’t use a traditional filter, yet it tastes delicious.
So even if you don’t have an authentic Phin filter, still go ahead and make it. It’s like a creamy coffee dessert with the perfect balance of sweetness and intense coffee, almost to the point of being addictive.
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What Is Vietnamese Coffee
Vietnamese coffee is made with dark roast coffee and sweetened condensed milk. The result is a rich, creamy drink with deep flavor. The most popular version is called cà phê sữa đá—iced coffee with milk. It’s served cold, over ice, and tastes like a dessert in a glass. The hot version of this coffee, called cà phê nóng, is usually had in the morning.
The coffee is traditionally brewed using a Phin filter (aka Vietnamese press or Vietnamese dripper), which is a small metal drip filter that slowly drips hot water through ground coffee. The Phin makes a stronger cup than a drip machine and has a smoother taste than a French press. It takes a few minutes, but the flavor is worth the wait.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
✨Refreshingly sweet with a strong coffee kick, this Vietnamese-style iced coffee is a keeper!
✨This Viet iced coffee is the best summer workday companion, guaranteed to drive your afternoon slump away!
✨Super easy to make. This really takes no effort at all!
✨So versatile! You make it using any kind of coffee, and adjust the sweetness according to your taste.
✨This iced coffee is so addictive and well-loved by everyone!
✨Leave out the ice, and you can easily serve this hot.
Vietnamese Iced Coffee Recipe Ingredients
Coffee: Traditionally, it’s made with dark roast, and the most popular Vietnamese coffee brand for it is Trung Nguyen. If you’re using a Phin filter, go for a medium-coarse grind. If it’s too fine, it might slip through.
I used a medium-dark roast and brewed it in my Moka pot, and it turned out great. You can use a coffee maker, a French press, or instant coffee to make Vietnamese iced coffee. Espresso machine works just as well too. Use espresso shots instead of brewed coffee. Just remember: better beans = better coffee. Always.
Condensed milk adds all the sweetness and creaminess. Homemade, store-bought, or a plant-based one, like coconut condensed milk if you prefer vegan coffee.
Ice: Lots of it to chill the coffee!
See the recipe card for full information about the ingredients and quantities.
How To Make Vietnamese Iced Coffee
Step 1: Spoon in sweetened condensed milk into a cup.
Step 2: Top it with lots of ice.
Step 3: Pour the brewed coffee into the cup.
Step 4: Stir well and enjoy!
Top Tips
- While I didn't use the traditional Vietnamese coffee filter and coffee, both are easily available online.
- You can brew coffee using a French press,
- You can leave out the ice to make a hot Vietnamese coffee.
- Adjust the quantity of sweetened condensed milk according to your taste.
How To Serve Vietnamese Iced Coffee
Poured over a tall glass filled with ice, Vietnamese condensed milk coffee is just a fantastic pick-me-up. With a small scoop of vanilla ice cream, coffee ice cream, or chocolate ice cream? It becomes an indulgent treat. You can serve it with coffee hazelnut madeleines, banana bread scones, or simple cream cheese pound cake.
Mocha gingerbread biscotti are great for dunking into iced coffee. Oatmeal raisin cookies give a chewy, spiced contrast to the creamy drink. Rich, crumbly, and melt-in-your-mouth butter cookies or strawberry cream cheese buns are fantastic with it. Sweet, sticky cinnamon rolls or Mallorca sweet bread will be delicious with Vietnamese coffee.
Recipe FAQs
If you make Vietnamese coffee the traditional way—that is, with a Phin filter and Robusta beans—then it has higher caffeine content and a deep, intense taste. What also makes Vietnamese iced coffee different is that instead of milk or cream, it’s mixed with sweetened condensed milk, making it rich, creamy, and sweet.
The coffee is addictive because it hits all the right notes. It’s strong, it’s sweet, and it’s creamy. It’s that mix of strong coffee and sweet creaminess that keeps you coming back for more.
It’s not the strongest, but it is definitely one of them when made with Robusta beans and a Phin filter. The filter drips slowly and creates a concentrated brew. If you’re looking for strong iced coffee, Vietnamese coffee delivers.
📖 Recipe
Vietnamese Iced Coffee Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp Sweetened condensed milk
- 1 cup Freshly Brewed Coffee I used 1 cup water and 3 tbsp ground coffeebeans for my brew
- Ice
Instructions
- Spoon in sweetened condensed milk into a cup.
- Top it with ice.
- Pour the freshly brewed coffee and stir well.
- Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- While I didn't use the traditional Vietnamese coffee filter and coffee, both are easily available online.
- You can brew coffee using a French press,
- You can leave out the ice to make a hot Vietnamese coffee.
- Adjust the quantity of sweetened condensed milk according to your taste.
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