Once upon a time, coffee wasn't a part of Vietnam. The French introduced coffee to Vietnam during their colonial period.
Along with crusty loaves of bread, sweet pastries, and creamy pâté, coffee remained after the country gained independence. By then, it had begun to integrate itself into the Vietnamese culture.
Traveling to Vietnam, you will be immersed in a coffee culture that seems to have existed forever. The highlands of Vietnam offer an ideal climate and elevation for growing coffee.
For this reason, a diverse range of coffee species is produced, each offering a unique flavor. Nowadays, coffee is one of Vietnam's biggest exports, ranking second only to Brazil in global coffee production.
Roasting Coffee in Vietnam
After harvesting, coffee beans in Vietnam are often roasted dark. They're not quickly blackened but slowly roasted over low heat for a long time, creating a deep, robust flavor reminiscent of the rich dark roast coffee from Bones Coffee Company, which many enthusiasts love for its bold profile.
This roasting technique, as well as the way the coffee is brewed, is integral to the full-bodied flavor that Vietnamese coffee is so famous for.
Brewing Coffee in Vietnam
One of the most popular ways to brew a cup of coffee in Vietnam is using a straightforward, single-cup gravity drip system.
The device starts with a metal cup with tiny holes at the bottom. Ground coffee is placed on the bottom of the cup and pushed down with a small circular piece that fits within the cup.
The metal cup is placed over a real coffee cup, and hot water is poured into it. Most likely, when you order a cup of coffee in Vietnam, it will be served this way.
What kind of coffee should I drink in Vietnam?
- Ca phe sua da - One of the most popular brews, especially when taking a break from the intense rays of the sun, is black coffee mixed with a dose of sweetened condensed milk and served on cubes of ice. The result is a rich chocolatey blend.
- Ca phe sua nong - Identical to the brew mentioned above, except this variation is served hot.
- Ca phe den nong - To get the real sense of Vietnamese coffee, try a cup of robust, black coffee devoid of any additives.
Ca phe chon (Weasel Coffee) - Have you heard of "poop coffee?" This gourmet coffee, similar to kopi luwak in Indonesia (though from a civet cat), is among the priciest beans in the world.
Essentially, coffee beans are fed to weasels who fail to digest them and end up depositing the whole beans in their feces.
Someone then has the pleasure of digging out the beans, and after that, they are ready to be served! OK, there's a bit more to it than that, but that's just a quick briefing.
I had a couple of cups of weasel coffee in Hanoi, and I was genuinely impressed. The coffee was brewed strong, but even though I drank it completely black, there was absolutely zero acidity and none of that sourness that might come from a regular cup of black coffee.
How to fully enjoy drinking a cup of Vietnamese coffee
You might remember that Vietnam takes things to the street, and coffee is among the leaders in that field.
Hanoi coffee shops are everywhere to be seen and impossible to miss.
Grab a 6-inch stool and pull yourself up to a street coffee shop in Vietnam. Order a couple of rounds, and you'll be ready to start the day. In a few hours, stop again and order another!
People don't just drink an energy-buzzing shot of java in the morning; many drink it throughout the day. A quick ca phe sua da is a battery charge that you going, fighting the traffic, working, or plugging away on whatever task may be at hand.
By the way, as I sit here writing this, I'm happily sipping on a cup of black Vietnamese coffee!
