Origin: Vietnam  |  Prep: 2 minutes  |  Brew: 5-7 minutes

About This Brew

Cà Phê Đen Đá (literally 'coffee black ice') is for those who want Vietnamese coffee in its purest, most uncompromising form. No milk, just intense phin-brewed Robusta sweetened lightly (or not at all) with sugar and poured over ice. It is the everyday fuel of construction workers, office staff and students alike, prized for its enormous caffeine kick and bracing, bittersweet clarity.

Without condensed milk to soften it, the character of the bean shines: deep cocoa, dark molasses, a whisper of smoke and that signature Robusta wallop. A little sugar rounds the edges, but the drink is meant to taste boldly of coffee. Served in a tall glass crowded with ice, it is the most refreshing way to take your caffeine in tropical heat.

Ingredients

• 2-3 tbsp Vietnamese dark-roast Robusta, ground for phin
• 1-2 tsp white sugar (optional, to taste)
• Near-boiling water (around 90-95°C)
• 1 tall glass of ice

Equipment Needed

• Vietnamese phin filter
• Tall glass
• Spoon

Instructions

1. If using sugar, add it to the empty glass.
2. Set the phin over the glass, add ground coffee, level it, and add the press.
3. Bloom with a little hot water for 30 seconds.
4. Fill with hot water, cover, and drip for 4-6 minutes.
5. Stir to dissolve any sugar.
6. Add ice to fill the glass, stir, and serve.

Tags: Vietnam · Cold · Easy