You can talk all you want about your triple espressos, French press mornings, and pour-over rituals, but let’s get real: if you haven’t experienced Vietnamese coffee, can you even call yourself a serious coffee drinker?
I used to think I had my coffee game down. As a self-professed coffee snob (semi-professional drinker, if you asked me), I thought I had sampled all the world’s best. But then my daughter Ariel came home from a six-week trip to Vietnam and told me about the coffee they were drinking. She said it was unlike anything she’d ever had—rich, bold, creamy, and it packed a punch. Naturally, I was sold.
I set out to find this magical coffee, and after some digging, I discovered Nine North served Vietnamese coffee in the traditional style. My coffee adventure was on … or so I thought.
My first attempt was a pop-in to grab one to-go … but I quickly found out that’s not how it works. Vietnamese coffee is savoured, not rushed. I have gotten so used to quick-serve coffee that I had forgotten other options.
So, I planned to return the next day when I had some time to enjoy the full experience.
About Vietnamese Coffee
Vietnamese coffee, also known as Cà phê sữa đá, is brewed slowly using a small drip filter called a phin. This filter sits on top of the cup, allowing the coffee to drip steadily into a layer of sweetened condensed milk below.
The story goes that during the French occupation of Vietnam, they could not transport fresh milk, so they had to resort to condensed milk. Over time, the canned beverage found its way into many local recipes – coffee being one of them.
It’s a slow brew, and the anticipation as I watched the coffee drip down right in front of me was all part of the experience.
My first sip – #AMAZING. The combination of condensed milk and robusta coffee is like nothing else. It was a bold and creamy drink with hints of dark chocolate and nuts; sweet – but not too sweet … I am now hooked.
Side note – there is an extra caffeine boost; Vietnamese coffee contains almost twice the amount of caffeine as conventional arabica-based coffee drinks – so you have been warned!
Final Thoughts
If you’re a coffee enthusiast like me, add a stop at Nine North for a true Vietnamese coffee experience to your bucket list. You won’t regret it.
