Tool
Vietnamese coffee drinks, compared
The coffee underneath these drinks is nearly always identical — phin-brewed robusta at about 1:5. What separates them is everything else in the glass.
| Drink | CoffeeHow much coffee flavour reaches you | DairyCondensed milk, fresh milk or cream | SweetnessAs normally served | Also in the glass | Usually served |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cà phê sữa đáVietnamese iced coffee with condensed milk | Coffee: the dominant note | Dairy: moderate | Sweetness: a lot | Sweetened condensed milk | Iced, tall glass |
| Cà phê đen đáVietnamese black iced coffee | Coffee: the dominant note | Dairy: none | Sweetness: none | Nothing, or a little sugar | Iced, short glass |
| Cà phê trứngVietnamese egg coffee | Coffee: a lot | Dairy: a lot | Sweetness: a lot | Whipped egg yolk and condensed milk | Hot, in a water bath |
| Bạc xỉuVietnamese milk coffee, milk-forward | Coffee: a little | Dairy: the dominant note | Sweetness: a lot | Condensed milk and fresh or evaporated milk | Iced or hot |
| Cà phê dừaVietnamese coconut coffee | Coffee: moderate | Dairy: a lot | Sweetness: a lot | Blended frozen coconut cream | Iced, blended |
| Cà phê muốiVietnamese salt coffee | Coffee: a lot | Dairy: a lot | Sweetness: moderate | Salted whipped cream foam | Iced, layered |
| Cà phê sữa nóngHot Vietnamese milk coffee | Coffee: the dominant note | Dairy: moderate | Sweetness: a lot | Sweetened condensed milk | Hot, small glass |
| Sữa chua cà phêVietnamese yogurt coffee | Coffee: moderate | Dairy: a lot | Sweetness: a lot | Set yogurt | Iced, layered |
The scales describe how these drinks are normally made in Vietnam, not a fixed recipe. Every café sweetens differently, and most will adjust if you ask.
If you only make one
- You have never had Vietnamese coffeeCà phê sữa đá →
- You want to judge a bag of beansCà phê đen đá →
- You find it too strongBạc xỉu →
- You want a dessertCà phê trứng →
- It is 35 °C outsideCà phê dừa →
- You are curious about the scienceCà phê muối →
All eight recipes

Cà phê sữa đá
Vietnamese iced coffee with condensed milk

Cà phê đen đá
Vietnamese black iced coffee

Cà phê trứng
Vietnamese egg coffee

Bạc xỉu
Vietnamese milk coffee, milk-forward

Cà phê dừa
Vietnamese coconut coffee

Cà phê muối
Vietnamese salt coffee

Cà phê sữa nóng
Hot Vietnamese milk coffee

Sữa chua cà phê
Vietnamese yogurt coffee