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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.

Vietnamese coffee drinks compared by coffee strength, dairy content, sweetness, additional ingredients and how they are normally served
DrinkCoffeeHow much coffee flavour reaches youDairyCondensed milk, fresh milk or creamSweetnessAs normally servedAlso in the glassUsually served
Cà phê sữa đáVietnamese iced coffee with condensed milkCoffee: the dominant noteDairy: moderateSweetness: a lotSweetened condensed milkIced, tall glass
Cà phê đen đáVietnamese black iced coffeeCoffee: the dominant noteDairy: noneSweetness: noneNothing, or a little sugarIced, short glass
Cà phê trứngVietnamese egg coffeeCoffee: a lotDairy: a lotSweetness: a lotWhipped egg yolk and condensed milkHot, in a water bath
Bạc xỉuVietnamese milk coffee, milk-forwardCoffee: a littleDairy: the dominant noteSweetness: a lotCondensed milk and fresh or evaporated milkIced or hot
Cà phê dừaVietnamese coconut coffeeCoffee: moderateDairy: a lotSweetness: a lotBlended frozen coconut creamIced, blended
Cà phê muốiVietnamese salt coffeeCoffee: a lotDairy: a lotSweetness: moderateSalted whipped cream foamIced, layered
Cà phê sữa nóngHot Vietnamese milk coffeeCoffee: the dominant noteDairy: moderateSweetness: a lotSweetened condensed milkHot, small glass
Sữa chua cà phêVietnamese yogurt coffeeCoffee: moderateDairy: a lotSweetness: a lotSet yogurtIced, 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