What is Vietnamese Egg Coffee? Discover A Delicious Coffee Tradition
One thing Vietnamese people love is their coffee. The country has a long and rich history with coffee, which is why it isn’t surprising that Vietnam has a booming coffee culture with loads of specialty coffees. However, of all the different types of Vietnamese coffee available, the two most popular are Vietnamese iced coffee (cà phê sữa đá) and Vietnamese egg coffee (cà phê trứng).
Read on to find out about Vietnamese egg coffee, how to make it, its unique flavor, and where it originated from.
What is Vietnamese Egg Coffee?
Vietnamese egg coffee, cà phê trứng, is a popular drink that originated in Hanoi during the 1940s. This drink was created when there was a shortage of fresh milk, and egg yolks were used as an alternative. It’s made by whipping golden egg yolks with sweetened condensed milk until it’s light and frothy, and then pour over strong coffee.
What Does Cà Phê Trứng Taste Like?
Before you try to yuck our yum (😤) you should definitely try this traditional Vietnamese coffee because it really is DELICIOUS. By combining the creamy egg and milk mixture with dark roast robusta coffee (we’re a strictly robusta Pham-ily) you’re left with a decadent coffee that’s sweet but still has a strong coffee flavor.
Where Can You Try Vietnamese Egg Coffee?
What makes cà phê trứng even more special is the fact that you can visit the actual coffee shop in which this drink was invented! Cafe Giảng is a Hanoi institution. Located down a small lane in the city’s old quarter, this is the perfect place to visit to experience Vietnam’s coffee culture.
Let’s be real though, you’re not going to go all the way to Vietnam just to try this drink... But don’t worry you can still experience its deliciousness without jetting off – and it’s a lot easier than you might think! Here's a super easy recipe for brewing an authentic Vietnamese egg coffee at home:
Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp of dark roast Vietnamese coffee grounds
- 3 tbsp of sweetened condensed milk
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp of vanilla extract (optional)
- Hot water
Special Equipment:
- A phin or a French Press (this isn’t compulsory, but it’ll enhance the coffee flavor and make it truly authentic)
Instructions:
-
Brew the coffee: To get the most authentic tasting egg coffee, we recommend you use a phin (Vietnamese coffee filter), but if you don’t have one you can use a French Press instead. Alternatively, if you’re feeling lazy to brew the coffee, use SANG Straight Black with Vanilla Essence as the base.
-
Prepare the egg mixture: Separate the egg yolk from the egg white, and then mix it with condensed milk and vanilla extract. Whisk together until it becomes light and fluffy.
- Assemble the drink: Add the frothy egg mixture on top of the brewed coffee, and stir gently to combine. The result should be a creamy, sweet coffee with a frothy, meringue-like topping. And there you have it, authentic Vietnamese egg coffee without ever leaving your house!
Whether you try it on the busy streets of Hanoi or make it at home, an authentic cà phê trứng is one of the tastiest and most comforting traditional Vietnamese drinks, and we really hope you give it a try. If you want to experience the country’s thriving coffee culture, snag a case of SANG and take a sip of Vietnam.