Ca Phe Sua Da

Vietnamese Vietnamese coffee⏱ 10 min⚡ Vegetarian

Ca Phe Sua Da is intensely aromatic, deeply roasted, and balanced by the silky sweetness of condensed milk. Poured over plenty of ice, it becomes a bold, refreshing coffee with a rich caramel finish and a satisfyingly slow-melting chill.

Nutrition · per serving

131kcal

3.2gProtein

21.5gCarbs

3.7gFat

0.2gFiber

2 servings

Ingredients

4 items

Coffee brew

Vietnamese ground coffee (preferably robusta)28 g

hot water, just off the boil120 ml

To serve

sweetened condensed milk60 g

ice cubes300 g

Tips

•A traditional phin filter gives the most authentic flavor and texture; if you do not have one, brew very strong coffee by another method and keep the final brewed volume close to 120 ml.
•Robusta is classic because it is bold, bitter, and stands up to the sweetness of condensed milk.
•Adjust sweetness by reducing the condensed milk to 50 g total for a less rich drink, or increasing to 70 g for a more dessert-like version.
•For the best result, use plenty of ice so the drink chills quickly without becoming watery too fast.

Steps

1
Set 2 sturdy serving glasses on the counter. Divide the sweetened condensed milk evenly between them, adding 30 g to each glass.
60 g sweetened condensed milk
2
Place 14 g Vietnamese ground coffee into each phin filter. Set each filter over a glass. If your coffee is very fresh, gently shake the filter to level the grounds so the water flows evenly.
28 g Vietnamese ground coffee (preferably robusta)
3
Pour a small splash of the hot water into each filter just to wet the grounds, then wait about 20 to 30 seconds for the coffee to bloom. Fill the filters with the remaining hot water, cover, and let the coffee drip through. A steady slow drip is ideal; if it stalls completely, loosen the press slightly, and if it runs too fast, tighten it a little.
120 ml hot water, just off the boil28 g Vietnamese ground coffee (preferably robusta)
4
When the dripping is finished and you have a strong, concentrated coffee in each glass, stir well until the condensed milk is fully dissolved and the mixture looks smooth and caramel-brown.
60 g sweetened condensed milk
5
Fill 2 tall glasses with the ice cubes. Pour the sweetened coffee over the ice and serve immediately with a spoon or straw. For the classic texture, let it sit for 20 to 30 seconds so the edges turn icy-cold before drinking.
300 g ice cubes

Origin & History

Ca Phe Sua Da is one of Vietnam's most iconic drinks, born from the combination of strong dark coffee and sweetened condensed milk, which became popular when fresh milk was scarce during the French colonial period. Brewed through a small metal phin filter, it developed into a daily ritual enjoyed from street stalls to homes across the country.

vietnamese coffee iced beginner classic vegetarian

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Steps

Set 2 sturdy serving glasses on the counter. Divide the sweetened condensed milk evenly between them, adding 30 g to each glass.

60 g sweetened condensed milk

Place 14 g Vietnamese ground coffee into each phin filter. Set each filter over a glass. If your coffee is very fresh, gently shake the filter to level the grounds so the water flows evenly.

28 g Vietnamese ground coffee (preferably robusta)

Pour a small splash of the hot water into each filter just to wet the grounds, then wait about 20 to 30 seconds for the coffee to bloom. Fill the filters with the remaining hot water, cover, and let the coffee drip through. A steady slow drip is ideal; if it stalls completely, loosen the press slightly, and if it runs too fast, tighten it a little.

120 ml hot water, just off the boil28 g Vietnamese ground coffee (preferably robusta)

When the dripping is finished and you have a strong, concentrated coffee in each glass, stir well until the condensed milk is fully dissolved and the mixture looks smooth and caramel-brown.

60 g sweetened condensed milk

Fill 2 tall glasses with the ice cubes. Pour the sweetened coffee over the ice and serve immediately with a spoon or straw. For the classic texture, let it sit for 20 to 30 seconds so the edges turn icy-cold before drinking.

300 g ice cubes

Origin & History