How to Brew Vietnamese Coffee with a Phin Filter
Vietnamese coffee is strong, slow-dripped, and traditionally sweetened with condensed milk. The brewer is the phin, a small metal filter that sits directly on your cup. It costs a few dollars, needs no power or paper filters, and makes a concentrated cup that stands up to ice and milk without going watery.
What you need
A phin filter, coarsely ground Vietnamese coffee, hot water just off the boil, and sweetened condensed milk if you are making cà phê sữa đá. Our Quê Hương coffee is roasted from 100% Arabica and ground for exactly this brew: the House Blend for a smoother everyday cup, the Le Colonial Blend for a darker, bolder one.
How to brew it, step by step
1. Add the coffee. Spoon about two tablespoons of ground coffee into the phin chamber and shake it level. Set the press disc on top and screw it down gently, snug but not tight. Too tight and nothing drips; too loose and it rushes through.
2. Bloom it. Set the phin over your cup and pour in a small splash of hot water, just enough to wet the grounds. Wait about 30 seconds while the coffee swells and releases its gas. This step is what keeps the cup from tasting flat.
3. Fill and wait. Top the phin up with hot water and put the lid on. The drip should take four to five minutes. If it finishes in under two, the press is too loose. If it stalls past six, loosen it slightly.
4. Finish the cup. For cà phê sữa đá, put two tablespoons of condensed milk in the glass before you brew, stir it into the finished coffee, then pour the whole thing over a full glass of ice. For cà phê đen, drink it hot and black, or over ice with sugar.
No phin? Use what you have
The same grind works in a drip machine, a French press, or an espresso setup. You lose the slow theater of the phin but keep the strength. Whatever you brew in, keep the coffee-to-water ratio high: Vietnamese coffee is meant to taste concentrated, especially when ice and condensed milk get involved.
Ready to brew? Browse Quê Hương coffee, or find it near you on our Where to Buy page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much coffee do you put in a phin filter?
About two tablespoons of coarsely ground coffee for a standard phin. Shake it level before setting the press disc on top so the water drips evenly.
How long should a phin take to drip?
Four to five minutes. Much faster means the press disc is too loose, much slower means it is screwed down too tight.
What coffee is best for Vietnamese coffee?
A dark, coarsely ground roast that holds up to condensed milk and ice. Our Quê Hương House Blend is the smoother option and the Le Colonial Blend is darker and bolder.
Can I make Vietnamese coffee without a phin?
Yes. The same grind brews well in a drip machine, French press, or espresso maker. Keep the coffee-to-water ratio high so the cup stays strong.
What is the difference between cà phê sữa đá and cà phê đen?
Cà phê sữa đá is brewed over sweetened condensed milk and poured on ice. Cà phê đen is black coffee, served hot or iced, with sugar if you want it.