How To Use A Vietnamese Coffee Press

If you’re an avid coffee drinker, you should try a Vietnamese drip coffee press. Vietnamese coffee, which falls halfway between American coffee and espresso, obtains its distinctively powerful flavor from a basic drip method that is as simple as it is delightful. But if you’ve never made it before, you might be wondering what a Vietnamese coffee press is and how to use one.

A Vietnamese coffee press, or phin, is a metal filter that is filled with coffee grounds. Hot water is poured over the grounds and then covered, allowing the water to steep as the coffee slowly drips through to the cup.

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As you might expect, the first step in making traditional Vietnamese coffee is using the press to brew it. Keep reading for instructions on how to use a Vietnamese coffee press to brew up your very own cup of ca phe sua da (Vietnamese iced coffee).

What Is A Vietnamese Coffee Drip?

A Vietnamese coffee press is called a phin. This is a classic metal filter that makes a truly pleasurable brew—almost like a cross between a pour-over and a French press.

The phin is a compact stainless-steel container with a filter basket, a broad base, and a cover. The filter device sits atop a coffee cup or glass. After filling the filter with coffee grounds, boiling water is poured over the grounds. While the coffee steeps, the cover is replaced on the filter. The coffee is ready to drink once all of the water has been absorbed.

The phin is available in a variety of sizes, allowing for a variety of serving possibilities. The standard single-serving phin size is 4 ounces. The 8-ounce phin is a hefty single or double serving. For large batch brews, there are even large phins that can carry 40 ounces of water.

Because of its relatively tiny size, low weight, and few components, a Vietnamese coffee press is a very portable coffee-making choice. But it's not simply the portability that distinguishes this brew type. When used correctly, a Vietnamese coffee maker should provide a fully unique brew.

How To Use A Vietnamese Coffee Press

To use your Vietnamese coffee press, start by placing the filter on top of a glass or cup. Remove the filter cover, then turn the center post counterclockwise and remove the screen to add the coffee. 3 to 4 tablespoons ground Vietnamese or other espresso coffee is usually a good amount.

You should be mindful of the size of the coffee grounds you're using. Because the holes on a Vietnamese coffee press are big by coffeemaker standards, a coarse grind is essential to keep the grounds out of your coffee.

Replace the screen and gently rock the filter back and forth to distribute the grounds evenly over the bottom, then gradually tighten the screw. The screen should be placed directly on top of the coffee grinds without crushing them.

Fill the filter roughly a quarter full of boiling water and let it soak through the damper for 30 seconds. After 30 seconds, add the remaining water to the filter and cover with the lid to keep the heat in.

After adding the water, the brewing procedure should take at least five minutes to obtain the rich, full flavor of Vietnamese coffee. When the coffee has stopped dripping, it is ready.

How To Drink Vietnamese Coffee

You can drink Vietnamese coffee straight. However, Vietnamese coffee is traditionally served with a sweet touch.

Vietnamese iced coffee (ca phe sua da) is quite simple to make. Although dark roasted coffee is traditionally used for this drink, a medium roast is equally acceptable. Light roasted coffees, on the other hand, should be avoided since they are dominated by the sweetness of the condensed milk.

The coffee is often tempered with sweetened condensed milk rather than American milk and sugar, which adds a thickness to the coffee. The amount depends on personal preference, but 2 teaspoons is a decent place to start. Condensed milk can be swirled into the coffee at the end or added to the cup before.

In certain Vietnamese restaurants, the end of a toothpick is soaked in fish sauce and then stirred into the coffee. Darker roasted coffee is more bitter. So, by adding only a modest bit of salty fish sauce, the intensely roasted coffee might taste smoother.

Enjoying Vietnamese Coffee

Using a Vietnamese coffee press is an experience in and of itself. Its gentle drip provides a moment of relaxation while producing a powerful, fragrant, and delicious brew. Now that you know how to use one, you can experiment with different roasts and flavoring to create the perfect cup.

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