Indulge in the sweet and creamy flavor of Saigon white coffee, cafe bạc xỉu. One sip is not enough! Satisfy your taste buds with this irresistible coffee that's sure to leave you craving for more.
Cà phê bạc xỉu, or Saigon white coffee, has a generous amount of milk in comparison to traditional Vietnamese condensed milk coffee (cà phê sữa đá). This makes Saigon white coffee so desirable to anyone who just needs a little caffeine or prefers a milky coffee. I prefer this coffee over cafe sua da because I am super sensitive to caffeine! I just need a little bit of coffee to wire me up.
What is Vietnamese White Coffee?
Cà phê (pronounced: kafeh) Bạc ( pronounced: back) Xỉu ( pronounced: sieu) originated in Saigon at Chợ Lớn also known as Binh Tay Market. Chợ Lớn is home to Vietnamese's Chinatown. The Chinese residents made their own twist on Vietnamese coffee, when ordering coffee they ordered "Bạc Tảy Xỉu Phé". Bạc means white, Tảy means cup, Xỉu - a little Phé - coffee which means a white coffee cup with a little coffee. That's a mouthful to say so the people have shortened it to bạc xỉu. This is the perfect blend of 3 cultures, Vietnamese, Chinese, and French. For those who want a milkier and less potent coffee try this fusion of cultures in a cup!
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❤️Why You'll love this recipe
- This recipe is a breeze to make - it can be whipped up in just five minutes! Give it a go!
- You can just tweak it any way you want.
- Super easy recipe that uses ingredients you probably already have on hand.
🥄Equipment and tools
- coffee phin to filter your coffee.
🛒Recipe Ingredients
Ingredient Notes:
- Brewed coffee - Traditional bac xiu is made with arabica or robusta coffee and pressed through a phin filter. I use Cafe Du Monde for my coffee. A phin filter is not necessary to get brewed coffee. Brew your coffee to your preferences. Alternatively, you can use instant coffee.
- Condensed milk - Vietnamese coffee and condensed milk are often paired together to create an iconic combination. Condensed milk is essential. You can use any brand you like. If you're making an iced coffee, I recommend adding a splash of hot water to the condensed milk and mixing it down. It is pretty thick and is hard to mix thoroughly.
- Milk - The addition of milk tones down the bitterness of black coffee and creates a creamy and velvety texture in the coffee. Use any type of milk you like. Some popular options are half-and-half creamer, dairy milk, soy milk, almond milk, and oat milk. This makes it more enjoyable for many people, especially those who find black coffee too harsh or strong.
- Ice - In hot and humid Vietnam, ice coffee is the way to go for the scorching temperatures. Ice is optional but it will also dilute your coffee an additional step and make it more enjoyable on hot days.
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
↔Substitutions & Variations
- Use a frother and instant coffee to give your coffee a creamier texture.
- Vietnamese Condensed Milk Coffee
- Salted Vietnamese Coffee
- Vietnamese Egg Coffee
👩🏫 How to Make Saigon White Coffee (Bac Xiu)
Step 1: To a cup add condensed milk and a splash of hot water. Mix the condensed milk until it is no longer thick. Add your milk of choice to the cup. Then add ice (optional)
Step 2: Top off the milk with brewed coffee. OR add a phin filter with coffee grinds and add water.
Step 3: Enjoy!
Expert Tips
- Check out your local Vietnamese/Asian grocery stores for phin filters, instant coffee, and Vietnamese coffee. They are usually cheaper!
🙋♀️Recipes FAQ
Saigon white coffee, bạc xỉu, is the extra sweet version of Vietnamese condensed milk coffee. It originated in Saigon's Chinatown.
Saigon white coffee tastes like an extra sweet Vietnamese condensed milk coffee (ca phe sua da).
❄️Storage Instructions
- Refrigerator: Store in refrigerator for up to 12 hours. Best consumed immediately.
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📖Recipe
Extra Easy Saigon White Coffee (Bạc Xỉu)
Equipment
- 1 phin filter
Ingredients
- ¼ cup brewed coffee
- 2 tablespoon condensed milk
- ½ cup milk
- ¼ cup ice
- 1 teaspoon hot water
Instructions
- Add condensed milk to cup, and a teaspoonful of hot water and mix it down. Add in milk and mix in. Additionally add ice if desired.
- Add brewed coffee. Mix and enjoy!
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