Incredibly Easy Ca Phe Sua Da (Vietnamese Coffee)

She's sweet. She's strong. She's all you need to keep you wired. She's Vietnamese Coffee, ca phe sua da!

Ca phe sua da is one of the drinks I've been sneaking sips since I was 5 years old. Unlimited consumption of Vietnamese coffee was motivation to grow up. When I was younger and my parents weren't looking, I'd take a sip from their tall coffee glasses on the breakfast table. One sip is not enough. My parents liked their coffee on the darker side so when the ice melted and there was more sweet condensed milk than coffee, I'd make my move and finish what was left before anyone noticed. It was so good! My parents didn't let us drink coffee as kids for good reason but oh my goodness, I got a rush every time I got my hands on it! Many years later it's still just as good. There's no denying the global fan club for Vietnamese iced coffee. It's incredibly easy to make and very cheap. You don't need any fancy gadgets to make this - just coffee grinds, a phin filter, condensed milk, and ice. If you want it hot, skip the ice.

What is ca phe sua da?

Ca phe sua da properly written is cà phê sữa đá means iced milk coffee in Vietnamese. Cà phê, pronounced, "kah feh" means coffee. Sữa is pronounced "shh-ua" means milk. đá pronounced "daah", which means ice. It's an iconic drink that was created in Vietnam when the French came.

The French brought coffee to Vietnam and developed the coffee industry. Dairy milk was not widely available in Vietnam at the time, so condensed milk was used as a substitute. Condensed milk does not spoil as easily and does not need constant refrigeration like dairy milk. This makes it perfect for the tropical temperatures.

Vietnamese iced coffee spread all through Vietnam quickly, becoming a staple in Vietnam and its deliciousness has spread worldwide. Vietnamese coffee houses, and restaurants in America, and Vietnam sell ca phe sua da early in the morning and throughout the day. You can drink it black, with condensed milk, or try other variations of it.

Jump to:

What is ca phe sua da?
❤️Why You'll Love This Recipe
🥄Equipment and tools
🛒Recipe Ingredients
↔Substitutions & Variations
👩‍🏫 How to Make Ca Phe Sua Da (Vietnamese Ice Coffee)
Expert Tips
🙋‍♀️Recipes FAQ
❄️Storage Instructions
💕More Recipes You'll Love
📖Recipe
Incredibly Easy Ca Phe Sua Da (Vietnamese Coffee)

❤️Why You'll Love This Recipe

You'll be happy to know that making iconic Vietnamese coffee is still as simple and easy as it was many decades ago.
If you're looking for a budget-friendly coffee option, making your own Vietnamese iced coffee is a great choice.
If you would like to customize your coffee, adjust the amount of condensed milk.
You can prepare this coffee as a hot or cold drink.

🥄Equipment and tools

Phin filter - You don't need a fancy, expensive phin filter to do the job. As of writing this post, I was able to find some at my local Vietnamese grocery store for about $6-$9 depending on the size. Alternatively, you can use a French press, French drip filter, or moka pot. If you have a coffee maker, you can brew the coffee grinds in there.

🛒Recipe Ingredients

Ingredients for Vietnamese coffee, ca phe sua da.

What do you need to make this?

Coffee grinds - I recommend using the Cafe Du Monde brand. It's the one my whole entire family used. It is a combination of coffee and chicory. If you don't like chicory, try using a robusta coffee grind. The robusta coffee bean is grown in Vietnam and commonly used in the brews in Vietnam.
Condensed milk - Use any brand you want. Don't listen to anyone if they tell you that you have to use one brand over another. The most Vietnamese thing you can do is use a quality ingredient that is on sale. I bought the Nestle La Lechera brand at Sam's Club. At the time I bought the condensed milk, they were selling 6 cans for $12. I've tried a lot of condensed milk, I can not tell the difference so my advice would be don't splurge on condensed milk unless you have a brand you love!
Hot water - Used to brew the coffee grinds. I recommend using hot water to extract all the coffee goodness. The goodness is the coffee flavor and caffeine.
Ice -Makes for a cold, refreshing drink. Add as much ice as you want.

See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.

↔Substitutions & Variations

These variations are super simple in case someone wants them and asks for them in Vietnamese. You got this!

Leave out the condensed milk for cà phê đá (iced black coffee)
Leave out the ice for cà phê sữa (coffee with condensed milk)

👩‍🏫 How to Make Ca Phe Sua Da (Vietnamese Ice Coffee)

Step 1: Pour condensed milk into a glass

Setting up a phin filter for coffee brewing.

Step 2: Add phin on top of the glass, and add coffee grounds. Add the top filter to the coffee grounds. Pour hot water into the phin filter.

Coffee dripping into glass from phin filter.

Step 3: Let the coffee brew and drip down onto condensed milk until it is all drained from the phin filter.

Step 4: Add ice and stir up condensed milk on the bottom.

Expert Tips

The coffee in the phin can be used up to 2 times and still get a strong flavor, the third time you run water through the filter the flavor and amount of caffeine are diluted.
Have a spoon handy to mix the condensed milk into the coffee.
Go easy on the condensed milk; it is sweet!

🙋‍♀️Recipes FAQ

Is Vietnamese coffee bitter or sweet?

Pure Vietnamese coffee is on the bitter side of coffee. Adding condensed milk sweetens it up.

Are phin filters required to make Vietnamese coffee?

No, you can brew Robusta or Cafe du Monde coffee in a coffee maker or however you want.

Can I make large batches at a time?

Yes, you can make large batches. There are stores that sell gallon jugs but they don't last too long, even when refrigerated. It is recommended to consume in a day or two if you can.

❄️Storage Instructions

Vietnamese coffee is best consumed the same day.

Refrigerator: Store in refrigerator for up to 1 day.

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