Cà Phê Sữa Đá (Vietnamese Iced Coffee) Mocktail Recipe
Dark, bitter robusta coffee dripped slowly onto sweetened condensed milk and poured over ice — intensely strong, thick and sweet.
- Category: Mocktail
- Glass: Highball glass
- ABV: 0%
- Difficulty: Easy
- Prep time: ~3 min
- Alcohol-free: ✓
Ingredients
- Coarsely ground Vietnamese robusta coffee3 tsp
- Hot water60 ml (2 oz)
- Sweetened condensed milk30 ml (1 oz)
How to Make It
- Spoon the condensed milk into the bottom of a heatproof glass.
- Set a phin filter on the glass, add the ground coffee, level it and screw the press down lightly.
- Wet the grounds with a splash of hot water, wait thirty seconds, then fill the filter with the rest and let it drip through.
- Stir the coffee into the milk until smooth, then pour into a tall glass full of ice.
Garnish
Served without garnish, with a long spoon to stir.
What it tastes like
The sweetness is pronounced, there is roasted coffee in it and the texture is creamy.
The technique
Built in the glass. Ice goes into the serving glass, the ingredients go on top, and you stir once if at all. Anything carbonated goes in LAST and never gets stirred; every turn of the spoon costs you bubbles. Fill the glass to the rim with ice: less ice melts faster, not slower.
Glass and ice
A tall, narrow highball. The narrowness does real work — less surface area means the carbonation lasts longer and the ice melts more slowly.
Ingredient notes and substitutes
- Sweetened condensed milk
- Thickened milk with sugar already in it — it is the sweetener, so no syrup is needed. With none, add about a third of its weight in sugar to evaporated milk.
The Story
Coffee reached Vietnam during the French colonial period and took root in the highlands, where hardy robusta thrives. Fresh milk was scarce, so sweetened condensed milk became the standard partner — and it has stayed that way ever since.
Frequently asked questions
- How is a Cà Phê Sữa Đá (Vietnamese Iced Coffee) mixed?
- It is built in the glass and served in a highball glass.
- Does a Cà Phê Sữa Đá (Vietnamese Iced Coffee) contain alcohol?
- No. It is safe to serve to children, to anyone pregnant, and to whoever is driving.
- Is a Cà Phê Sữa Đá (Vietnamese Iced Coffee) hard to make?
- Easy. No bar kit required — a measure, ice and a jar will do.
The main ingredient here is also a dream symbol: Coffee in a dream
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Alcoholic drink recipes are intended for those aged 18 and over. Please drink responsibly.