Vietnamese-style iced espresso (ca phe sua da or cà phê sữa đá) is tremendous straightforward to make and all you want is a chrome steel filter that prices round $7 USD on-line. If you happen to reside in a metropolis with a Vietnamese grocery retailer, you’ll doubtless discover them even cheaper.
Vietnamese espresso might be served sizzling, however for this tutorial, we’re going to brew an iced espresso that’s each sturdy and candy.
Though it’s conventional to make use of dark-roasted espresso for this drink, I found it’s completely nice to make use of a medium roast. Nonetheless, mild roasted coffees must be averted as they are usually overpowered by the sweetness of the condensed milk.
What You’ll Want
- Vietnamese Espresso Filter
- Floor espresso
- Sweetened Condensed Milk
- Spoon
- Glass or mug
- Ice
- (non-obligatory) fish sauce and a toothpick
Vietnamese Espresso Filter Set
#1 Add Condensed Milk to Glass
You don’t want a lot, as condensed milk may be very candy. Begin with simply sufficient to cowl the underside, perhaps 1/3 of an inch (~1 cm). You possibly can at all times add extra condensed milk later. Don’t add the ice but. That’s the final step.
#2 Take away the High Display screen of the Filter
The espresso will go beneath the highest display screen, so take away it earlier than including espresso.
#3 Add Floor Espresso to Filter
Add one rounded tablespoon of floor espresso. There are numerous opinions on the very best grind stage. Every thing from french press coarse to espresso nice. How tight the filter is screwed on can even play a job. A medium grind is an effective place to begin.
Some variations of this recipe use chicory. That is non-obligatory. You may use a espresso similar to Cafe du Monde, which has chicory in it or you could possibly add it your self. If you happen to combine in chicory your self, you don’t want greater than 1/2 a teaspoon.
#4 Cowl with High Filter
Screw the highest filter till it’s cosy. If you happen to determined to make use of a rough grind, you might have to go a bit of tighter. Extra on that beneath.
#5 Set Brewer Over Glass with Stand
The benefit of brewing in a glass as an alternative of a mug is you may watch the brewing happen.
#6 Add Sizzling Water
Fill the Vietnamese Espresso Filter with sizzling water. I often take water to boil after which let it cool for about 30 seconds earlier than pouring.
The water ought to take between 4 and 5 minutes to go by way of the filter. If it goes too quick, you may both tighten the highest filter or use a much less coarse grind. If it goes too gradual, both the grind is just too nice or the filter is screwed in too tight.
There may be additionally a lid you may place on high of the filter. I don’t use it. I desire to watch the progress of the brew so I do know if I have to make changes to the grind or regulate the tightness of the highest filter.
#7 Anticipate Brew to Full
The simplest half. Simply anticipate the water to go by way of the filter. For the primary few brews, use a timer. The espresso will drip by way of the filter. Goal for between 4 and 5 minutes. See the recommendation in Step #6 if you’re outdoors that vary.
Discover how the espresso layers on high of the condensed milk.
#8 Combine the Espresso and Condensed Milk
Stir the condensed milk into the brewed espresso. Some recipes name for including extra sugar. I discovered the drink candy sufficient, however let your palate be your choose.
#9 (non-obligatory) Add Fish Sauce
Some locations in Vietnam will soak the top of a toothpick with fish sauce and stir it into the espresso. I consider the explanation for doing that is {that a} small quantity of salt or salty taste has been identified to chop the bitterness. Darker roasted espresso, particularly French Roast, tends to be extra bitter. So by including only a tiny quantity of fish sauce which occurs to be salty, the closely roasted espresso can style smoother. If the espresso you might be utilizing isn’t a darkish roast, I’d skip this step.
#10 Serve With Ice
Combine the ice into the drink and luxuriate in!
Assets
Vietnamese Iced Espresso Brewing Tutorial by Inanimate Objects – Comedian model of this tutorial.
Condensed Milk – A Wikipedia web page describing how condensed milk is made utilizing steam and sugar so it stays shelf-stable for years.
Vietnamese Iced Espresso – Wikipedia web page.
Title Photograph by Lee Aik Quickly.
Brewing images by Joseph Robertson of Extracted Journal, a digital espresso journal printed for iOS and Android.
