Copper Cow makes Vietnamese espresso accessible with out compromising authenticity.
BY EMILY JOY MENESES
BARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE
Featured photograph by Emily Pleasure Meneses
In Vietnam, espresso is an integral a part of the tradition, with the crop rising in a number of areas throughout the nation. Espresso outlets line the streets of main cities like Hanoi and Saigon. As we speak, we’re take a look at driving Copper Cow’s fashionable ode to the Southeast Asian nation’s famed drink: single-serve pourover Vietnamese espresso, which they’ve obtainable in quite a lot of flavors.
Copper Cow & Vietnamese Espresso
Conventional Vietnamese espresso is brewed on a slow-drip phin filter, which is usually manufactured from steel or ceramic. Robusta beans, that are broadly obtainable within the Southeast Asian nation and supply a daring, smoky taste, are normally used. The brewed espresso is sweetened with condensed milk and could be served sizzling or over ice.
Copper Cow, based by Vietnamese American Debbie Wei Mullin, is a web based retailer devoted to creating high-quality Vietnamese espresso extra accessible to dwelling brewers worldwide. The corporate even loved a stint on Shark Tank in 2021. Copper Cow has since develop into obtainable throughout the USA in markets like Complete Meals and Sprouts. Notably, the store can be devoted to selling the welfare of Vietnamese espresso farmers and their homelands, paying espresso producers double the market value whereas serving to them transition to natural farming strategies.
Single-Serve Pourover Sachets: An Overview
Copper Cow’s single-serve pourovers are pre-filled sachets of espresso sourced instantly from Vietnam, with a combination of robusta and arabica, and are supposed to present a contemporary tackle the normal phin filter methodology. Each takes about solely 90 seconds to brew, and optionally, you’ll be able to order yours with Copper Cow’s single-serve espresso creamer packets. The sachets are additionally obtainable in quite a lot of flavors: Basic, Lavender, Churro, Vanilla, and Salted Caramel. There may be additionally a decaf possibility.
The Take a look at Drive
As we speak, we’re take a look at driving Copper Cow’s “Finest Brews Sampler,” which incorporates one sachet of every of their 5 pourover flavors together with 5 of their single-serve creamers, that are made the normal Vietnamese approach with condensed milk— offering a pleasant stability to the robust, deep taste of Vietnamese espresso beans.
I began out my take a look at by brewing the Basic alongside the Lavender taste. Setup was very straight-forward, and the sachets had been actually steady in every cup. As soon as I poured sizzling water into every sachet, the brew was tremendous fast—but every sachet yielded numerous taste. I first tried every espresso with out the creamer, they usually had been easy and well-balanced, with the Lavender taste having a very pretty mild floral perfume. The Basic taste had the darkish, smoky profile attribute of Vietnamese espresso; nevertheless, it wasn’t too overpowering.
I used to be a bit of nervous that as a result of the espresso itself was a bit delicate, the flavour of it would get drowned out by the condensed milk creamer. Nevertheless, I used to be pleasantly shocked that the creamer as an alternative introduced out the tasting notes of every espresso much more.
I went on to pattern the Churro, Vanilla, and Salted Caramel flavors, all of which had been nice! Not one of the flavors was overly candy. Despite the fact that these flavors aren’t a traditional a part of conventional Vietnamese espresso, I discovered that they nonetheless held as much as the espresso that I attempted throughout my travels in Vietnam.
Getting Artistic
Copper Cow additionally shares the flexibility of their espresso creamer, which can be utilized in a number of methods. “As a result of it doesn’t have to be refrigerated and is available in handy single-serving packets, our all pure Creamers are insanely versatile,” the corporate shares on their web site. On their weblog, you will discover quite a lot of methods to make use of their creamers, together with including them to smoothies and utilizing them to high your toast or fruit.
To vary issues up, you can too flip your single-serve espresso into iced espresso by merely pouring your brew over a cup of ice. I attempted this with the Lavender taste and located that it nonetheless retained numerous taste and didn’t get too watered down. Nevertheless, in the event you want your espresso to be stronger, you’ll be able to all the time use much less sizzling water whereas brewing.
The Takeaway
Should you don’t have a phin filter and need to strive your hand at home-brewing Vietnamese espresso, I extremely suggest Copper Cow’s single-serve pourover espresso. I actually respect that the espresso is ethically sourced from Vietnam and roasted to convey out numerous the deep, smoky flavors you search for in Vietnamese espresso whereas nonetheless staying easy and well-balanced. The sampler field is nice for individuals who prefer to have one thing totally different each day, and it additionally makes a fantastic reward.
Having tried numerous Vietnamese espresso from many various locations over time, I’ve come to be fairly choosy about it. For my part, these pourovers do a fantastic job of creating the beverage easy-to-brew with out compromising style or authenticity.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Emily Pleasure Meneses (she/they) is a author and musician based mostly in Los Angeles. Her hobbies embody foraging, cortados, classic synths, and connecting together with her Filipino roots by music, artwork, meals, and beverage.
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