Vietnamese-style iced espresso (ca phe sua da or cà phê sữa đá) is tremendous simple to make and all you want is a chrome steel filter that prices round $7 USD on-line. In case you stay in a metropolis with a Vietnamese grocery retailer, you’ll seemingly discover them even cheaper.
Vietnamese espresso may be served scorching, 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 advantageous to make use of a medium roast. Nonetheless, gentle roasted coffees ought to 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 all the time add extra condensed milk later. Don’t add the ice but. That’s the final step.
#2 Take away the Prime 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 perfect grind stage. Every little thing from french press coarse to espresso advantageous. How tight the filter is screwed on will even play a task. A medium grind is an effective place to start out.
Some variations of this recipe use chicory. That is non-obligatory. You may use a espresso reminiscent of Cafe du Monde, which has chicory in it or you can add it your self. In case you combine in chicory your self, you don’t want greater than 1/2 a teaspoon.
#4 Cowl with Prime Filter
Screw the highest filter till it’s cosy. In case you determined to make use of a rough grind, it’s possible you’ll have to go slightly tighter. Extra on that beneath.
#5 Set Brewer Over Glass with Stand
The benefit of brewing in a glass as a substitute of a mug is you’ll be able to watch the brewing happen.
#6 Add Scorching Water
Fill the Vietnamese Espresso Filter with scorching water. I normally 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 move via the filter. If it goes too quick, you’ll be able to both tighten the highest filter or use a much less coarse grind. If it goes too sluggish, both the grind is simply too advantageous or the filter is screwed in too tight.
There’s additionally a lid you’ll be able to place on prime of the filter. I don’t use it. I choose 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 watch for the water to move via the filter. For the primary few brews, use a timer. The espresso will drip via the filter. Purpose for between 4 and 5 minutes. See the recommendation in Step #6 in case you are outdoors that vary.
Discover how the espresso layers on prime of the condensed milk.
#8 Combine the Espresso and Condensed Milk
Stir the condensed milk into the brewed espresso. Some recipes name for including further 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 imagine the rationale for doing that is {that a} small quantity of salt or salty taste has been recognized 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 just isn’t a darkish roast, I’d skip this step.
#10 Serve With Ice
Combine the ice into the drink and luxuriate in!
Sources
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 Picture by Lee Aik Quickly.
Brewing pictures by Joseph Robertson of Extracted Journal, a digital espresso journal printed for iOS and Android.
