Step 1: Gather the ingredients

To make a cup of Vietnamese coffee, you will need:

– Freshly ground dark roast coffee (preferably Vietnamese beans)

– Sweetened condensed milk

– Boiling water

– Ice (optional, if you want an iced version)

Step 2: Prepare the equipment

You will need a Vietnamese coffee filter called a “phin” and a heatproof glass or mug.

Step 3: Preheat the phin and glass

Pour some hot water into the glass and let it sit for a minute, then empty it. Place the phin on top of the glass.

Step 4: Add sweetened condensed milk

Pour about 1-2 tablespoons of sweetened condensed milk into the bottom of your glass.

Step 5: Insert coffee grounds into phin

Add about 2 tablespoons of freshly ground coffee into the phin’s chamber.

Step 6: Tamp down coffee grounds

Press down firmly on the coffee grounds using your phin’s tamper to ensure even extraction during brewing.

Step 7: Wet the coffee grounds

Pour just enough hot water over the coffee grounds to wet them. Wait for about 20 seconds before proceeding. This allows the coffee to bloom (expand) and release its full flavor potential.

Step 8: Brew your coffee

Fill up your phin with hot water. The water should flow slowly through the coffee grounds as it filters into your glass containing sweetened condensed milk.

Step 9: Cover and wait

Place the lid on your phin and wait for anywhere from three to five minutes for all the water to filter through. You can watch it drip slowly, forming dark, rich layers of aromatic Vietnamese coffee in your glass.

Step 10: Remove phin and stir

Once all the water has filtered through, carefully remove your phin from the glass to avoid any remnants ruining your coffee. Stir vigorously to dissolve the sweetened condensed milk and combine it with the coffee.

Step 11 (optional): Add ice for iced coffee

If you prefer to enjoy your Vietnamese coffee cold, add a generous amount of ice cubes into the glass and stir to create an iced version.

Step 12: Taste and Enjoy!

Sip and savor your delicious homemade Vietnamese coffee, enjoying the smooth marriage of the dark roast’s earthy richness and the sweetness from the condensed milk. Adjust taste by adding more condensed milk or coffee according to personal preference.