Cà Phê Sữa Đá

Fact: It is easy to buy a cup of cà phê sữa đá on the street with a very affordable price, which is from 15,000 to 20,000 VND (around 0.6 to 0.8 USD).

Cà Phê Sữa Đá: Basic Information

Pronunciation

Kah-feh soo-ah dah

Alternative Name(s)

Nâu đá (in the Northern region)

Drink Type

Cold non-alcoholic beverages

Mealtime

Anytime

Popular Variations

No

Cà Phê Sữa Đá: Origin and Region

Origin

Vietnam

Continent’s Region

Southeast Asia

Country’s Region

Nationwide Origin

Associated Region

Unspecified

Cà phê sữa đá is a popular beverage in Vietnam, traditionally made by brewing coffee in a phin filter (a Vietnamese-style filter) and condensed milk, served with ice.

This drink is common in Saigon because of the hot and humid climate in Southern Vietnam. As a sign of hospitality, coffee shops in Saigon often offer complimentary iced tea (trà đá) with unlimited refills.

Cà phê sữa đá popularity has spread to the Northern region, where it is called nâu đá. The term “nâu đá” describes the color of this drink, which is brown (as “nâu” in Vietnamese), and đá is ice.

Besides cà phê sữa đá, cà phê đá (iced coffee) is also a common choice across the country.

Besides, I’ll offer you information about cà phê sữa đá history, guide you through the steps to prepare it and discuss its benefits and drawbacks.

You’ll learn how to differentiate cà phê sữa đá from bạc xỉu to ensure your coffee order is correct. Finally, don’t miss the FAQs and a list of beverages similar to cà phê sữa đá. Check it out now!

Cà Phê Sữa Đá Images

Remove the filter before enjoying Vietnamese iced coffee with condensed milk.

A cup of cà phê sữa đá served with bánh mì, a famous Vietnamese sandwich.

Pour more condensed milk to cà phê sữa đá for a sweeter taste.

Pour hot water to the filter and brew coffee and make cà phê sữa đá.

A cup of cà phê sữa đá and a coffee filter.

What Is the History of Cà Phê Sữa Đá?

Cà phê sữa đá has a history that is associated with Vietnam’s coffee culture and colonial past. Coffee was first introduced to Vietnam in 1857 by the French during their colonization.

Initially, the French and Vietnamese drank hot coffee, but over time, especially in the hotter southern regions, the iced variation became popular. What makes cà phê sữa đá stand out is the use of sweetened condensed milk, which was a substitute for fresh milk that was scarce and expensive in Vietnam in the past.

After learning the history of cà phê sữa đá, you might want to know how Vietnamese make this iconic drink, right? So continue reading for more details.

How To Prepare Cà Phê Sữa Đá Like Locals?

With four simple steps as below, cà phê sữa đá will be your new favorite beverage because of its simplicity.

Step 1: Preparing Ingredients and Filter

Pour condensed milk into a glass. Then place a coffee filter on the top of the glass.

Step 2: Adding Coffee

Add ground coffee to the filter, then pour a bit of hot water to let it brew. Let the coffee slowly drip into the glass.

Step 3: Mixing Coffee and Condensed Milk

Once the coffee is fully dropped, remove the filter and stir well to mix the milk and coffee.

Step 4: Add Ice

Add ice to the glass and enjoy. You can skip this step if you prefer to enjoy the beverage hot.

Next, let’s explore the advantages and drawbacks of this Vietnamese coffee drink with condensed milk.

Pros and Cons of Drinking Cà Phê Sữa Đá

Refer to the table to have a comprehensive view of cà phê sữa đá in terms of its pros and cons.

Though it is a class coffee drink in Vietnamese, many foreigners might mistake cà phê sữa đá for another famous coffee in the country, which is bạc xỉu. So how do they differ from each other?

What Are the Differences between Cà Phê Sữa Đá and Bạc Xỉu?

In fact, it is easy to distinguish cà phê sữa đá and bạc xỉu, which are both loved coffee choices in Vietnam. Here are five main features to compare these two.

Cà Phê Sữa Đá

Main Ingredients: Vietnamese coffee and sweetened condensed milk
Flavor Profile: Strong, robust coffee flavor balanced with sweetness
Color: Dark brown
Serving Style: Often served cold over ice
Popularity: Popular throughout Vietnam

Bạc Xỉu

Main Ingredients: Coffee and a higher ratio of sweetened condensed milk
Flavor Profile: Milder in coffee flavor, sweeter, creamier due to more milk
Color: Light brown
Serving Style: Can be served hot or cold
Popularity: More popular in Southern Vietnam

Next, don’t miss out on the upcoming section where I’ll cover frequently asked questions about cà phê sữa đá.

Cà Phê Sữa Đá FAQs

Cà Phê Đá

Cà phê đá is a strong Vietnamese iced coffee known for its robust and bitter flavor due to Robusta beans.

Bạc Xỉu

Bạc xỉu is a sweet Vietnamese coffee due to it contains more milk than coffee.

Cà Phê Trứng

Cà phê trứng is a Vietnamese coffee topped with a creamy, sweet blend of egg yolk and condensed milk froth.

Cà Phê Cốt Dừa

Cà phê cốt dừa is a Vietnamese beverage made with coffee, coconut milk, and condensed milk.

Cà Phê Muối (or Cà Phê Kem Mặn)

Cà phê muối is a special Vietnamese coffee-based beverage with salted cream froth topping.

Cà Phê Bơ

Cà phê bơ is a creamy Vietnamese beverage made with ripe avocado and coffee and sweetened with condensed milk.

Cà Phê Lá Dứa

Cà phê lá dứa is a Vietnamese beverage consisting of coffee and pandan flavor.

Sinh Tố Cà Phê

Sinh tố cà phê is a blended drink of Vietnam made with coffee, condensed milk, ice, and optional components like ice cream.

Sữa Chua Cà Phê

Sữa chua cà phê is a Vietnamese creamy and tart beverage made with coffee, yogurt, and condensed milk.