Vietnamese coffee and cafe culture
One of the most striking things walking the streets of Hanoi, as I have been doing the past few days, is Vietnam’s cafe culture. The French pride themselves on their cafe culture, but they have nothing on the Vietnamese.
Streets seem to be lined with cafes full of locals lounging around and enjoying a chat. Given the strength of Vietnamese coffee, it is perhaps wise that they take their time. Vietnamese and Turkish coffee are both known for being the strongest in the world.
During a coffee “workshop” that I attended at the Su Quan Roastery, I also learnt that Vietnam ranks second in the world for both coffee production and exports, coming in after Brazil. Vietnam exports a significant portion of its production to the United States, Japan, and Australia.
Vietnam mainly grows Robusta coffee beans rather than Arabica, and is the world leader for Robusta. Arabica is smoother and sweeter while Robusta is infamous for its bitter and traditional “coffee” flavor
The first coffee tree, an Arabica variety, was brought to Vietnam by a French priest in 1857. Coffee production was significantly disrupted by the Vietnam War (1955-75). Then economic reforms from 1986 led to a massive increase in coffee production and modernization of the sector.
Coffee in Vietnam is primarily grown in the Central Highlands region, particularly in provinces like Dak Lak (Vietnam’s coffee capital), Lam Dong, and Dak Nong. Vietnam’s tropical monsoon climate and nutrient-rich basalt soil are ideal for growing both Robusta and Arabica coffee.
Vietnam outdoes the rest of the world when it comes to coffee creations. There are:
Iced Milk Coffee – a very popular drink made by dripping hot coffee through a phin filter into a glass with sweetened condensed milk and ice.
Black Coffee – a simple black coffee made by dripping hot water through the phin filter into a cup. It can be served hot or cold with ice.
Egg Coffee – a rich, custard-like drink made with a blend of egg yolks, sugar, and condensed milk, which creates a foamy topping for strong black coffee.
Coconut Coffee – a refreshing and sweet drink made by blending coffee with coconut milk.
Salt Coffee – a drink with a savory and sweet profile, made by adding a creamy, salted milk foam on top of strong black coffee.