I didn’t even know that egg coffee was a thing until I came to Vietnam. Initially, I assumed it was all an elaborate trick done by my friend who loves to take advantage of my gullibility from time to time, so I turned to Google, thinking I’d be able to laugh in his face for his failed attempt at making a fool out of me. It backfired. To be honest, I don’t even know why I thought the concept of egg coffee was so absurd, considering all the weird food I’ve seen and tried in Asia. So yes, egg coffee IS a thing and here’s an all-you-need-to-know article about egg coffee and all that it entails.
Contents
Where & Why is Egg Coffee a ‘Thing’?
Egg coffee is popular not just in Vietnam but also in other countries such as Sri Lanka and Cuba. It is quite popular in Scandinavian countries too.
In Norway and Sweden in particular, people add eggs to their coffee to change the taste and the look of the coffee. What happens is that the proteins in the egg bind with the bitter-tasting polyphenols in the coffee to form insoluble complexes that will precipitate, which will then be filtered out. Once that is done, the resulting coffee will look clearer and taste milder and smoother. Should’ve paid attention to your Organic Chemistry classes in high-school. For more information on the mechanism, you can click-through to here.
Benefits of Egg Coffee
Cracking an egg in your coffee comes with some benefits to your health. Of course, coffee alone is famous for boosting your metabolism, boosting your energy levels, and protecting you against certain diseases. But what happens when you add just one more ingredient?
Eggs are an incredible source of micronutrients – they contain everything necessary to build a baby bird from scratch. I’m not calling you a baby bird, but that’s something right? The yolks that are used in the coffee (you’ll see below that the whites are discarded) are rich in Vitamins A, D, E, and K, among necessary dietary minerals and antioxidants. Eggs also have beneficial effects on one’s cardiovascular health, metabolic health, and one’s memory and cognitive functions. These are to name a few. You can read more here.
Vietnamese Egg Coffee
In contrast to Scandinavian egg coffee, Vietnamese egg coffee is neither mild nor smooth. Here’s a fun fact: Vietnam is actually the 2nd largest exporter of coffee in the world. Coffee is not just a drink here – it’s a way of life. Numerous coffee shops and stalls decorate almost every street corner. No matter the time of the day, you will find at least one contended soul sitting on a little child-sized seat on the pavement, sipping a tall glass of ca phe sua da which directly translates to iced coffee with milk.
Coffee is not just a drink here – it’s a way of life.
The coffee bean was initially introduced to Vietnam by the French, but planting the colonial seedlings was all they did. Since then the Vietnamese have completely made it their own. Most of the coffee plantations of the country are in the hills of Daklak, Gia Lai and Da Lat, all located in Southern Vietnam’s Central Highlands. Not only does the cool microclimate of these mountainous cities create the perfect conditions for the coffee plant to thrive but it also gives the bean a unique taste.
What never ceases to amaze me about Vietnamese coffee culture is that unlike in the west, where coffee is had in the morning to wake up a slow brain, or later in the day with the purpose of wanting to continue being awake, coffee to the locals is not solely a morning thing. In fact, it appears that coffee shops here are actually mostly active in the evenings. To the Vietnamese, having a coffee is also a “sit down” experience they share with family, friends or coworkers. The concept of taking it “to go” is not very common.
How Vietnamese Coffee (Ca phe sua da) is Made
Ca phe sua da mentioned earlier is what you are most likely to come across everywhere. The brew is made using a traditional filter system called a “phin“. This phin filter is filled up half way with medium ground Vietnamese coffee, and then boiling water is simply added to the top. The two mix and slowly trickle down, drop by drop through the filter, and into a glass that is lined with condensed milk. To this, ice is added. The resulting coffee is not only light but sweet and rather thick too. An interesting note: This habit of using condensed milk came about during the French War as there was a shortage of fresh milk during this time. For more information on how to brew a cup of ca phe sua da, refer to this article: How to Brew The Perfect Cup of Vietnamese Coffee.
The habit of using condensed milk came about during the French War as there was a shortage of fresh milk during this time.
Vietnamese egg coffee, “ca phe trung“, is only slightly different when it comes to the ingredients and preparation. The only addition to this cuppa is a whisked-up egg yolk.
History of Vietnamese Egg Coffee (Hanoi)
My first try was at a café in Hanoi, of which I do not remember the name and even though initially there was a bit of an ick factor, I soon got over it. I had to drink a second cup. The only way I can really describe it is that it tasted like a foamy tiramisu crème brulee.
It was then casually recommended to me that I try the egg coffee served at Café Giang in 39 Nguyen Huu Huan. It was a masterpiece – absolutely delicious, and only later did I find out that it was here in 1946 that the first egg coffee of Vietnam originated, created by the founder of the café, Nguyen Giang. He didn’t mean to make it a thing, but apparently one day instead of using milk which was scarce at the time, Mr. Giang had whisked in an egg yolk as a substitute and the rest is history.
The only way I can really describe it is that it tasted like a foamy tiramisu crème brulee.
The recipe however only got popular in the 80s with the advent of the blender. Prior to that, the drink was just too eggy in flavor. That sounds kinda gross. It is also worth mentioning that the egg coffee here is way better than any others I’ve come across since, but this is because of a secret recipe used that is not told to anyone, no matter how much money you try to bribe them with. Not that I tried
More Places to Have a Tasty Cup of Egg Coffee in Hanoi
Besides the famous Giang, you can try these other egg coffee cafes in Hanoi:
- Cafe Dinh: 13 Dinh Tien Hoang, Hoan Kiem
- Loading T: 2nd floor, 8 Chan Cam, Hoan Kiem
- Oriberry: four branches
21 Xuan Dieu, Tay Ho
23-25 Dang Tien Dong, Dong Da
36 Au Trieu, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
1 Pham Su Manh, Hoan Kiem - Hanoi Social Club: 6 Hoi Vu, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Vietnamese Egg Coffee Recipe
So, since I wasn’t able to get my hands on the secret recipe, here is a not-so-secret recipe you can try out:
Ingredients of Egg Coffee
- Vietnamese Phin filter
- Medium ground Robusta coffee
- Condensed milk
- Egg
- Boiling water
How to Make Egg Coffee
Step 1: Brew a small cup of Vietnamese Phin coffee as mentioned above (but without the condensed milk and ice)
Step 2: Crack an egg and discard the whites
Step 3: Put the yolk, 3 tablespoons of sweetened condensed milk and a spoon of the brewed coffee in a bowl. Whisk vigorously until you end up with a fluffy mixture. You may use a blender if you wish.
Step 4: Pour your brewed coffee into a nice glass and then line it up with the frothy egg on the top.
Step 5: When you are ready to drink, use a spoon to mix the rich, creamy, custard-like top layer of froth into the dark, bold and rich coffee that lies beneath. Then repeat the whole process again for your second cup.
There’s another way to make egg coffee. You just mix the egg directly into the brew with a little bit of milk and then whisk it. This is how you will find your drink in Da Lat and it is definitely worth a try. Your coffee will arrive at your table with a burner to keep it hot as you drink. If the mixture cools down, it will begin to smell unpleasant. That’s kinda gross, huh?
Note: Of course you can experiment with the recipe. Perhaps a little bit of cinnamon, vanilla, turmeric, rum (yes, I went there) or even cheese.
Vietnamese Egg Coffee in Saigon
In Ho Chi Minh, cafes started serving Ca Phe Trung only since a couple of years ago – from about 2014. The most famous joint to get your hands on one of these is The Luu Gia Café at 08 Hoa Cuc, in the Phu Nhuan district of Ho Chi Minh. Over here you will find your egg coffee served Hanoi-style.
Other cafes include:
– The Note Coffee (183 Bui Vien)
– Coffee & Tea Corner Hanoi (165 Bui Vien)
– Cafe Trung (1006 Truong Sa Street, Quan 3, HCMC)
So how ‘bout it? Why don’t you give it a go and let me know what you think in the comments?
Read more of our coffee-related articles:
The Best Eco-Friendly Coffee Tours in Da Lat
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