Iced Coffee The Vietnamese Way
When the cravings hit again...
It's hot. It's sunny. It's the peak of summer. It is about time to finally treat yourself with plenty of iced drinks if you haven't so far.
This is what's almost the best about this season: adding ice cubes to all the fancy and sexy drinks - we gotta stay hydrated, right? I'm here for it every season. I love my iced coffee, but I also love to experiment with flavors plus trying the latest trends.
Something I have been skipping for too long was one drink I would love to share with you today. Vietnamese iced coffee.
We learn a lot about coffee here, ha, not only because I am a coffee freak, but also because you can create so much with it! It's one of the things which can seduce your mind, body, and soul. We studied Japanese brewing techniques already and today feels tropical and it's the best excuse to fly to Vietnam inside our heads. Let's make Vietnamese iced coffee and fall in love with a coffee which needs to be highlighted more!
VIETNAMESE ICED COFFEE
YOU NEED 2 tablespoons dark-roast, very strong coffee (get the original blend and enjoy an authentic Vietnamese coffee with Trung Nguyen Premium Blend) + 2 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk + 2/3 Cups water + plenty of ice
1. Traditionally, the coffee in Vietnam is being brewed through a metal filter which you put above your cup. The coffee is slowly dripping through the filter into a cup with the bottom covered with thick and shiny condensed milk. If you don't have this type of filter, no worries - brew your coffee however you want to. Your equipment decides this process.
2. Once your coffee is brewed, prepare your glass or favorite cup for your iced coffee session. Fill about half of the glass with ice cubes.
3. Add the condensed milk and at the very end pour in the coffee.
4. It's beautiful to watch the luscious condensed milk at the bottom dive below the coffee before you take your straw or spoon to blend both liquids well.
5. Let it sit for a minute, so that the whole beverage is able to become very cool.
6. Sip, sip, slurp - enjoy it!
Et voilà - it's actually not that hard to create a Vietnamese coffee session at home! It might not be 100% like in Vietnam - depending on our equipment and even coffee we use, but it's about experimenting and experiencing condensed milk with coffee.
At first, my ears were more than against condensed milk plus coffee. But after making my first Vietnamese coffee dream, I am more than in love with this.
Imagine a caramel-ish latte - something really rich with a strong coffee flavor. This is how I would describe Vietnamese coffee to anyone. The condensed milk gives a beautiful rich and sweet flavor, so if you are into sweet coffee drinks, this will be definitely your summer drink. Just have in mind that you don't sweeten your coffee - trust me, the condensed milk does all the work for you.
Time to take a deep breath, slurp this beautiful drink, and just enjoy every aspect of summer.
*Boys and girls, write down the new vocabulary you have learned today: Kondensmilch — condensed milk.
GERMAN LESSON #41