Vietnamese Egg Coffee Made Easy in 3 Simple Steps
“Coffee with raw egg? Are you serious?” That sounds odd, but Vietnamese egg coffee is a real thing!
Many travelers raise their eyebrows when they learn that something called “egg coffee” actually exists. The name has sparked curiosity, and many have tried it, only to fall in love with its flavor after the first sip.
This post will share everything about the iconic Vietnamese egg coffee, how it came to be, and an easy yet delicious recipe to make it at home.
What is Vietnamese Egg Coffee?
Vietnamese Egg Coffee, aka “cà phê trứng” is a unique beverage from Hanoi, Vietnam that combines coffee with raw egg yolk, sugar or condensed milk to create a creamy and rich drink.
The egg yolk is whipped with either sugar or condensed milk and a bit of cinnamon powder or vanilla extract until it becomes light and fluffy then mixed with the strong coffee for a distinct flavor profile.
You can choose between hot egg coffee and iced egg coffee. However, the hot version is more popular because Vietnamese people believe it better clears the distinct smell of egg and preserves the desired consistency of the egg foam.
Some coffee shops even serve egg coffee with a small candle placed under the cup to keep it warm for longer.
How to Enjoy Vietnamese Egg Coffee?
Unlike Vietnamese salted coffee, which only requires mixing the salted foam with coffee to enjoy, egg coffee has a distinct way of being savored.
To properly enjoy Vietnamese egg coffee, taste the egg custard first to savor its creamy, rich texture. Then, stir well to mix the coffee with the egg. Take a sip and experience the robust combination of sweet, thick, eggy, creamy, and bitter flavors.
Regarding safety concerns, some may wonder if it’s safe to drink coffee with eggs. Vietnamese egg coffee is completely safe to drink. The eggs are thoroughly beaten, then cooked in hot coffee which minimizes the risk of food poisoning.
Additionally, adding egg to the coffee increases the nutritional value of Vietnamese egg coffee due to the healthy fats and protein found in the egg yolk.
Looking to discover the outstanding cuisine of Hanoi? Let our besties take you to enjoy the best egg coffee in town and other delicious local dishes, dive into fascinating stories of local history and eating habits, and watch a fascinating egg coffee demonstration.
The Origin of Vietnamese Egg Coffee
The history of Vietnamese egg coffee is a fascinating story that dates back to the 1940s in Hanoi, Vietnam. During this French colonial period, the country was experiencing a milk shortage.
Nguyen Van Giang, a barista at the 5-star Sofitel Legend Metropole Hotel, innovatively used egg yolks as a creamy substitute for milk. The result was a rich and smooth coffee that quickly became a local favorite.
Little did he know that the locals would embrace this drink so much that in 1946, Nguyen Van Giang quit his job and opened his own coffee shop called Cafe Giang, where Vietnamese egg coffee was born.
Starting as a small coffee shop, after nearly 80 years, Giang’s children inherited his recipe and opened other branches of Cafe Giang.
The most famous branch is located in a hidden alley at 39 Nguyen Huu Huan, run by Hoa, one of Giang’s sons, who still serves egg coffee using the authentic ingredients his father left.
Apart from egg coffee, Hoa also develops other egg-based drink variations, such as egg beer, egg rum, egg matcha, and egg cocoa.
Want to sample another unique type of Vietnamese coffee? Give Vietnamese coconut coffee a try and you can’t go wrong with it!
How to Make Egg Coffee – Cà Phê Trứng Recipe
The Vietnamese egg coffee recipe is fairly simple with two main ingredients: coffee and egg. However, since egg has a distinct smell, if not handled well, the entire drink can go off.
Follow this easy-to-make cà phê trứng recipe and it will take you 15 minutes to make a yummy version at home. Let’s roll up our sleeves and create it!
Vietnamese Egg Coffee Ingredients
- 2 egg yolks
- 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
- 1 teaspoon of cinnamon powder. If you don’t like cinnamon, you can use pure vanilla extract
- 3 tablespoons of finely ground Vietnamese coffee
- 100ml of hot water
- Cocoa powder (optional)
The tools needed include an electric wire whisk, a Vietnamese Phin filter, a cup, a teaspoon, and two bowls.
3 Simple Steps to Make Egg Coffee
Now, move on to the making process. Let’s brew the coffee first. While you wait for the coffee, you can make the egg cream.
Step 1: Make the coffee with a Vietnamese Phin filter
- Add Vietnamese coffee powder to the phin filter and press it down firmly.
- Place the phin filter over a cup.
- Pour 40 ml of hot water into the filter, just enough to wet the coffee and allow it to bloom for 1 to 2 minutes.
- Pour in the remaining water and let the coffee drip into the cup.
Step 2: Make the egg foam
- Put the egg yolks, condensed milk, cinnamon powder, or vanilla extract into a bowl.
- Beat the mixture well with an electric whisk for about 5 minutes until it becomes thick and foamy.
Step 3: Assemble the drink and ready to serve
- Get a bowl and place your coffee cup in it. Pour boiling water into the bowl around the cup to heat the coffee.
- Pour the egg custard over the coffee. The hot coffee will cook the egg.
- Sprinkle some cocoa powder on top for decoration and aroma.
- Enjoy your egg coffee!
Best Egg Coffee Near Me
Since egg coffee is originally from Hanoi, when you visit the city, don’t miss out on the chance to try the egg coffee here. Some coffee shops serving nice egg coffee in Hanoi are:
- Cafe Giang – 39 Nguyen Huu Huan
- Cafe Đinh – 13 Đinh Tien Hoang
- The Note Coffee – 64 Luong Van Can
- Hanoi Coffee Culture – 45 Nguyen Huu Huan
In Hoi An, you can find egg coffee at:
- Phin Coffee Restaurant – 132/7 Tran Phu
- Little Hanoi Egg Coffee (Hoi An) – 18 Phan Boi Chau
In Ho Chi Minh City, popular coffee shops that serve good egg coffee are:
- Little Hanoi Egg Coffee (Yersin) – 119/5 Yersin
- Little Hanoi Egg Coffee (Le Lai) – 212 Le Lai
- Tonkin Garden Egg Coffee & Eatery – 135/50 Tran Hung Dao
Make Your Own Vietnamese Egg Coffee!
This post has shown you the origin and three easy steps to make Vietnamese egg coffee. Now you can make it and enjoy it at home.
Are there any Vietnamese specialties you wish we would cover? Please comment below.
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Frequently Ask Questions
Hot egg coffee vs iced egg coffee, which is better?
It’s recommended to enjoy egg coffee while it’s hot because the heat diminishes the distinct smell of egg and maintains the desired consistency of the egg foam.
Can you make egg coffee without condensed milk?
Yes, you can. If you can’t consume dairy products, you can use sugar as an alternative. The flavor is just as nice as when you use condensed milk.
Where to get the best egg coffee in Hanoi?
There are so many coffee shops serving egg coffee in Hanoi. You can enjoy egg coffee at Cafe Giang and Cafe Đinh two well-established and authentic coffee shops famous for their egg coffee.
