This Vietnamese Coconut Coffee (Cà Phê Dừa) is another delicious take on coconut coffee in Vietnam. While the more popular slushy version requires a high-speed blender, this version is easier to make and just as tasty.
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Vietnam’s Coffee Craze: More Than a Drink
Coffee is a culinary heritage from France introduced to Vietnam during colonization. Along with coffee, we also have Bánh Mì Sandwich, Pâté Chaud (bánh Pa tê sô), Crab Asparagus Soup (súp măng cua), all are delicious French-Vietnamese fusion foods.
Today, traditional Vietnamese iced coffee (cà phê sữa đá) has evolved with local ingredients to create many delicious drinks, such as:
There’s also yogurt coffee, pandan coffee, and many more.
Similar to how ube is cherished in the Philippines and matcha in Japan, coffee and pandan are beloved flavors in Vietnamese desserts.
In addition to the diverse range of coffee drinks, we drizzle coffee over flan, incorporate it into ice cream or blend it into coffee milkshakes.
Coconut Coffee (Cà Phê Dừa or Cà Phê Cốt Dừa) is another beloved drink among Vietnamese youngsters and tourists.
The more popular version of Cà Phê Dừa is created by Cộng Cà Phê (a popular coffee chain in Vietnam). It’s actually coffee served with coconut slushy, giving a refreshing vibe, especially in the heat of summer.
At home, this coconut coffee version is far easier to prepare. It’s versatile, served hot or cold, and doesn’t demand a blender—all you need is the traditional Phin filter or Vietnamese instant coffee works just as well.
Ingredients
- Vietnamese coffee (ground or instant): I have a collection of decent Vietnamese coffee brands (the ones in Vietnam). Outside Vietnam, Trung Nguyên is the most accessible yet decent brand so far. Coffee is always a great souvenir during your Vietnam trip.
- As a last resort, you could use espresso.
- Coconut milk: There’s no substitute for it, of course.
- Milk: any kind of milk you like.
- Sweetened condensed milk: Use the vegan ones if you don’t consume dairy products, or you could substitute with sugar syrup.
- Some ice cubes
Instructions
- Combine coconut milk, regular milk, and condensed milk. If the coconut milk separates due to cold weather, warm it up in the microwave for 30 seconds.
- Froth the coffee with a frother or vigorously shake it in a shaker or plastic bottle for 1 minute (optional).
- Pour the coconut mixture into a glass, add some ice. Then drizzle the coffee over and enjoy.
How to enjoy coconut coffee
- In Vietnam, coffee is great any time of the day but is still best for breakfast. A classic Vietnamese breakfast is coffee with a bowl of Phở, Bò Kho (beef stew), or a plate of Cơm Tấm (broken rice).
- For a lighter meal, you could enjoy coconut coffee with pandan waffles, matcha waffles, or savory treats like bánh bao (Vietnamese steamed pork buns).
More easy Vietnamese recipes (less than 20 minutes)
Vietnamese Coconut Coffee (No Blender, Easy)
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp sweetened condensed milk
- 3 tbsp coconut milk
- ⅓ cup milk (60ml)
- 2 shot Vietnamese coffee
- Ice cubes
Instructions
- Combine coconut milk, milk, and sweetened condensed milk. If the coconut milk separates due to cold weather, warm it in the microwave for 30 seconds.
- Use a frother to froth the coffee, or shake it vigorously in a shaker or plastic bottle for 1 minute (optional).
- Pour the coconut milk mixture into a glass, add some ice, then drizzle the coffee over it. Enjoy!
