Vietnamese coffee drip, also known as phin filter, is a traditional Vietnamese coffee drip method. In simple steps, learn how to make Vietnamese coffee with a phin filter.
If you’re familiar with Vietnamese coffee, you’ve probably noticed the unique way the Vietnamese brew their coffee using the phin filter. From small corner shops to fancy coffee chains, you’ll find one or two customers enjoying their ca phe sua da or Vietnamese iced coffee brewed with this phin filter. Even in Singapore, if you order a Vietnamese coffee from a Vietnamese restaurant, it will almost certainly be made from a phin.
What is Vietnamese coffee Phin Filter?
Phin, the Vietnamese name for their traditional coffee brewing tool, is a metal coffee filter that brews coffee slowly. It functions similarly to a pour-over tool such as the V60 or Chemex. The phin is made up of four main parts:
- The main brewing chamber, this is where you will add the coffee and water to brew the coffee. The perforated bottom allows the water to drip through and keep any coffee granules from falling into the cup.
- The perforated gravity screen to place on top of the coffee inside the chamber. Once the hot water is added, due to gravity this screen presses down the coffee but at the same time allows the gasses generated to escape through the perforated holes, creating a perfect pressure for the coffee to brew. You can also find a different type of insert with a screw.
- The lid to keep the coffee hot while brewing and can also act as the additional step to bloom the coffee at the bottom of the chamber.
- The bottom perforated filter to catch any coffee granules escaping the chamber and to act as additional surface to place on top of a cup or a glass.
Why Phin filter is perfect to make Vietnamese coffee
- Phin is so easy to use. Anyone can make a perfect brew with this filter in less than 5 minutes!
- Phin is environmentally-friendly. Made out of metal, it is considered to be more eco-friendly than many plastic filter counterparts.
- Phin brews a strong, delicious cup of coffee. The unique design of the phin allows the coffee to brew and drip gradually at a slow pace, producing much more concentrated drops of coffee than other filters.
- Phin is compact and travel-friendly. The traditional 4 oz size is less than 4 inches in diameter and height, much smaller compared to a V60 or a cafetiere, and doesn’t require electricity or a stove to operate.
How to brew Vietnamese coffee using a Phin filter
Equipments or Ingredients needed:
- 15g (2-3 tablespoon) of coffee ground for filter, grind in medium-coarse
- Traditional Vietnamese phin filter – 4oz size
- Optional: condensed milk, almond or soy milk
Methods:
- Step 1: Remove the inner screen inside the chamber of the filter
- Step 2: Add 15g (2-3 tablespoons) of ground coffee into the chamber
- Step 3: Pour some hot water into the lid and place the chamber on top of the lid to bloom the coffee at the bottom
- Step 4: Place the inner screen on top of the coffee and press gently
- Step 5: Place the filter on top of a cup
- Step 6: Pour the water into the chamber slowly and gently
- Step 7: Place the lid on top. Remove the filter when the water stops dripping.
