Cà phê trứng
Egg coffee
Cà phê trứng: Hanoi egg coffee, strong phin coffee under a whipped yolk and condensed milk foam
Hanoi's old-quarter cafés, up narrow stairs and in tiny back rooms, serve cà phê trứng in a small cup set in a bowl of hot water so it stays warm while you spoon through the custardy foam into bitter coffee below. The topping is egg yolk whisked with condensed milk until pale and thick, a trick that began when fresh milk was scarce in the 1940s. Because the yolk is not cooked, use pasteurised eggs for pregnant women, young children, older people or anyone with a weakened immune system. Chef's tip: whisk longer than you think; under-beaten yolk tastes eggy and sinks straight into the coffee instead of sitting on top.
- Total time
- 15 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 2
Ingredients
For the coffee
- 4 tbsp dark-roast ground coffeeVietnamese robusta blend, medium-coarse
- ¾ cup boiling water
For the egg foam
- 2 egg yolksvery fresh; pasteurised for vulnerable people
- 3 tbsp sweetened condensed milk
- 1 tsp sugar
- ¼ tsp vanilla extract (optional)
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What you'll need
Spices & pantry
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Put half the 4 tbsp dark-roast ground coffee in each of two phin filters over cups, press the inserts down lightly and pour in 2 tbsp of ¾ cup boiling water to bloom. Wait 30 seconds.
1 minStep 2: Fill the filters with the rest of the water, cover and let the coffee drip through slowly until about 60 ml has collected in each cup.
5 minStep 3: Meanwhile whisk 2 egg yolks, 3 tbsp sweetened condensed milk, 1 tsp sugar and ¼ tsp vanilla extract with an electric whisk on high until pale, thick and tripled in volume, so it falls in ribbons that hold for a few seconds.
4 minStep 4: Stand the coffee cups in small bowls of hot water to keep warm, then spoon the foam gently over the coffee so it floats in a thick layer.
Step 5: Serve with a teaspoon: eat some foam, then stir it in and sip.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 165 kcal
- Protein
- 4 g
- Carbs
- 19 g
- Fat
- 8 g
- Fibre
- 0 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does cà phê trứng take?
- About 15 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 5 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 2 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of sweetened condensed milk?
- Oat, soy or almond milk, same amount (use unsweetened for savoury dishes).
- What can I use instead of sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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