Vietnamese coffee · Hanoi · Food
Vietnamese coffee, Hanoi, and the food in between
Practical guides to brewing with a phin, the drinks worth ordering, and what to eat and see in Hanoi.
Photo: HungryHuy, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Start here
Three guides that cover the basics: how to brew it, where to go, and where the name comes from.
Brew it at home
How to use a phin filter
Dose, grind, bloom and drip time, plus how to fix a phin that drips too fast or too slow.
Plan a trip
Things to do in Hanoi
19 things to do, with opening details checked against official sources and a 3-day plan.
The name
The story of Café Lâm
The Hanoi café that began as a pushcart in 1952 and built an art collection largely from paintings artists gave to settle their coffee tabs.
Vietnamese coffee, explained
The complete coffee guide-
Vietnamese Salt Coffee (Cà Phê Muối): What It Is, How to Make It
Vietnamese salt coffee pairs phin coffee and condensed milk with salted cream. Its Huế origin story, how it differs from egg coffee, and a…
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Vietnamese Egg Coffee (Cà Phê Trứng): History and How to Make It
Strong phin coffee under whipped egg yolk and condensed milk: the Hanoi origin story, a recipe built from published sources, raw egg safety and…
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Why Is Vietnamese Coffee So Strong? Beans, Roast and Brew
Robusta beans, the phin’s concentrated drip and dark roasts explain the strength. How much caffeine a cup likely holds, and how to make it…
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How to Make Vietnamese Iced Coffee (Cà Phê Sữa Đá) with a Phin
The coffee, condensed milk and phin you need, the step-by-step method, and how to fix a phin that drips too fast or too slow.
Order like a local: the drinks
The names you will see on a Hanoi menu, and where to read more.
Hanoi, food and travel
All travel guides-
What to Eat in Hanoi: 15 Dishes and Drinks to Try
Phở, bún chả, chả cá Lã Vọng and 12 more Hanoi dishes and drinks, with where to try each one, how street food ordering…
About Cafelam
Cafelam is an independent guide to Vietnamese coffee, Hanoi and food. Guides are researched from published sources, and details that change, such as ticket prices, are dated.
Cafelam is not affiliated with Café Lâm, the coffee house in Hanoi.