How to Brew Vietnamese Phin Coffee: Step-by-Step Guide

What You Need

• Vietnamese phin filter (stainless steel, 4–6oz size recommended)
• Coarsely ground Vietnamese coffee (Robusta or Robusta-Arabica blend)
• Hot water (93–96°C / 200–205°F)
• Your cup or glass
• Condensed milk (optional)

The Ratio

The standard phin ratio is 1:8 to 1:10 coffee to water by weight. For a single serving: 14–16g of ground coffee to 120–150ml of water. This produces a concentrated brew that's meant to be sipped slowly or mixed with condensed milk and ice.

Step-by-Step Brewing

1. Preheat your cup and phin

Pour hot water into your cup and set the phin on top for 30 seconds. Discard the water. This prevents the phin from absorbing heat from your brew water and keeps your coffee hotter longer.

2. Add coffee grounds

Add 14–16g of medium-coarse ground coffee to the phin chamber. Tap gently to level the grounds. Do not pack tightly — the water needs to flow through.

3. Place the press plate

Set the press plate on top of the grounds and press down gently with your fingertip. You want light compression — not tight packing. The press plate should sit flat on the grounds with slight resistance.

4. Bloom (30 seconds)

Pour about 20–30ml of hot water over the press plate. You'll see the grounds absorb the water and start to expand (bloom). This releases CO2 and prepares the grounds for full extraction. Wait 30 seconds.

5. Add remaining water

Fill the chamber to the top with hot water (about 100–120ml more). Place the lid on top to retain heat.

6. Wait and watch

The coffee will begin dripping into your cup. A good phin should drip at a rate of about 1 drop per second, finishing in 4–6 minutes. If it drips too fast, your grind is too coarse. Too slow, too fine.

7. Serve

Remove the phin. Add condensed milk if desired (1–2 tablespoons is traditional). Stir and enjoy hot, or pour over ice for cà phê sữa đá.

Troubleshooting

Problem	Cause	Fix
Drips too fast (<3 min)	Grind too coarse	Use a finer grind or press plate harder
Drips too slow (>8 min)	Grind too fine	Use a coarser grind or press plate lighter
Weak flavor	Too little coffee or too much water	Increase coffee to 16–18g
Bitter taste	Over-extraction or water too hot	Lower water temp to 90°C or use coarser grind
Coffee grounds in cup	Press plate not seated properly	Reseat press plate before brewing

If you'd rather let us do the brewing, come visit any of our three Vancouver locations. We also offer wholesale beans and phin filters for cafes and home brewers.