Egg Coffee? Coffee, with egg in?
“You’ve got to try it!” was something several people had told me. Well, egg coffee, (Cà phê trứng), is incredibly popular in Vietnam, so I thought I’d give the unusual sounding beverage a try during our travels, and find out if the hype was worth it.
It turns out that eggs are cracking for making puns with. Apologies in advance.
Origins Of Vietnamese Egg Coffee
The idea for egg coffee hatched in Café Giảng in the Old Quarter of the Vietnamese capital, Hanoi.
Back in the 1940s milk was hard to come by, and Mr Giang created the alternative drink for the Vietnamese people to enjoy.
His original brew mixed egg yolk, flour, Vietnamese ground coffee, sugar, and some special spices. The cup was served in a bowl of hot water to keep it warm. Although it sounded like an egg-centric combination, it proved to be a hit.
Whilst Café Giảng still serves the drink following the original recipe, many places now serve egg coffee with the slightly adapted ingredients of egg yolk, condensed milk and sugar.
Brunch In Da Nang
So really I should have tried egg coffee in Hanoi for the ultimate in egg coffee eggs-periences. However, it was when we were in Da Nang that I plucked up the courage to eggs-periment with the drink.
I’d found a coffee shop that got egg-ceptional reviews. The staff at ByC were very friendly and seemed pleased I was going to have my first ever egg coffee with them.
Vietnamese Egg Coffee - Appearances
I had never actually seen an egg coffee before I ordered it. I was nervous it was going to be raw egg cracked straight into coffee, which really didn’t egg-cite my taste buds. There was no chickening out though!
I was egg-stremely surprised! It looked like a cross between a liquor coffee and a cappucino, in that it had a creamy topping, although this had a hint of orangey-yellow.
It definitely looked more appealing than the revolting concoctions my imagination had dreamt up.
Vietnamese Egg Coffee - The Taste
Rather than cream, the foamy topping tasted like sweet whipped custard. It was smooth and light, and the perfect balance for the rich, strong coffee beneath.
I wasn’t entirely sure on the etiquette of consumption. I sipped to start and stirred once the cup was less full, spooning out the custardy goodness to finish.
Despite initial reservations, it was a like a dessert in a cup and it was utterly delicious.
Vietnamese Egg Coffee Verdict
It was so egg-cellent that I had it on multiple occasions during our time eggs-ploring Vietnam, and each time it felt like a decadent treat.
Want To Try It Yourself?
- For the ultimate egg coffee experience, you should visit Café Giảng in Hanoi where the drink was invented.
- If you visit Vietnam you’ll find cà phê trứng is served in most coffee shops.
- If you’re visiting one of Vietnam’s neighbours you will probably find something similar on the menu.
- If there’s a Vietnamese restaurant near you, why not try this unusual drink.
- You could always have a go at making it yourself. There are lots of recipes on-line such as this one from the BBC Good Food site.
Cost Of Experience
I tried my first Vietnamese egg coffee in a really lovely coffee shop called ByC in Da Nang.
In May 2023 their egg coffee in cost 60,000 VND, which converted to just over £2.
Recommendations
- If you usually have sugar in your coffee, try egg coffee without adding any first as it is fairly sweet.
- It’s not the best drink to have if you’re feeling dehydrated.
- You might want to steer clear of this one if you’re a vegan.
- Take a picture and share your experience. What do you think of egg coffee?