Vietnamese Iced Coffee is sweet, strong, and refreshing. Making this popular iced coffee at home is now easier than ever with the help of Nespresso. This post has been sponsored by Nespresso. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
My late grandfather was an avid coffee drinker. Watching him sip that pitch black liquid from his favorite brown ceramic espresso cup everyday fascinated me. He always thoughtfully left behind the last bit of syrupy coffee in the cup for me to develop my taste buds. That’s pretty much how I grew to love coffee.
Vietnamese iced coffee has grown in popularity over the years. Most coffee houses now offer this drink on their menu. And while the drink is supposed to be very sweet with the copious addition of condensed milk, I prefer mine on the less sweet side. Making this at home with your Nespresso Latissima Machine will give you total control over the sweetness and the strength of your coffee.
How to make Vietnamese Iced Coffee
What is Vietnamese Iced Coffee?
Traditionally, Vietnamese coffee is made by allowing boiling water to slowly drip through a metal filter with ground dark roast coffee pressed inside. This is a stronger drip coffee than your typical drip coffee but not quite an espresso.
Condensed milk and crushed ice are added to create a creamy and sweet iced coffee that will definitely quench your thirst.
Mixing Vietnamese Iced Coffee in a cocktail shaker
With the help of a Nespresso Latissima Machine, you can make this Vietnamese Iced Coffee recipe in the blink of an eye.
- First, prepare the coffee by extracting a Fortissio Lungo capsule, this will yield 3.7 oz of coffee.
- Add ice, condensed milk, and hot coffee to a cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously for 5 – 10 seconds.
- Pour shaken coffee into a Nespresso View Coffee Mug and enjoy!
Or take it to go in a Nomad bottle which is a great accessory to enjoy iced cold homemade Vietnamese coffee on the go!
Vietnamese Iced Coffee in a Nomad bottle
Shaking coffee in a cocktail shaker is certainly not traditional, but I find that this method gets the condensed milk distributed and mixed into the cold drink much more efficiently and quickly.
Tips for the easiest and tastiest Vietnamese Iced Coffee
Nespresso makes 4 different Lungo capsules. These are designed for a longer extraction time using more water, and yield more coffee than the Espresso capsules. The Lungo capsules will give you 3.7 oz of coffee.
- Envivo Lungo, intensity level 9 (max is 12)
- Fortissio Lungo, intensity level 8 (I used this capsule for this recipe)
- Vivalto Lungo & Vivalto Lungo Decaffeinato, intensity level 4
- Linizio Lungo, intensity level 4
Vietnamese coffee is typically very strong, so I would recommend using the higher intensity capsules like Envivo Lungo and Fortissio Lungo for the best flavor.
You can also use Espresso capsules but these are designed for a shorter extraction time with less water and yield 1.35 oz of coffee. You may need two capsules for this recipe, or you can use a capsule with higher intensity and more ice. I recommend:
- Kazaar, intensity level 12. One capsule with a little more ice will yield the same amount of iced coffee for this recipe.
- Arpeggio, intensity level 9. This is my favorite everyday morning coffee. It’s strong enough that you can use 1 capsule for this recipe but I would recommend 2 capsules for more coffee and longer enjoyment time.
- Caramelito, intensity level 6. This is my favorite flavored coffee from Nespresso. The caramel note will add another flavor dimension to this Vietnamese Iced Coffee recipe. Because it is a milder capsule, definitely use 2.
You can adjust the sweetness level of your drink by adding more or less condensed milk to your taste. I start with 1 tablespoon for this recipe. And as a comparison to the coffee house version, I would say it is about 4x less sweet.
Can I make hot Vietnamese coffee instead of iced?
Absolutely! Skip the ice, add condensed milk into a mug and extract your coffee right on top of it. Just stir and sip.
If you like hot drinks, check out this Chocolate Hazelnut Latte recipe. For more ideas and recipes to try out with your Nespresso machine, visit Nespresso Pinterest.
If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a comment, send me a photo, rate it and don’t forget to tag me @wildwildwhisk on Instagram. I’d love to see what’s cooking up in your kitchen. Cheers!
📖 Recipe card
Vietnamese Iced Coffee
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon sweetened condensed milk
- 1 Nespresso Lungo capsule
- 1 cup of ice
Instructions
- Use the Lungo button to extract coffee in a small cup.
- Add coffee and condensed milk to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake for 10 seconds to mix. Pour into a tall glass and enjoy.
Video
Notes
- Adjust your coffee sweetness by adding more or less condensed milk as desired.
- For a stronger drink, add an extra shot of espresso.
Nutrition
My dad became obsessed with Vietnamese coffee when they went to Vietnam, he even bought the proper little coffee thing that sits over the cup. I can’t wait to show him this recipe. They have a Nespresso machine so he can make this so easily
OMG lol I don’t even have that. I use my Nespresso every day, it’s so convenient and he’ll love it!
perfect way to start off the New Year