Across the alleys to the main roads in Saigon city, you can easily see the image of iced coffee cups that have been attached to people’s lives for many years.
Enjoying a cup of coffee in Saigon has become a typical cultural feature expressed through processing and tasting. This culture was formed quite early, in the year the French set foot in Vietnam.
Until the late 19th and early 20th centuries, more cafes in Saigon appeared under the control of the Vietnamese. This typical drink was popular with many people at the time. And now, many long-standing addresses are still preserved and serve the guests of the city who want to find nostalgic feelings for old times.
The locals call the ice coffee Cà phê đá in Vietnamese. Other names used include Cà phê đen đá, which means black iced coffee, and Cà phê sữa đá, which means milk iced coffee.
The bitter taste of iced Saigon coffee
Coffee in the South, in general, and Saigon, in particular, brings natural love and freedom to taste. This cultural beauty contributes to the region’s culinary identity.
Iced coffee is one of the unforgettable images for many people who live or have time attached to Saigon. If older tasters like the pure bitterness of Ca Phe Den Da, some younger ones like to have a little milk, called brown coffee, to feel the sweet aftertaste.
There are many ways to make a cup of coffee, depending on the methods used in each place, which create various tastes when drinking it.
The standard taste of a cup of coffee is difficult to determine because different people have different interests. Therefore, depending on the method of impregnating, mixing aromas, and roasting, it will produce flavor for its close customers.
In the past, the owners roasted coffee and added a little corn, a few drops of fish sauce, and small pieces of butter to create a unique taste. Nowadays, many believe that clean coffee keeps the flavor without adding other flavorings. Either way, the important thing is how each person enjoys and accepts it.
In addition, the way of preparation also partially affects taste when drinking. Many people make coffee with a filter, which is the traditional method. Besides, using a racquet to make coffee is still preserved in many places.
Bitter taste or transient sweetness, the sourness of coffee mixed with complex aroma makes the drinker hard to resist.
As the coffee market grows, more and more coffee types are created to serve everyone’s enjoyment needs. If you want to find memories of the old days, you can enjoy a cup of iced black coffee made with a racket. When you drink, you will feel the specific taste.
In particular, coffee is better when served with finely grated ice or crushed ice rather than the usual ice cubes. Also, preparing the water to make coffee is a vital step. If the water is not good, it is easy to change the taste of iced coffee.
Style of drinking coffee of Saigon people
Saigon’s two rainy and sunny seasons also create a unique feature in how people enjoy life. In the North, drinking coffee in the cold season is to find a bit of warmth. In the summer in Saigon, you will see someone on the way and drop into a counter to buy a cup of coffee, drink quickly in one breath, and then go. This style is simply the way to enjoy when they have no time.
Besides, you will quickly see the familiar images in the morning. Middle-aged men often get their seats in front of the house, order iced back coffee (Cà Phê Đen Đá), and have a pair of cigarettes.
It is time for the daily stories in the neighborhood or hot news in the familiar newspapers to come with the coffee flavor. That will make the morning full of energy. Unknown since when sipping bitter iced coffee is the way many Saigon people start a new day.
The people of Ho Chi Minh City are very proud of the coffee cup, including iced back coffee and iced milk Saigon coffee. It is associated with each person’s memories and shows a lot of profound value when it has been with us for more than 100 years. From old to young people, they all come to iced coffee cups as an exciting and sincere friend.
Anyone can find their favorite drink. However, iced Saigon coffee (black and brown) still plays a vital role in the minds of the local people. In addition to the bustling sounds of traffic in HCMC, the iced coffee still stands out with the life stories and the laughter of young people, or the rising smoke of the elders. Ca phe da Saigon remains a legend that lasts forever.
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The oldest racket cafe in Saigon
Cheo Leo coffee shop, located at 36/alley 109 Nguyen Thien Thuat Street, District 3, HCMC, is the oldest one using rackets to make coffee.
At first glance, it looks modest, with simple tables and chairs. However, the old space and the lyrical sound of the music make it stand out in the long alley.
The shop was opened in 1938 as a gathering place for students of Petrus Ky school and famous artists in Saigon.
The family members of the store retain the taste of coffee with the unique way of mixing by the racket. The coffee from the hot soil pot is poured on the racquet and combined with milk or sugar to serve a delicious cup whenever the customer requests.
It seems simple, but the steps require a lot of experience, which not all shops have. The essential skill is boiling coffee. If the fire is too hot, the coffee will taste sour; if there is not enough heat, the coffee will be cold and have no flavor.
A glass made with a racket usually doesn’t have the consistency of a glass made with a filter, but it smells good. When the sweetness of the milk sugar is gone, the rich bitterness and aroma of coffee remain in the mouth as a memorable aftertaste.
Amid the bustle of Saigon’s life, the small shop seems to be still separated by classical music. A few guests sit there with a coffee cup, smoke, and the laughter of daily stories.
Traveling to Saigon, you will find a strong coffee culture. You can find Ca Phe Sua Da hay Den Da (Iced black or brown coffee) anywhere in a luxury shop or a pavement store.
Take your time to sit down and taste the iced coffee in Saigon. Then, you will learn more about the local lifestyle and love more of the coffee culture in this city.
