History

Egg coffee was invented at Cafe Giang in 1946 by Nguyen Van Giang, who worked as a bartender at the Metropole Hotel. Milk was scarce during the war years, so he whipped egg yolk with sugar as a substitute. After Mr Giang passed away in 1987, his children took over Cafe Giang at 39 Nguyen Huu Huan. His daughter Mrs Bich opened Cafe Dinh on Dinh Tien Hoang in 1987 with the same recipe.

Common allergens: Egg, Dairy

Make it at home

Yield Serves 1Hands-on 10 minTotal 15 minDifficulty Easy

Ingredients

  • 1 egg yolk
  • 2 tbsp sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 small espresso shot (or 60ml strong phin filter coffee)
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract (optional)

Method

  1. Brew the coffee directly into a small heatproof glass or cup. Robusta phin filter or a short espresso both work; the coffee should be strong.
  2. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg yolk, condensed milk, sugar and vanilla with a hand whisk or electric beater for 3-4 minutes until thick, pale and tripled in volume. The texture should be foamy custard, not liquid.
  3. Spoon the whipped egg-milk mixture onto the hot coffee. The egg should sit on top like a meringue cap.
  4. Serve immediately with a long spoon; eat the foam first, then sip the coffee underneath.

Tip from the editors. Use the freshest egg you can find. The egg cap should hold its shape; if it sinks, whisk longer next time. Serve in a hot-water bain-marie to keep warm.

Where to eat cà phê trứng

Cà Phê Trứng in Hanoi

Café Giảng ★ 4.6

Café$old-quarterDaily 07:00-22:00Wifi

Café Giảng in Hanoi is where egg coffee was invented in 1946, served down a narrow alley off Nguyen Huu Huan in the Old Quarter by the founder's descendants.

Signature drink: Cà phê trứng egg coffee

Order: Ca phe trung: whipped egg yolk and condensed milk on Vietnamese coffee, the original recipe from 1946.

Tip: Down a narrow alley off Nguyen Huu Huan; the cafe is at the back of a small courtyard. Egg coffee 35,000 VND.

39 Nguyen Huu Huan, Ly Thai To, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi

Cafe Đinh ★ 4.8

Café$old-quarterDaily 07:00-22:00

Why locals love it: Up an old staircase above a Hoan Kiem-side travel agency, this 1987 cafe opened by Cafe Giang's daughter Mrs Bich still serves the original 1946 egg coffee.

Tip: Six seats on the narrow balcony overlooking the lake; arrive before 09:00 to claim one.

13 Dinh Tien Hoang, Hang Trong, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi

Cafe Phố Cổ ★ 4.5

Café$old-quarterDaily 08:00-22:30

Why locals love it: Enter through a silk shop, walk a long corridor, cross a birdcage courtyard, climb a home staircase, and arrive on a rooftop balcony with the best lake view.

Tip: Look for the red-fronted silk shop on Hang Gai marked 'Silklike'. Egg coffee 50,000 VND.

11 Hang Gai, Hang Trong, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi

Loading T café ★ 4.3

Café$old-quarterDaily 07:30-22:30

Why locals love it: A 1930s French villa second-floor cafe reached past a family shrine, with geometric tile floors, olive shutters and a soundtrack of French ballads.

Tip: The window-table for two on the second floor is the seat to ask for. Cinnamon egg coffee is the signature.

8 Chan Cam, Hang Trong, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi

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