When I think of coffee, I don’t immediately think of Vietnam. Vietnam did howeve have a suprisingly great coffee scene. Amazing coffee is grown in the mountains and cosy coffee bars can be found in almost every city. Often while travelling, I find that the coffee can be a bit disappointing. Watered down or odd tasting coffee is not an uncommon sight while on the road. But definitely not in Vietnam!

Our hotel in Hanoi was located in a street with almost only hardware stores. Interestingly enough, you will find that most streets in Vietnam seem to sell their own speciality. There is a street for kitchenware, a street for fabric, and thus a street where they only sell hardware.

From one of the hardware stores, we picked up a few Vietnamese Phin filters for only €0,25 a piece. We had the filters at home for a while, but didn’t take the time to use them yet. As you really need to be in the mood for slow coffee when using the filter.

Making coffee with a Vietnamese Phin Filter

We finally used the Phin filters a few weeks ago. Because it takes a while before the coffee is ready, drinking Vietnamese coffee becomes more of an experience. It's a way to slow down and consciously enjoy a cup of coffee, instead of mindlessly taking another cup from the machine. I love to watch the coffee run through the filter slowly into the glass, drop by drop.

These coffee breaks are now more relevant than ever, especially for those who find it hard to take breaks while working from home. Vietnamese slow coffee is a perfect coffee break to consciously slow down while working from home.

If you want to buy a Vietnamese Phin filter you could try an Asian Supermarket (toko), or you can buy them online (for about €5). The Phin filter is perfect if you are in the mood for a single cup of coffee. Slow down and enjoy!