Vietnamese Egg Coffee
A Delicious Slice of History
Vietnamese egg coffee, or “cà phê trứng,” is a beloved beverage that has captured the hearts of locals and tourists alike. This creamy, sweet coffee hails from Hanoi and carries with it a rich history that speaks to Vietnamese resilience and creativity.
Origins in Hanoi
The story of egg coffee begins in Hanoi in the 1940s. During this time, Vietnam was under French colonial rule, and World War II caused shortages of many essential items, including milk. Faced with this shortage, a bartender named Nguyen Van Giang, who worked at the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hotel, sought to find an alternative. In a stroke of genius, he whipped up egg yolks with sugar and condensed milk to create a creamy substitute for milk. This mixture was then added to strong Vietnamese coffee, creating a rich, frothy beverage that we now know as egg coffee.
Giang Café: The Birthplace
Nguyen Van Giang eventually left his job at his hotel and opened his own café, Giang café, in Hanoi’s Old Quarter. This small, unassuming café became the birthplace of egg coffee and remains a popular destination for coffee enthusiasts. Giang Café has managed to preserve the traditional recipe and continues to serve this iconic drink to generations of customers.
