Vietnamese coffee is becoming increasingly popular as people discover the chocolaty flavor of robusta beans and the unique coffee beverages that come from the country. Because of its unique and strong taste, many have asked the question, is Vietnamese coffee healthy?
Well, the short answer is yes. Vietnamese coffee is as healthy as any other coffee but there are some key differences that you should be aware of. In this article, we will provide you with the information you need to know by answering the following questions.
- Why does Vietnamese coffee taste so strong?
- How much caffeine is in Vietnamese coffee?
- How many calories are in Vietnamese coffee?
- What are the healthiest Vietnamese coffee drinks?
Why does Vietnamese coffee taste so ‘strong’?
There are two main reasons that people consider Vietnamese coffee to be strong or have an intense flavor. The first is the beans that are typically used in the making of Vietnamese coffee. The second is the way in which Vietnamese coffee is brewed.
THE TYPE OF COFFEE BEAN
The two most-consumed types of coffee in the world today are Arabica and Robusta. Arabica is generally found in coffee shops in most of the western world while Robusta is less common.
If you live in the USA or Europe, it is likely that the coffee you get at your local cafe is Arabica. Arabica is known for its relatively light body and fruity flavors.
However, most coffee in Vietnam is made using Robusta beans. Robusta beans have a nutty or chocolaty flavor that can be quite intense. Robusta is also known for having a heavier body. These beans are responsible for much of the intense flavor of Vietnamese coffee beverages.
If you are interested in learning more about the differences between Arabica and Robusta, we have a full post on it here.
The brewing method
Aside from espresso, and some techniques using an Aeropress, the most common brewing methods produce relatively weak coffee.
Why is this? In short, it is to do with the brewing time and the coffee to water ratio used in each method which influences how much coffee is extracted from the beans. A normal coffee to water ratio for a french press or using a pour-over method ranges from 1:10 to 1:15. For example, with a 1:10 ratio, if I use 20 grams of coffee, I will end up with a cup of 200ml. Normal brew times for these methods range from about three to five minutes.
Vietnamese coffee is not brewed using a french press or standard pour-over method. It is made using a Vietnamese phin filter, which is essentially a combination of pour-over and immersion. Coffee to water ratios for this method are much lower, while the brewing time remains at about four minutes. This results in coffee that is more intense than that from a french press or a Hario V60 for example.
How much is caffeine is in Vietnamese coffee?
One thing people often notice after having a Vietnamese coffee is that the ‘pick me up’ can be more pronounced. Some presume this may be because there has been sugar added to the coffee. While some Vietnamese coffee beverages do contain sugar, it is usually not the main reason.
One of the key differences between Arabica beans and Robusta beans is that the latter contain almost twice the caffeine. More specifically, according to Cafeineinformer, Robusta beans contain an average of 83% more caffeine than Arabica beans. If you are not used to drinking Robusta coffee, this is certainly noticeable.
The real question is, is this unhealthy? While too much caffeine can have adverse effects, caffeine in moderation can give you energy, help you stay focused, and improve your mood, too much caffeine can have adverse effects. The FDA recommends that adults consume no more than 400mg of caffeine per day. The serving size of Vietnamese coffee is usually comparatively small. For example, our recipe for a standard Vietnamese coffee yields one 75ml serving. This has an estimated 90mg of caffeine. This means that you could drink four of these coffees before reaching the recommended caffeine limit. Of course, it is important to be aware that larger serving sizes have more caffeine.
An exception to this is Vietnamese weasel coffee, also known as Kopi Luwak, which contains considerably less caffeine than regular coffee beans due to the unique process it undergoes. If you would like to learn more about this, go ahead and check our article, What is Vietnamese weasel coffee?
How many calories are in Vietnamese coffee?
Coffee beans themselves contain very few calories. The calories in coffee without condiments are almost negligible so if you are drinking black coffee, there is no need to worry about breaking your diet plan. Calories in milk and condensed milk are considerable, however.
Most Vietnamese coffees beverages contain condensed milk. If you are familiar with this, it is a thick sweet milk product that comes in a can. It has a longer shelf life than fresh milk. According to Healthline, sweetened condensed milk contains 3 calories per gram. That said, condensed milk is very sweet and you don’t need to add much to the coffee. For example, our recipe for Vietnamese iced coffee recommends adding only 5ml (or 5 grams) of condensed milk. This means that it has just 15 calories. As a point of reference, a short (236ml) flat white at Starbucks made using whole milk contains 110 calories because of the quantity of milk used.
What are the healthiest Vietnamese coffee drinks?
The healthiest coffee coffee beverages are always the ones with least condiments. So when speaking about Vietnamese coffee, black coffee, or cà phê đen as it known here, is the healthiest.
Beverages that contain condensed milk will have more more sugar and calories, making these less healthy. However, as mentioned earlier in this post, while condensed milk contains more calories than whole milk per gram, it is used in smaller amounts.
To conclude: Is vietnamese coffee healthy?
Yes. The main difference it that if made with Robusta beans, a Vietnamese coffee will contain more caffeine than a similar-sized beverage made with Arabica beans.
The intense taste of Vietnamese coffee can be attributed to the brewing method and the type of coffee used. The biggest difference between regular Arabica coffee and Vietnamese coffee is that the Robusta beans used to make Vietnamese coffee contain almost twice as much caffeine. In smaller serving sizes, this is not an issue. However, if you are ordering or making larger-sized Vietnamese coffee, be careful not to exceed the recommended 400mg of caffeine per day.
The calories contained in black coffee are negligible. Condensed milk used in Vietnamese coffee beverages has more calories per gram than whole milk but is typically used in smaller quantities. As a result, Vietnamese coffee is actually likely to have fewer calories than a milk-based drink like a latte.
We hope you found this article useful. As always, if you have any questions, feel free to get in touch with us via our contact page.
If you are interested in trying Vietnamese coffee for yourself, make sure to check out our store where we stock some of the best arabica and robusta in the country.
Don’t miss out !
Sign up to our newsletter for weekly brewing guides, coffee lover content, and special offers. Don’t worry, we don’t send spam and you can unsubscribe at any time.