No brew method matches.
1Zpresso X-Pro for Vietnamese Phin
Slow coffee, Vietnamese style. A little metal filter perches on your glass and drips a dark, intense brew — traditionally onto a layer of sweetened condensed milk, poured over ice as cà phê sữa đá.
Find your grinder… 1Zpresso X-Pro
1Zpresso J-Max
91–114
1Zpresso JE
117–124
1Zpresso JX
28–30
1Zpresso JX-Pro
167–181
1Zpresso K-Max
89–94
1Zpresso K-Plus
89–94
1Zpresso K-Pro
89–94
1Zpresso K-Ultra
64–80
1Zpresso Q2 (Heptagonal burrs)
85–94
1Zpresso Q2 (Pentagonal burrs)
85–94
1Zpresso Q2 S
85–94
1Zpresso X-Pro
36–45
Baratza Encore
20–26
Baratza Encore ESP
30–32
Baratza Sette 270
26–31
Baratza Virtuoso+
20–26
Comandante C40 MK3
27–33
Comandante C40 MK4
31–32
Comandante C60 Baracuda
40–42
DF64 Gen 2
44–56
Eureka Mignon Specialita
80–100
Eureka Mignon Zero
73–91
Fellow Ode Gen 2
8–9
Fellow Opus
30–32
Flair Royal
44–56
Hario Mini-Slim Pro
16–20
Hario Skerton Pro
10–15
Kingrinder K0
120–136
Kingrinder K1
120–136
Kingrinder K2
120–136
Kingrinder K4
36–45
Kingrinder K6
110–118
Kingrinder P0
64–73
Kingrinder P1
64–73
Kingrinder P2
64–73
MHW-3Bomber R3 Pro
88–95
Mazzer Philos
80–100
Moccamaster KM5
5–6
Niche Zero
42–46
Normcore Manual V2
40–50
OXO Brew Conical
27–33
Option-O Lagom P64
56–76
Timemore C3 Max Pro
17–18
Timemore C3 Pro
17–18
Timemore Chestnut C2
27–33
Timemore Chestnut C3
27–33
Timemore Chestnut S3
75–83
Timemore Chestnut S3 ESP
53–67
Timemore Chestnut X
48–60
Timemore Nano
24–26
Turin DF54
52–60
Varia VS3
50–60
Weber Key
80–100
Wilfa Svart
62–87
Wilfa Uniform+
30–40
No grinder matches.
1Zpresso X-Pro's setting
- Clicks
- 36–45
- Grind size
- 800–1000 µm
- Grind descriptor
- Medium-coarse
These settings are consensus values computed from 1 independent sources (manufacturer manuals, reference charts and our micron model), monitored daily for changes.
Overview
Brew with us
Vietnamese Phin
Notes
We let it drip entirely untouched — no stirring, no pressing the gravity press down early. Stir it into condensed milk hot, or pour the finished brew over ice for cà phê sữa đá.
Behind every step
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1Weigh beans
0:05Weighing instead of scooping is the only way to repeat a brew — beans differ in density and roast, so a scoop of one is not a scoop of another. Fix the dose and every other variable finally means something.
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2Grind
0:15The phin has no paper filter — just a perforated plate — so the grind has to be coarse enough not to slip through or clog it. Medium-coarse gives the slow four-to-five minute drip that makes the brew strong enough to stand up to condensed milk and ice.
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3Scald the phin
0:10A phin is a lump of metal, and cold metal steals heat from the brew before it has begun. Rinsing it through with hot water preheats the chamber and the glass under it, and washes out whatever the last brew left in the perforations — thirty seconds of work that keeps the drip temperature steady for the four minutes that follow.
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4Pack the phin
0:10The gravity press on top is the flow control: how firmly it sits decides how slowly the water drips. Level the grounds and seat it flat, or the water finds one side and rushes through weak.
-
5Bloom
0:30The bed lifts and bubbles as the gas comes off — that is what you are waiting for. Pour the rest before it settles all the way back down, and don't stir: a stirred bed packs into the plate and the drip stalls.
-
6Drip
4:30The phin drips unhurried for four or five minutes, and that slow contact is what makes the brew so concentrated. Fill it the rest of the way, cap it, and leave it alone — no stirring, no pushing. A drop a second is the rate you are aiming for.
-
7Enjoy
0:10Coffee keeps changing as it cools: aromatics fade, acidity sharpens and sweetness comes forward. Drink it soon after brewing, and taste it as it drops in temperature — that's how you learn what to adjust next time.
Fix it by taste
Aim for a slow, steady drip over about 4–5 minutes — that's what gives the brew its punch. Too fast and thin? Grind finer, or settle the gravity press down a little more. Stalled and bitter? Coarsen and ease the press up. Wet the grounds with a splash first to let them bloom before filling.
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Drips too fast, weak and wateryGrind too coarse or press too looseFix · Grind a touch finer or press it down a little more
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Won't drip / stalls, bitterGrind too fine or packed too tightFix · Coarsen a step and ease off the press
-
Grounds in the cupGravity press not seatedFix · Level the grounds and seat the press flat
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Too weak for milkRatio too leanFix · Use more coffee — phin is meant to be strong and concentrated
What you need
A phin filter (aluminium or steel) sized to your glass, a medium-coarse grinder, and — traditionally — sweetened condensed milk and ice. That's it.
Beans & roast
Robusta, or a robusta-heavy blend, is classic — dark, bold and higher in caffeine, which stands up to the milk. Dark-roast arabica works for a smoother cup.
Variations to try
-
Cà phê sữa đá
Drip over condensed milk, stir, pour over ice
-
Cà phê đen
Black, hot or iced, no milk
-
Egg coffee
Whip egg yolk and condensed milk into a rich foam on top
Vietnamese Phin FAQ
Why won't my phin drip?
The grind is too fine, or the gravity press is bearing down too hard. Coarsen a step and ease the press up until it drips steadily over 4–5 minutes.
What coffee is used for Vietnamese coffee?
Traditionally robusta or a robusta-heavy blend — dark-roasted, bold and high in caffeine. It's strong enough to shine through condensed milk and ice.
Do I have to use condensed milk?
No, but it's the classic. Black (cà phê đen) is common too, hot or iced. The brew itself is meant to be strong and concentrated either way.
Drinks from this method
All drinks →Grinders dialed for this method
Full grind chart →