Bạc Xỉu: Vietnamese White Coffee with Condensed Milk (Recipe & Guide)
Bạc Xỉu is a Vietnamese coffee drink made with a small amount of phin-brewed robusta coffee, sweetened condensed milk, and a generous pour of fresh whole milk — producing a milkier, sweeter, gentler drink than the classic Cà Phê Sữa. The ratio of milk to coffee is roughly 3:1 by volume, the opposite of a Vietnamese iced coffee where coffee dominates. The name bạc xỉu is a southern-Vietnamese / Cantonese-influenced phrase that translates loosely as “a little white” — referring to the drink’s pale, milky color. The drink originated in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) in the early-to-mid 20th century, born from the city’s mixed Vietnamese-Chinese coffee culture. It was historically the drink for children, the elderly, and people who wanted the flavor of Vietnamese coffee without the punch of a full robusta serve. ...