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Utensils & kitchen tools · Coffee maker

Vietnamese phin filter

A small Vietnamese metal drip filter that sits on a glass and slowly drips strong coffee.

Specialist · No power needed · 2 recipes

What it is

A single-cup stainless steel or aluminium brewer: a perforated chamber that sits on the cup, a press disc that rests (or screws) onto the grounds, and a lid. Medium-fine, usually dark-roast coffee is bloomed with a splash of hot water, then the chamber is filled and the coffee drips through over about 4–5 minutes. It is used for cà phê sữa đá and other Vietnamese coffees.

What it’s for: Brewing one strong cup of drip coffee straight into a glass, often onto condensed milk.

How to use it

  1. Put about 20 g medium-fine coffee in the chamber, shake it level and set the press on top.
  2. Pour in a splash of just-boiled water and wait 30 seconds for the coffee to bloom.
  3. Fill the chamber, cover and let it drip for about 4–5 minutes.

Good to know

Tasks
brewing Vietnamese drip coffee, brewing onto condensed milk
Materials
stainless steel, aluminium
Care and cleaning
Knock out the grounds and rinse; it has no paper filter to replace.
Limitations
One cup at a time; the drip speed depends on the grind and how firmly the press sits.

Safety

  • The filter and glass get hot; lift the phin off by its rim.

If you don’t have one

Related tools

Recipes that use it