Ca phe sua da or cafe sua da (iced coffee with milk) is a unique Vietnamese coffee. Ca phe sua da can be made simply by mixing brewed black coffee with about a quarter to a half as much sweetened condensed milk and then pouring it over ice.
Many Vietnamese immigrants in the Southern United States, particularly in Louisiana, use the regional dark French roast coffee, often with chicory. Otherwise they use an imported Vietnamese-grown and medium-roasted coffee without chicory. The coffee is traditionally coarsely ground, then individually brewed with a small metal Vietnamese drip filter (cà phê phin), into a cup containing the condensed milk. The condensed milk and coffee are stirred together and poured over ice.
I think iced coffee is the ultimate pick me up. The condensed milk at the bottom of the cup, and hot black coffee slowly dripping on top of it. Mixed all together and pour over ice. The bitter sweetness of the drink never fails to remind me of hole in the wall coffee shops or pho restaurants; and usually brings to mind the smell of cigarettes, men mingling around small tables playing cards or slapping domino blocks. And I cant leave out the bikini waitresses.
