If anyone has ever visited the capital of Hanoi, they must have heard the name of egg coffee, a specialty drink here. With a long history of development and sweet taste, it has been considered one of the world's unique coffee drinks.

Egg coffee - one of the best drinks in the world

The ingredients to make egg coffee are very simple, just coffee and chicken eggs. Its flavor is neither too sweet nor too bitter. This special drink is a delightful blend of eggs and a rich coffee flavor. It can be said that egg coffee bears the imprint of the Hanoi people.

In 2017, there was an article on CNN Travel with the title "Egg coffee in Hanoi: Where to get your caffeine fix" to praise this unique drink. In 2014, egg coffee also ranked first in the list of 17 most worth-trying coffees in the world voted by Buzzfeed. Moreover, this special drink of Hanoi people is mentioned in many foreign newspapers such as The Guardian, Japan's PrTimes,...

Buzzfeed ranked egg coffee at the top of the list

At the 11th Vietnam - France Local Cooperation Conference in Toulouse city, the French had a chance to enjoy egg coffee and this unique drink received high praise from them. In 2019, one thousand egg coffee cups were served every day at the US-North Korea Summit in Hanoi.

The origin of the legendary egg coffee

Nguyen Van Giang was the one who invented egg coffee around 1950 in Hanoi. He used to be a barista at the Metropole Hanoi hotel during the French colonial period (1884-1945). Therefore, Mr. Giang had the opportunity to interact with many different types of coffee and different ways of making coffee. At that time, there wasn’t much fresh milk. Moreover, he also aspires to create a Vietnamese branded coffee drink. Therefore, he used eggs instead to make delicious egg coffee with a unique flavor. Since then, Mr. Giang has built the famous "Giang Coffee" brand in Hanoi with its signature egg coffee drink.

Photo of Nguyen Van Giang (far left) with his family

Egg coffee started to take off after 1990. When the economy gradually developed, this was no longer a luxury drink but became more popular. At that time, various types of egg beaters began to be introduced into the market. This machine helps the bartender save a lot of time and effort, so they can meet the needs of many people.

Egg coffee has been transformed into many versions all over the world, but only egg coffee in Hanoi has the standard flavor. Furthermore, egg coffee is popular with both domestic and international tourists.

How to make egg coffee

Egg coffee is not too difficult to make, but it requires sophistication and deftness from the barista. Ingredients for egg coffee include chicken eggs, coffee, sugar, condensed milk. Note that chicken eggs must be fresh ones in order not to cause an unpleasant odour. The most important stage is how to use egg yolks in the right way so that the flavor does not overwhelm the smell of coffee.

The ingredients to make egg coffee are very simple

Firstly, egg yolks are separated and whipped until they have a light aroma like cake. If you beat so hard, the coffee will no longer have a dense texture, but if it is not done, the coffee and egg yolks are difficult to blend, the taste is not delicious. The egg whites are also added a little sugar, honey, and beaten until fluffy. Finally, use a filter to make coffee and then slowly pour it into the beaten eggs so that the coffee layer settles down. A perfect cup of the coffee egg must meet the criteria of three layers: the bottom layer of black coffee, followed by the light yellow egg yolk, and the white on top. 

Egg coffee drinking culture of Hanoi people

In the article on CNN, there is a passage about egg coffee in Hanoi as follows: "The hot version comes resting in a small dish of hot water to maintain its temperature. The strong coffee taste at the bottom of the cup seeps through the egg - the yellow layer on top - and is quite thick and sweet, though not sickly”.

Indeed, it requires sophistication when enjoying this type of coffee drink. Hanoi people enjoy it by using a small spoon to taste the cream foam first as an appetizer, then freely mix the remaining 2 layers of coffee and egg yolk to create a sense of greasy, not too bitter.

Enjoy a standard cup of egg coffee with a small spoon

Although egg coffee does not create a culinary fever-like Pho or bread, it is a typical culture of Hanoi people that is not mixed with any other drink. The price of a cup of egg coffee ranges from 25.000 to 30.000 VND.

Delicious egg coffee shops in Hanoi

Giang Coffee

Address: No.39 Nguyen Huu Huan, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi

Speaking of egg coffee, it is impossible not to mention “Giang Coffee” which was founded in 1946 since this is the origin of this delicious drink. Although Mr. Giang passed away, the recipe has still been handed down and developed by his family members. 

Giang Coffee is the origin of egg coffee

The space of “Giang Coffee” is neither too big nor too much invested, but it’s always crowded. When coming here, you may feel like you’re separate from the hustle and bustle of the city outside. What could be more wonderful than sipping a cup of coffee while immersing yourself in soothing music?

Dinh Coffee

Address: No.13 Dinh Tien Hoang, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi

Dinh Coffee started its business in 1990, this is also one of the oldest egg coffee shops in Hanoi. Located right in the heart of the Old Quarter with a balcony facing Hoan Kiem Lake, Dinh Coffee welcomes many different guests every day. It was opened by Mr. Giang's daughter, Mrs. Bich, so the taste of egg coffee here is no different from Giang Coffee.

A corner of Dinh Coffee in Hanoi capital

Egg coffee is a pure Vietnamese drink, created by Vietnamese people and handed down for decades. Hanoi people still preserve this drinking culture as part of their habit so that when it comes to egg coffee, people can immediately remember the capital of Vietnam.

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