Hey there, coffee lovers! Today, I’m bringing you a different take to the world of coffee: Sea Salt Coffee. If you’re tired of the same old cup of joe and looking to add a twist to your morning routine, you’re in for a treat!
What is Sea Salt Coffee?
Sea salt coffee (known in Vietnam as Cà Phê Muối) is a unique drink that blends the bold, bitter taste of coffee with a creamy, salty foam. While it might sound strange to put salt in your coffee, it actually works like a charm—the salt cuts the bitterness and makes the natural flavors of the coffee taste even richer.
The Story Behind the Trend of Salted Coffee
This popular drink comes from Hội An, a beautiful historic city in Central Vietnam. It was first created by a small café on Nguyen Luong Bang Street about 14 years ago.
The owners wanted to find a way to make traditional Vietnamese coffee smoother and more balanced. They experimented by adding a salted cream topping to the strong brew. What started as a local secret quickly became a massive hit, eventually spreading across the country and becoming a global coffee trend.
Why Do You Put Salt in Coffee? The Science Made Simple
It might sound like a kitchen mistake, but putting a pinch of salt in your coffee is actually backed by science. Here is why it works so well:
1. It Kills the Bitterness
Our tongues have special “receptors” that taste different things, like sweet, sour, and bitter. Salt has a unique power: it actually blocks your tongue from tasting bitterness. When you add a little salt, it “shuts the door” on those bitter signals before they can reach your brain.
2. It Brings Out the Sweetness
Once the bitterness is out of the way, the other flavors in the coffee can finally shine. Salt acts like a volume knob for flavor—it makes the natural sweetness and the rich, nutty notes of the coffee taste much stronger without you having to add extra sugar.
3. It Smooths Out the Water
If you have “hard water” (water with lots of minerals), it can make coffee taste a bit sharp or metallic. Salt helps soften the texture of the water, making every sip feel smoother and more velvety on your tongue.
The Golden Rule: You only need a tiny pinch! The goal isn’t to make the coffee taste “salty”—it’s to make the coffee taste more like itself.
Let’s Get Brewing!
Now, let’s dive into the recipe and whip up this delightful drink for your morning.
What you need to make sea salt coffee:
- Milk frother
- 8 oz brewed coffee or instant coffee
- 1 tsp sugar
- ¼ cup whipping cream
- Pinch of salt (adjust to taste)
- Cinnamon powder
- Ice cubes
I’m using Vietnamese coffee phin to brew my coffee. It consists of a perforated metal filter chamber that allows for a slow and controlled brewing process. The phin looks simple, but it’s very efficient in extracting bold flavors. I’m also using robusta beans to get a stronger flavor.
Can I Make Sea Salt Coffee Without a Vietnamese Phin Filter?
Yes, you absolutely can! While a Vietnamese coffee phin is the traditional way to get that signature bold flavor, you don’t need special equipment to enjoy this drink at home.
The goal is to create a very strong, concentrated coffee that can stand up to the heavy, salted cream.
How to make sea salt coffee
- Start by brewing 8 oz of your favorite coffee. If you’re short on time, you can also use instant coffee.
- While your coffee is still hot, stir in a teaspoon of sugar until it’s fully dissolved. Adjust the sweetness according to your preference.
- Once your coffee has reached room temperature, pop it in the fridge to chill. You want it nice and cold for that refreshing kick.
- In a separate bowl, whip up ¼ cup of whipping cream until it forms stiff peaks. This will be the creamy topping for your sea salt coffee.
- Here comes the secret ingredient – salt! Add just a pinch of salt to your whipping cream and give it a good stir.
- Fill a glass with ice cubes and pour in your chilled sea salt coffee. Top it off with a generous dollop of whipped cream.
- Sprinkle a pinch of cinnamon powder on top of the whipped cream for an extra layer of flavor and aroma.
- Grab a straw, give your sea salt coffee a quick stir to mix everything, and take a sip.
Can you use cold-brew coffee?
Absolutely! You can use cold-brew coffee to make Sea Salt Coffee. In fact, using cold-brew coffee can enhance the smoothness of the final drink. Simply follow the same recipe instructions, substituting cold-brew coffee for the brewed or instant coffee.
How do you make cold-brew coffee?
Making cold brew coffee is incredibly simple and yields a smooth, flavorful result. Here’s a quick guide:
- Use coarsely ground coffee. This helps in extracting the flavors without making the coffee bitter.
- In a large jar or container, add the coarsely ground coffee beans. Pour cold water over the coffee grounds, ensuring that they are fully submerged in the water. Use a ratio of around 1 part coffee to 4 parts water.
- Give the mixture a gentle stir to ensure that all the coffee grounds are saturated with water.
- Cover the jar or container and let it steep at room temperature for about 12 to 24 hours. The longer you steep, the stronger the coffee will be.
- After the steeping period is over, strain the coffee concentrate using a fine-mesh sieve or a coffee filter. You can strain it multiple times to remove any fine particles for a smoother finish.
- Cold brew concentrate is strong, so you may want to dilute it with water or milk according to your taste preferences.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much salt do you use?
You only need a tiny pinch of sea salt for the cream topping. The goal isn’t to make the coffee taste like seawater; it’s to use just enough to “cancel out” the bitterness of the coffee and make the cream taste richer. You can always add a tiny bit more later, but start small!
Is sea salt coffee sweet?
Yes, it is. Traditional Vietnamese sea salt coffee is a dessert-like drink. It uses sweetened condensed milk in the base and usually a little sugar in the whipped cream. The salt actually makes the sweetness taste more intense and satisfying, rather than making the drink savory.
But I use sugar instead of condensed milk in this recipe because it’s not my preferred type of sweetener.
Can I make it iced?
Absolutely! In fact, sea salt coffee is most commonly served over ice in Vietnam to help beat the heat. Just brew your coffee, stir in your sugar or condensed milk while it’s hot, and then let it chill or pour it over a full glass of ice before adding your salted cream on top.
Where can I buy Vietnamese coffee for this?
To get that authentic chocolatey and nutty flavor, look for dark roast Robusta beans.
Local Markets: Check the international or Asian aisle of your grocery store for brands like Trung Nguyen or Cafe Du Monde (the orange tin).
Online: You can find Vietnamese coffee and phin filters easily on Amazon or specialized coffee websites.
Specialty Shops: Many local coffee roasters now carry Vietnamese beans specifically for traditional brewing.
And that’s it! With just a little bit of patience, you’ll have a delicious batch of cold brew coffee ready to enjoy whenever you need a refreshing pick-me-up.
Feel free to experiment with the recipe and make it your own. Maybe add a splash of vanilla extract or sprinkle some cocoa powder on top.
Until next time, happy brewing!
Sea Salt Coffee
Equipment
- 1 milk frother
Ingredients
- Milk frother
- 8 oz brewed coffee or instant coffee
- 1 tsp sugar
- ¼ cup whipping cream
- Pinch of salt adjust to taste
- Cinnamon powder garnishing
- Ice cubes garnishing
Instructions
- Use coarsely ground coffee. This helps in extracting the flavors without making the coffee bitter.
- In a large jar or container, add the coarsely ground coffee beans. Pour cold water over the coffee grounds, ensuring that they are fully submerged in the water. Use a ratio of around 1 part coffee to 4 parts water.
- Give the mixture a gentle stir to ensure that all the coffee grounds are saturated with water.
- Cover the jar or container and let it steep at room temperature for about 12 to 24 hours. The longer you steep, the stronger the coffee will be.
- After the steeping period is over, strain the coffee concentrate using a fine-mesh sieve or a coffee filter. You can strain it multiple times to remove any fine particles for a smoother finish.
- Cold brew concentrate is strong, so you may want to dilute it with water or milk according to your taste preferences.
