Brewing Methods

Vietnamese Phin Coffee

Use a metal drip filter for slow concentrated coffee.

By Julian R. NorthcottUpdated July 2026

A phin sits over a cup and lets water pass through coffee by gravity. Recipes vary by filter size, coffee and serving style.

What to evaluate

Keep the decision connected to the actual coffee, brewer and serving goal.

  • Preheat the filter
  • Do not tamp excessively
  • Track first and total drip time
  • Refrigerate dairy ingredients

A repeatable workflow

Use one baseline, then change only what the evidence supports.

  1. Add and level coffee
  2. Place the press gently
  3. Bloom
  4. Fill and cover

Common mistakes

These errors make comparisons unreliable or create avoidable problems.

  • Packing too tightly
  • Grinding through the holes
  • Leaving dairy warm
  • Handling hot metal carelessly
Treat the actual filter capacity as the recipe limit.