Vietnam culinary culture will never be a transcript of any culinary culture in the world. And, egg coffee, the evidence for the creativeness of Hanoians, have proved that statement and made itself one of Hanoi traditional food and drink.
Sugar, Egg, Milk, Coffee and the know-how
Father of this unique drink is Mr Nguyen Van Giang, a former bartender of Metropole Hotel. He passed away in 1987, so now Mr. Giang’s youngest son, Mr Nguyen Tri Hoa is continuing his precious “inheritance”.
Cappuccino, the drink that he often made for the foreign customers in the hotel, is unaffordable to Hanoians. It was because coffee, cream and milk whey was very expensive. Mr. Giang was thinking of using eggs the available ingredients to replace those high cost ones.
In 1946, a coffee shop at 39 Nguyen Huu Huan Street operated by the Vietnamese bartender in French hotel first served customer the extraordinary drink made of coffee, egg, sugar and milk. He had made his idea come true. The drink was not only unique but also inexpensive because of fresh eggs were always at hand in Vietnam.
According to Mr. Hoa, the ingredients of Egg Coffee consists of fresh raw chicken eggs, sugar, milk, coffee and a little know-hows. The egg yolk is beaten with milk, sugar in a cup. Boiling coffee is then poured into the egg mixture. The cup of coffee quickly turns brown and smells charming with soft foam floating on the surface.
The cup of egg coffee was often put in a bowl of hot water in order to keep it warm. Mr. Hoa explained that egg was formerly whipped by hand, so it was not as smooth as egg that is whipped by machine. Therefore, in the past, the shop only served hot egg coffee to keep the fragrant smell and buttery taste. Nowadays, egg beater machine is use to make egg softer, smoother and frothier. The shop now served both hot and cold egg coffee without worrying about the fishy smell.
To enjoy all the best in a cup of egg coffee, people often sip the cream foam on the surface first with a small spoon. The coffee under the foam is slowly savored to feel the aroma, sweet and buttery taste blended with the light bitterness.
The way to make egg coffee sounds easy, but the deliciousness of this drink depends on the skill of the bartenders. If you are wondering about the special of Hanoi street food and drink, you should come to Giang Café and order yourself a cup of egg coffee. Its taste will be in your mind forever.
Nostalgic space inside a bustle city
In addition to Giang Café, Dinh Café which is operated by a daughter of Mr. Giang also serve egg coffee. While Dinh Café’s space is suitable for those who love Rock, Giang Café remains its vintage.
Egg coffee can be found in many coffee shop in Hanoi. However, mentioning egg coffee, people are often reminded of the small old house at 39 Nguyen Huu Huan. Instead of the modern sofa, customers coming to Giang Café sit on the wooden chairs. This is not an inconvenience because the simple furniture in Giang Café recalls the memories of an old Hanoi.
The shop also have egg cocoa, egg with green beans smoothies, egg matcha, egg beer…in their menu. Mr. Hoa said although there was a change in menu to match the flavor of the customers and the new trends, the taste of traditional coffee in Giang café had to be conserved. Egg coffee must be “truthful” from the ingredients to the affection of people who make it.
Among the bustle and hustle of the modern city, the scent of egg coffee will definitely lure the steps of people on Food walking tour.