Interesting last filter coffee shop in Bien Hoa

* The article is an entry into the contest "Impressions of Vietnamese coffee and tea" under the program "Honoring Vietnamese coffee and tea" for the 2nd time, 2024 organized by Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper.

Một góc không gian quán cà phê vợt ở Biên Hòa — A corner of the tennis racket cafe in Bien Hoa

Located in Bien Hoa market (Bien Hoa city, Dong Nai ), on the side of Nguyen Van Tri street, overlooking Dong Nai river, the coffee shop of Mrs. Vo Thi Duc (75 years old) has been around for 51 years. This is considered the last coffee shop in Bien Hoa.

In the morning, at the corner of the old market overlooking the river, the filter coffee shop looks no different from other coffee shops from the outside. There is no sign, simple tables and chairs, customers sit among the people passing by the market. The shop owner said he started selling coffee when he was 23 years old.

Bà Đức đang pha chế cà phê bằng vợt. Bà cho biết quán chỉ có 2 người được pha chế là bà và cô em út, từ xưa tới nay — Mrs. Duc is making coffee with a filter. She said that from the past until now, the shop has only had two people making coffee: her and her youngest sister.

What few people know is that the shop still maintains the same brewing method from more than half a century ago: Brewing with a filter. The shop owner said that the coffee beans are sourced from familiar sources, then roasted and ground by himself with his own "secret recipe", without adding any impurities. Brewing with a filter is also very elaborate and sophisticated.

Khi đã pha xong, cà phê nhìn bề ngoài cũng giống như các loại cà phê pha chế hiện đại — Once brewed, the coffee looks similar to modern brewed coffee.

Thú vị quán cà phê vợt cuối cùng ở Biên Hòa
- Ảnh 4.

Ông Trần Phi Châu, cán bộ về hưu, khách quen của quán. Có những vị khách cho biết là khách qune của quán từ mấy chục năm trước, không bỏ được. Có cô sinh viên cũng tìm đến đây để biết cà phê vợt — Mr. Tran Phi Chau, a retired cadre, is a regular customer of the shop. Some customers said they have been regular customers of the shop for decades and cannot quit. There is also a female student who comes here to learn about filter coffee.

We observed the messy brewing area with many pots and kettles; many of them were on fire at the same time. To brew, first, you have to dip the cloth filter into boiling water to clean the filter. Next, scoop the ground coffee into the filter, place it in an aluminum jug, slowly pour in boiling water, and stir with a spoon until the coffee powder gradually cooks and bubbles. Wait for a certain amount of time, then lift it up and dip it three times like that.

Thú vị quán cà phê vợt cuối cùng ở Biên Hòa
- Ảnh 6. — Once brewed, the coffee looks similar to modern brewed coffee.

Take the first batch of coffee and pour it back into the filter and continue to pour a small amount of boiling water into the filter. Do this 4 times. At this point, the coffee essence has enough aroma and flavor. From here, the coffee is made into small cups. Iced milk coffee, hot milk coffee, black coffee, and black coffee are brought out for customers to enjoy.

Outside the restaurant, the customers seemed quieter. My heart also calmed down!