VIETNAMESE COFFEE

If you're looking to brew vietnamese coffee for one person, this it the one. It's easy to use and quite straight forward. However, if you're planning to drink the coffee from these black without sugar or milk like me, I would recommend to use some other brewer. For some reason, the coffee from the Phin filter is a little bitter and without much flavors. I guess that's why people use dark roasted coffee and add sweet condensed milk to Vietnamese coffee. It's designed to brew coffee to that nature and probably not very versatile. The grind size is hard to get because no matter how coarse/fine it is, I only get slow flowing drips from the filter. Needs to experiment more.

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GOOD PRODUCT

I have one of these filter and it is a simple way to make great coffee. Make sure to try some authentic vietnamese roasted coffee to go with it.

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EXCELLENT FOR VIETNAMESE COFFEE

I have been making Vietnamese coffee for more than 10 years and really prefer this kind of gravity insert. As the retailer stated, it's difficult to gauge how much to screw down with the other type and I had a real tough time with how much to tighten it. The gravity type method can be done by feel and is much easier to get right after the first few trials. I did not buy this particular filter but it looks to be of higher quality than what you find at a typical Asian supermarket.

Before getting into making espresso using a machine, I was mainly using this filter type. I tried Aeropress, but being Asian, I need a stronger brew. It took me a while to figure out how to use this filter. Vietnamese coffee is primarily of the dark French roast variety. I usually just buy the can coffee from Asian supermarkets (the horror!) because I didn't know any better. This is my procedure: add 3 teaspoons of ground coffee and shake the filter side to side to level it; tamp the ground using the upper filter moderately, don't do the 30 lbs. tamp of the espresso drinkers; leave this filter on top of the coffee; if the coffee is too bitter, add a pinch of salt to the coffee (very common in this part of the world); heat up the water to almost boiling point (180-195 F); pour hot water slowly into the filter up to about 1/4 of the filter; let it seep for 20 seconds or so and then pour more hot water into it to almost fill the filter. For Vietnamese iced coffee, add in 3 teaspoons (or less) of condensed milk, mix it in and add over ice. I usually drink Americano by adding some hot/broiling water. I recommend using freshly roasted and grinded coffee and try to grind so that the water going through the coffee takes about 2.5-3 minutes. Keep your tamp consistent. You might need to play around with everything a bit for best results.

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DOES THE JOB

I personally am not a fan of chilled coffee but my husband drinks nothing but iced coffee. Simple to use. And according to my husband, it's just as good as ordering it in a Vietnamese restaurant without costing a ridiculously over priced amount. Would definitely buy again

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CONFUSING REVIEW

We take exception to the review below that states that our filters are aluminum, among other inaccuracies. No part is aluminum, nor are they stamped, they are rolled and finished stainless steel, absolutely 100%, all parts except the attached black handles. Holes are drilled by a drill press. They are a heavier gauge than most on the market and more nicely finished. They are made by Tantiendat, the people who make Phins for a number of the top coffee houses in Vietnam, including Trung Nguyen.

The "grabber" piece attached to the insert is simply there to allow you to lift the insert up, it is not a working part and being a little off center does not affect function.

The inserts are always a little smaller than the chamber, and there is always a little bit of migration above the insert by the grounds in every Phin model we have ever seen (we have tested virtually all of the manufacturers), including screw-down types. It's not only unavoidable, it also has no effect on the brewing. Whenever we have Vietnamese coffee in a restaurant, we always see grounds in the chamber, regardless of what type of Phin they are using.

If you were in any way unsatisfied with the Phin you purchased we would have been happy to supply a complete refund or replacement, and we would prefer customers contact us if they have any issues before posting negative reviews. We have sold over 12,000 Phin filters since 2005 and to-date we have had fewer than a dozen returns or complaints.

Thank you!

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SHOOT AND MISS QUALITY ASSURANCE

If you’re looking for an inexpensive phin and will tolerate mid-low quality, than this is your pick.

The maker is made of stamped aluminum with hard plastic stubs. The lid, body, and filter are of reasonable quality and effective. However, I can’t say the same about the gravity insert. The stem on the insert was attached off-center and crooked. The insert disc is slightly smaller than the body and allows the grind to leak.

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PHIN FILTER COFFEE MAKER

Great little coffee maker. Easy to use.

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