Saigon "Racquet" Coffee

There are many ways to make coffee, make coffee with a machine, make coffee with a filter, but not many people know about a very special method of making coffee in Saigon that is using a cloth sieve and an earthen pot (or a steel pot). small). Saigon people call this coffee "Coffee Racquet". This way of making coffee has been quite popular since coffee appeared in the city and locals did not know about filters or coffee machines. It may be strange to today's young people, but "Racquet" coffee was once an important part of Saigon in the past. In modern life, cafes from luxury to popular are popping up everywhere in Saigon. Only a few "Racquet" cafes are still open in hidden, quiet corners, where people come to find the taste of the past.

To make a cup of "Racquet" coffee, roasted coffee powder is put into a cloth sieve and cooked in an earthen pot (or small steel pot) over medium coal heat for a while. It's simple to make, but it's not easy to make the perfect cup of coffee. The temperature should not be too high because the coffee will be sour. Do not set it low because the coffee will be cold. The brewer must stir the powder continuously while cooking for the best coffee. The coffee, after being thoroughly cooked, is warmed in another pot over embers and served hot or iced if you want it cold. Coffee "Racquet" always retains a unique aroma that cannot be found in other ways of preparation.

Some "Racquet" cafes with the longest history in Saigon:

1. Phan Dinh Phung Racquet Cafe (Am Phu Coffee)

The cafe is more than half a century old, located in a small house in alley 330 Phan Dinh Phung street, Phu Nhuan district. The owners are Mr. Con (80 years old) and Ms. Tuyet (75 years old). Although Mr. Con is old, he does not want to take a break because he loves to make coffee for his regular customers. Mr. Con said the cafe was opened by his father, who taught him how to make great coffee using a cloth sieve and steel pot. According to Mr. Con, to make a good cup of "Racquet" coffee, fire plays the most important role.

Old, simple cafe with a simple coffee bar, wooden tables, and plastic chairs along a small alley. The shop is crowded during the day with all members from officials to workers, from young people to the elderly. The atmosphere at the cafe is always warm and close. One of the highlights of this cafe is that it never closes, so it is also known as Am Phu coffee shop.

2. Cheo Leo Cafe

Cheo Leo Cafe was opened in 1983 by Mr. Vinh Ngo, the current second-generation owners are Mrs. Suong and Mrs. Hoa, his two children. The shop is located in alley 109 Nguyen Thien Thuat, District 3, small space with simple tables and chairs. The shop looks old and hasn't changed in years. Previously, Cheo Leo was one of the most famous coffee shops in Saigon, a gathering place for young music lovers. To this day, the shop still plays music from decades ago. Filtered coffee and brewed coffee later became very popular, but according to Mr. Vinh Ngo, filtered coffee was not as good as racquet coffee, so Cheo Leo shop has existed to this day. Unlike coffee at Am Phu, coffee in Cheo Leo is still cooked and kept warm in an earthen pot. The shop is open daily from 05:15 to 18:45 PM.

3. No Name Coffee Shop

Another famous racket coffee shop in Saigon is located in alley 313 Tan Phuoc, District 11. The space is small, simple but with a strong and delicious taste, attracting many guests who come here just to enjoy a cup of coffee. the coffee. Mr. Luu Thanh Nhan - the owner of the cafe shared that the browner the sieve, the more fragrant and delicious the coffee will be. Despite his age, he still makes coffee for guests every day carefully and quickly without skipping any steps of making coffee with an earthen pot and a cloth sieve.