May 15, 2026 · Last updated July 26, 2026

How to Make Vietnamese Iced Coffee (Ca Phe Sua Da) Using CBD Coffee

by Marc Narrie

Ca Phe Sua Da is Vietnamese iced coffee: a dark, intense brew dripped over sweetened condensed milk, then poured on ice. It hits hard. It is also, traditionally, a serious caffeine wallop, which is where CBD coffee comes in. At Buddha Beans Coffee Co. we roast specialty beans infused with broad spectrum CBD, and this guide walks you through a CBD-infused Ca Phe Sua Da, step by step, from grind to ice.

What Makes Vietnamese Iced Coffee (Ca Phe Sua Da) Work

The drink dates to the French colonial era. Fresh milk was scarce in Vietnam, so brewers reached for sweetened condensed milk instead, and the substitution became the signature. The traditional tool is a "phin" filter, a small metal drip brewer that sits on top of the glass and slowly pulls a dark, potent brew down over the condensed milk and ice.

What lands in the glass is pure contrast. Bitter coffee against sweet milk against cold ice, built to cut through tropical heat with a serious energy kick. Vietnamese cafes typically brew dark-roasted Robusta, a bean with high caffeine and a strong, earthy flavor. That intensity is the whole trick. A lighter coffee would drown in the condensed milk and the drink would turn syrupy and flat.

Why Brew It With CBD Coffee

Swapping CBD coffee into your Ca Phe Sua Da changes the character of the drink. Instead of the sharp caffeine spike and crash, many of our customers report a smoother, more even lift, what some call a jitterless coffee. Everyone responds differently, but for a drink this strong, the pairing makes sense.

Every cup starts with exceptional beans. We pair single origin coffees with broad spectrum CBD extract from USDA-certified organic, USA-grown hemp, processed with a winterized CO2 extraction that keeps every batch at 0% THC. You get the hemp plant's other compounds working together, often called the entourage effect, without any psychoactive effects.

For this recipe, reach for something bold. Our Vietnam Black Lotus 600mg CBD Coffee goes through anaerobic natural processing, which gives it a complex, intense flavor that holds its own against condensed milk. The subtle earthy notes of the CBD sit inside that intensity instead of getting buried under the sweetness. Some customers describe the result as calm focus in a glass. At minimum, it turns an afternoon sugar bomb into something slower and more deliberate.

The Recipe: CBD-Infused Ca Phe Sua Da

A traditional phin filter gives you the most authentic result, but you can make this with gear you already own. A French press, pour-over, or Aeropress all get you close enough that nobody at your table will complain. Both paths are below.

Ingredients:

Buddha Beans CBD Coffee: We recommend our Vietnam Black Lotus 600mg CBD Coffee. Its intense profile, built through anaerobic fermentation, stands up to condensed milk. Our Burundi natural process CBD coffee, with its berry and dark chocolate notes, works just as well.
Sweetened Condensed Milk: The heart of Ca Phe Sua Da. Adjust to taste.
Hot Water: Filtered, heated to around 200-205°F (93-96°C).
Ice: Plenty of it.

Equipment:

Vietnamese Phin Filter (recommended)
Alternatively: French press, pour-over dripper, or Aeropress
Heat-proof glass or mug
Spoon for stirring

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Grind Your Coffee: For a phin filter or pour-over, use a medium-fine grind, similar to table salt. For a French press, grind coarse. Either way, keep the grind size consistent so the coffee extracts evenly.
Prepare Your Glass: Add 2-3 tablespoons of sweetened condensed milk to the bottom of your heat-proof glass. More if you like it sweeter.
Set Up Your Brewer:
- With a Phin Filter: Place the phin over your glass. Add 2-3 tablespoons (about 15-20g) of your Buddha Beans CBD coffee grounds. Shake gently to level them, then set the tamper screen on top and press down lightly.
- With a French Press: Add 2-3 tablespoons (about 15-20g) of coffee grounds to your French press.
- With a Pour-Over: Set your pour-over cone and filter over a separate mug or carafe. Add 2-3 tablespoons (about 15-20g) of coffee grounds.
Pre-wet (Bloom) the Coffee: Pour just enough hot water to saturate the grounds, about 1-2 tablespoons, over the coffee in your phin or pour-over. Wait 20-30 seconds while the coffee "blooms" and releases gases. In a French press, bloom the same way.
Brew the Coffee:
- With a Phin Filter: Fill the phin with hot water (about 4-5 ounces, or until full). The coffee drips slowly into the glass below, mixing with the condensed milk as it lands. Expect 4-7 minutes.
- With a French Press: Pour 4-5 ounces of hot water over the bloomed grounds. Stir gently, set the lid on with the plunger up, and steep for 4 minutes. Press the plunger down slowly.
- With a Pour-Over: Keep pouring hot water in a slow circular motion until you've used 4-5 ounces. Then pour the brewed concentrate into your glass with the condensed milk.
Combine and Chill: Once the brewing finishes, stir with a spoon until the condensed milk fully dissolves into the hot coffee. No shortcuts here; this is what makes the sweetness even from first sip to last.
Add Ice: Fill a second tall glass completely with ice. Pour the hot coffee and condensed milk mixture over it. The immediate chill dilutes the drink just enough to make it refreshing instead of syrupy.
Serve and Enjoy: One more stir and it's ready. If you want to test other bold origins in this recipe, our 3-Coffee Flight lets you compare three at once.

Tips for the Perfect CBD Ca Phe Sua Da:

Quality Beans Matter: Coffees with bold profiles and specific processing, like anaerobic fermentation or natural process, shine in this drink. Our guide to different coffee processing methods can help you pick the right bean.
Water Temperature: Never use boiling water. It scorches the coffee and pulls out bitter notes. Stay in the 200-205°F (93-96°C) range.
Condensed Milk Ratio: Personal preference. Start with 2 tablespoons, taste, and add more if you want it sweeter.
Stir Thoroughly: Get the condensed milk fully incorporated into the hot coffee before the ice goes in, or you'll find a thick sweet sludge at the bottom of the glass.
Experiment with CBD Dosage: Our standard bags contain 300mg CBD; our Black Label options, like the Vietnam Black Lotus, carry 600mg CBD per bag for experienced users. Our CBD Coffee Dosage Guide covers how to find the strength that fits you.

How We Make Our CBD Coffee

We source single origin beans and publish what goes into every bag. The broad spectrum CBD extract comes from USDA-certified organic, USA-grown hemp and runs through a clean winterized CO2 extraction, which is how we hold every batch at 0% THC with consistent potency.

Every product is third-party lab tested for purity and accurate CBD content, so you can check what's in your cup before you brew it. If you want a naturally low acid coffee, try our Mexico Chiapas. If you want the bold, complex notes of an experimental process coffee, we roast those too. Either way, the goal is the same cup: functional coffee built for calm energy and focus, one origin at a time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use any type of CBD coffee for Vietnamese Iced Coffee?

Any CBD coffee will brew, but a bold, dark roast or a coffee with a strong flavor profile, like our Vietnam Black Lotus or Burundi origins, stands up best to the rich sweetness of condensed milk and keeps the drink balanced and authentic.

What is the best grind size for making Ca Phe Sua Da?

For a phin filter or a pour-over, use a medium-fine grind, about the texture of table salt. For a French press, go coarser to avoid over-extraction and bitterness.

Is CBD coffee good for a morning energy boost?

Many users report a sustained lift from CBD coffee without the jitters or anxious feelings they associate with regular coffee. The broad spectrum CBD may help promote a sense of calm and focus, which makes it a solid pick for a balanced start to the day.

How does broad spectrum CBD differ from other types?

Broad spectrum CBD keeps a wide range of the cannabinoids, terpenes, and other compounds found in hemp, but with 0% THC. That mix allows for the "entourage effect," where the compounds work together and may add to the overall wellness benefits compared to CBD isolate.

Can I make this drink without a Phin filter?

Yes. A phin is traditional, but a French press, pour-over, or Aeropress all produce excellent results. What matters is brewing a strong, concentrated coffee that can stand up to the condensed milk and ice.