Vietnamese coffee isn’t just coffee from Vietnam. It brings a whole new experience to the world’s favourite wake-up drink. Using the more intensely flavoured robusta beans and condensed milk to sweeten it, it’s a pretty unique flavour. But you’ll struggle to find a good cup of it in Birmingham, which is where Tranquil 1992 steps in.
Situated in the heart of the Jewellery Quarter, Tranquil 1992 opened last week (December 1) to bring Vietnamese coffee culture to Brummies. While Vietnam is the world’s second-largest coffee exporter, this is the only coffee shop in Birmingham offering only authentic Vietnamese coffee drinks. With a cosy and tranquil atmosphere – think living room vibes – one sip and you’ll be hooked.
“We are thrilled to introduce Birmingham to the rich tapestry of Vietnamese coffee culture”, said Thang Nguyen, founder of Tranquil 1992. “Our aim is to not only provide a great Vietnamese coffee experience but also to bridge cultures and foster connections through a shared love for coffee.”
“Besides, Jewellery Quarter has always been a symbol of Birmingham’s history, this is the reason why we chose to open the first coffee house in this area. By merging the vibrant Vietnamese coffee tradition and the spirit of one of the most historic areas of Birmingham, we all want to show our love for the second city of England”.
What is Vietnamese coffee like?
Tranquil 1992 will use robusta coffee beans exclusively imported from Vietnam. So expect a taste that is generally stronger, darker and more earthy than you’re average coffee. All drinks are then handmade in a single-serving Vietnamese coffee press, known as a ‘phin’. Dripping slowly into the glass over several minutes, black coffee needs to be kept cool for 12 hours to enhance the flavour.
But you’ll find a range of unique drinks here to make your daily lattes, flat whites and cappuccinos taste a little… dull. Cà Phê Sữa Đá is one of the most popular coffee drinks in Hanoi – the capital of Vietnam – and is rich, thick and strong, sweetened with condensed milk. Cà Phê Trứng aka Egg Coffee is famous for using whisked egg yolks to create its rich topping – invented in post-war 1940s Vietnam when condensed milk was scarce.
Other drinks available include Bạc Sỉu, which is beloved in Ho Chi Minh City (and is a slightly less intense version of Cà Phê Sữa Đá); Cà Phê Muối, which uses salted cream to create its unique sweet-and-salty flavour combination; and Cà Phê Cốt Dừa, which adds coconut milk to the classic Vietnamese milk coffee.
You can find Tranquil 1992 at 87 Vyse Street, The Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham, B18 6JZ