Vietnamese Coffee (Cà Phê Sữa Đá): Calories, Nutrition and Health Facts

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A classic glass of Vietnamese iced coffee (cà phê sữa đá) made with 2 tablespoons of sweetened condensed milk has about 124 calories, 21g of sugar, 3g of protein and 3.3g of fat. Almost all of it comes from the condensed milk, since the coffee itself is about 2 calories. Cafés that pour 3 tablespoons land near 185 calories.

Quick Nutrition Facts

Per 1 glass (about 8 fl oz) with 2 tbsp condensed milk

Nutrient	Amount
Calories	124 kcal
Protein	3g
Carbohydrates	20.7g
Fiber	0g
Sugars	20.7g
Fat	3.3g
Sodium	50 mg

Macronutrient Breakdown

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NUTRITIONIST'S INSIGHT

The coffee is not the issue here; the condensed milk is. Two tablespoons carry about 21g of sugar, roughly 18g of it added, which is half the American Heart Association's 36g daily limit for men and most of the 25g limit for women, in one glass. The drink has no fiber and no fat to slow absorption, so the sugar arrives fast. Robusta beans also carry close to double the caffeine of arabica, so a strong phin glass can use up a good share of the 400 mg a day the FDA cites for most adults. If you drink it daily, ask for one tablespoon of condensed milk, or order it as cà phê sữa nóng in a smaller cup. Saving 61 calories and about 10g of sugar per glass adds up over a week.

Myth Busters

MYTH #1: Vietnamese coffee is just coffee, so it is basically zero calories.

TRUTH: Black phin coffee (cà phê đen) is about 2 calories, but the traditional glass is built on condensed milk. Two tablespoons add 122 calories and about 21g of sugar, so the drink lands near 124 calories, and a 3 tablespoon pour reaches about 185. BodyPal, Condensed Milk Calories per Can (includes cà phê sữa calories); USDA FoodData Central, Milk, canned, condensed, sweetened (SR Legacy 171275)

MYTH #2: Condensed milk is a dairy food, so it is a good protein and calcium source.

TRUTH: Two tablespoons give 3g of protein against about 21g of sugar. It behaves more like a syrup with some milk in it: a tablespoon has 61 calories, close to honey at 64. The calcium (about 108 mg per 2 tbsp) is real but small next to the sugar load. USDA FoodData Central, Milk, canned, condensed, sweetened (SR Legacy 171275); BodyPal, Condensed Milk Calories per Can (includes cà phê sữa calories)

MYTH #3: Coffee spikes blood sugar, so it raises diabetes risk.

TRUTH: Plain coffee is linked to a lower long-term risk of type 2 diabetes in large cohort studies, even though caffeine can nudge blood sugar up for a short time. The sugar in the condensed milk is what makes this version a blood sugar concern, not the coffee. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Coffee (The Nutrition Source)

MYTH #4: Robusta coffee is just weaker, cheaper coffee.

TRUTH: Robusta carries close to double the caffeine of arabica, and the phin filter uses a high coffee-to-water ratio. A small glass can be noticeably stronger than a regular drip cup, which matters if you are watching caffeine. Lotus Banh Mi, Vietnamese Coffee: What It Is and How It's Made; FDA, Spilling the Beans: How Much Caffeine Is Too Much?

MYTH #5: Fat-free condensed milk fixes the calorie problem.

TRUTH: The fat in condensed milk is only about 8.7g per 100g. The calories come mainly from sugar, so a fat-free can saves only a small amount per tablespoon and keeps the same sugar. BodyPal, Condensed Milk Calories per Can (includes cà phê sữa calories)

NutriScore by Health Goals

Health Goal	NutriScore	Why This Score?
Weight Loss		124 calories is modest for one glass, but it is nearly all sugar with no protein or fiber to keep you full. A daily 3 tablespoon version at about 185 calories adds up quickly. BodyPal, Condensed Milk Calories per Can (includes cà phê sữa calories); Cafely, Vietnamese Coffee Calorie Content and Nutritional Facts
Muscle Gain		3g of protein per glass is negligible. It works as a pre-workout caffeine source, but the sugar load and lack of protein make it a poor recovery drink. USDA FoodData Central, Milk, canned, condensed, sweetened (SR Legacy 171275)
Diabetes Management		About 21g of sugar from condensed milk in a liquid with no fiber produces a quick glucose rise. The coffee itself is neutral to protective, so a smaller condensed milk pour or an unsweetened version is the safer pattern. USDA FoodData Central, Milk, canned, condensed, sweetened (SR Legacy 171275); Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Coffee (The Nutrition Source)
Heart Health		Coffee without added sugar is linked to neutral-to-lower cardiovascular risk. With 2 tablespoons of condensed milk you take in about 18g of added sugar, half of the 36g daily limit the American Heart Association sets for men. American Heart Association, How Much Sugar Is Too Much?; Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Coffee (The Nutrition Source)
PCOS Management		Fast-absorbing sugar with no fiber or protein works against steady insulin levels. A half-sweet version with a protein-rich meal is a better fit. USDA FoodData Central, Milk, canned, condensed, sweetened (SR Legacy 171275)
Pregnancy Nutrition		The caffeine in strong robusta coffee needs tracking, and the added sugar is high for the calories. Pasteurized canned condensed milk is fine from a food-safety view; ask your clinician what caffeine limit applies to you. FDA, Spilling the Beans: How Much Caffeine Is Too Much?; American Heart Association, How Much Sugar Is Too Much?

PERSONALIZED NUTRITION

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Blood Sugar Response to Vietnamese Coffee

A glass of cà phê sữa đá delivers about 21g of sugar in a liquid with no fiber, so glucose rises quickly and peaks around 30 to 45 minutes. The caffeine can add a small short-term push. The curve is modeled for a healthy adult and individual responses vary. USDA FoodData Central, Milk, canned, condensed, sweetened (SR Legacy 171275); Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Coffee (The Nutrition Source)

Estimated Blood Sugar Response (1 glass, 2 tbsp condensed milk)

Modeled from the sugar content and typical liquid-sugar responses. Not a measured CGM trace.

How to flatten the spike

Ask for one tablespoon of condensed milk instead of two or three; it cuts about 10g of sugar per tablespoon removed.
Drink it after a meal with protein or fat rather than on an empty stomach.
Sip it over 20 to 30 minutes instead of finishing it quickly.
Try half condensed milk and half unsweetened evaporated milk to keep the creamy taste.

Cultural Significance

Cà phê sữa đá dates to the French colonial period in Vietnam, when fresh milk spoiled quickly in the heat and canned sweetened condensed milk became the everyday substitute. Vietnam grows more robusta than almost any other country, and the dark, bitter beans pair well with the thick sweetness at the bottom of the glass. The coffee drips one glass at a time through a small metal phin filter, and you stir the condensed milk through it before adding ice. The name is a plain description: cà phê is coffee, sữa is milk, and đá is ice. Today it is the signature drink of Vietnamese cafés and street stalls, and it shows up at Vietnamese restaurants around the world.

Compare & Substitute

Vietnamese Coffee vs Similar Foods

Nutrient	Cà phê sữa đá with 1 tbsp condensed milk	Phin coffee with 2 tbsp evaporated milk (no added sugar)	Phin coffee with 2 tbsp half-and-half	Black phin coffee (cà phê đen, 4 oz)
Calories	63 kcal	44 kcal	41 kcal	2 kcal
Protein	1.5g	2.1g	0.9g	0g
Carbohydrates	10.4g	3.2g	1.3g	0g
Fat	1.7g	2.4g	3.5g	0g

Frequently Asked Questions

How many calories are in a Vietnamese iced coffee?

A standard cà phê sữa đá with 2 tablespoons of sweetened condensed milk has about 124 calories. The coffee adds about 2 calories; the rest is the condensed milk. A 3 tablespoon pour, common in US cafés, comes to about 185 calories.

How much sugar is in Vietnamese coffee with condensed milk?

Two tablespoons of condensed milk contain about 20.7g of sugar, and the label for Eagle Brand lists about 18g of that as added sugar. That is close to 5 teaspoons in one glass and half the American Heart Association's 36g daily limit for men.

Is black Vietnamese coffee healthy?

Black phin coffee has about 2 calories and no sugar, and coffee intake is linked to a lower long-term risk of type 2 diabetes in large studies. It is strong, though, because robusta has close to double the caffeine of arabica.

How much caffeine is in Vietnamese coffee?

It varies by shop and by how much ground coffee goes in the phin. Robusta carries nearly double the caffeine of arabica, so a small glass can match or beat a regular cup. The FDA cites 400 mg a day as an amount not generally associated with negative effects for most adults.

How can I make Vietnamese coffee with fewer calories?

Use one tablespoon of condensed milk instead of two (about 63 calories total), swap in unsweetened evaporated milk, or order it with half the usual sweetness. Evaporated milk gives a similar milky taste at about 42 calories per 2 tablespoons.

Is Vietnamese coffee keto or low carb?

No. A glass has about 21g of carbs, all from sugar, so it does not fit a strict keto limit. Black phin coffee with a splash of cream or half-and-half has under 2g of carbs.